I'm having issues with Cinema 4D, what can I do?

If you're running into issues with Cinema 4D—whether it's getting stuck on the splash screen, crashing, freezing, problems with the Asset Browser, or just general usage issues—the most powerful troubleshooting step you can start with is removing plugins and testing with a fresh set of preferences as many issues can stem from the preferences or 3rd party plugins.
For a comprehensive guide on what's in the preferences, click HERE.

When it comes to testing with fresh preferences and no 3rd party plugins, you have two options:
(click to expand & reveal instructions)

• This method is quick and easy, but it will delete all your saved settings.

  1. Go to:
     Windows: Users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\Maxon
     macOS: Users/USERNAME/Library/Preferences/Maxon
      
  2. Find the folder that matches your version of Cinema 4D. It’ll look something like:
     Maxon Cinema 4D 2025_******** (* = represents random characters)
      
  3. Delete that folder (before deleting, see 'Note' below to prevent deleting the wrong folder)
     
     
  4. Relocate or delete the main app's "plugin" folder located here:
     Windows: Program Files\Maxon Cinema 4D 202*\plugins
     Mac: Applications/Maxon Cinema 4D 202*/plugins
     
     
  5. Launch Cinema 4D

  
  Note: Don't delete any folders with a suffix at the end, those are for other components
  
  For example:
  _c = Team Render Client
  _s = Team Render Server
  _w = Cineware
  _x = Command Line
  _p = c4dpy
   

  The main Cinema 4D folder will NOT have a suffix.
  

•  
  1. Go to:
     Windows: Users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming
     macOS: Users/USERNAME/Library/Preferences
      
  2. Rename the "Maxon" folder to "Maxon_old"
     
     
  3. Relocate the main app's "plugin" folder located here:
     Windows: Program Files\Maxon Cinema 4D 202*\plugins
     Mac: Applications/Maxon Cinema 4D 202*/plugins
      

  4. Launch Cinema 4D
      

     ✅ISSUE DISAPPEARS: Proceed to the Follow-up to Option 2 section.

     ❌ISSUE REMAINS: Skip the 'Option 2 follow-up' section and go to the "If you are still running into issues:" section.

• Since creating a new preferences folder by adding _old to the end of the Maxon folder and relocating the plugins folder resolved the issue, we can confirm that the problem lies within the original preferences or the plugins folder. Now, we need to pinpoint what specifically is causing the issue with the following steps:
  
  

  1. Put the plugins folder back inside the main app folder and launch Cinema 4D. If the issue is not present, we know it is not the 3rd party plugins located in this folder and need to turn our attention to the preferences.
     
     
  2. Close Cinema 4D and head over to:
     Windows: Users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming
     macOS: Users/USERNAME/Library/Preferences
     
     Then, delete the newly created Maxon folder and remove the "_old" from the original Maxon folder to restore the original preferences.
  3. Next, open the Maxon Cinema 4D 202_******* preferences folder and systematically remove (or delete) folders one by one, then restart and test Cinema 4D each time to identify the culprit. Removal options are below.
     
     

  For reference, the preferences folders are located here:
  Windows: C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\Maxon\Maxon Cinema 4D 202*_********
  Mac: /Users/USERNAME/Library/Preferences/Maxon/Maxon Cinema 4D 202*_********

  When navigating to the above-mentioned locations, you may see folders with a suffix at the end. Those are for other Cinema 4D adjacent apps. Cinema 4D is the only folder that will NOT have a suffix.
  
  Here is a suffix guide as to what each folder is for:
  _c = Team Render Client
  _s = Team Render Server
  _w = Cineware
  _x = Command Line
  _p = c4dpy
  

  Key Folders to Keep Initially:
  library: Contains custom layouts and scripts.
  prefs: Holds your preference settings, UI color changes, shortcuts, and startup layouts.
  userrepository: This is where your assets are stored if you choose preferences when adding assets to the asset browser.
  plugins: Some plugin developers might require the installation of their plugin in this folder.
  For a comprehensive guide on what else is in the preferences, click HERE.

  
  SYSTEMATIC REMOVAL OPTIONS
  IMPORTANT: Please make sure Cinema 4D is closed before removing or deleting folders.

  1. Non-Destructive Removal:
     You can simply remove the folder from the preferences folder by placing it somewhere easy to access, like your desktop, then restarting Cinema 4D. If you find the folder you removed is not the cause of the issue, you can put it back, replacing the folder Cinema 4D generated when launching. If you find the problem is resolved after removing a particular folder, that was likely the source of the issue. If we find that the issue remains, we will need to test removing the folders labeled as "key folders to keep initially."
     
     NOTE: After you remove files and folders from the preferences and then launch Cinema 4D, any folders/files missing are recreated in their default state.
     
     
  2. Destructive Removal:
     Delete the folder, then restart Cinema 4D and test to see if the issue persists. If the issue persists, you can move on to the next folder. If you find the problem is resolved after deleting a particular folder, that was likely the source of the issue. If we find that the issue remains, we will need to test removing the folders labeled as "key folders to keep initially."
     
     
  3. Easiest but most destructive option:
     If you are OK with deleting everything and starting from scratch, you can simply delete the entire Maxon Cinema 4D 202*_******** folder, restart Cinema 4D, and the issue should be gone, but like with renaming the app folder with a _old, you will be starting with default settings.

  Please keep us updated on your progress!

If you are still running into issues:

1. Download the Maxon Support Tool (installer found at the bottom of the page)
2. Expand and follow the instructions for your operating system below
2. Open a ticket >HERE<
3. Attach the zip file so we can investigate.

What the Maxon Support Tool does:
The Maxon Support Tool will gather log files, bug reports, and system reports to help us in support better understand the issue you are running into.

• Before you start, if Cinema 4D is open, please close it.

  1. Download the attached zip file, unzip it, and run the maxon-support-tool file.
  2. Click the version of Cinema 4D you are having issues with.
     This will launch Cinema 4D with a console window and gather all the logs we need into a folder on your desktop.
  3. Once complete, zip up the folder named Maxon Support Log Files (OS Account Name) and attach to your ticket.

  If you can't find the folder, click the "Desktop" link in the status section to quickly locate the folder.
  

• Before you start, if Cinema 4D is open, please close it.

  1. Download the attached zip file, unzip it, and run the maxon-support-tool.exe file.
     (You might see a Windows warning. Don't worry, the app is safe. Click on "More info" and then "Run anyway.")
  2. Click the version of Cinema 4D you are having issues with.
     This will launch Cinema 4D with a console window and gather all the logs we need into a folder on your desktop.
  3. You will also see a "System Information" window gathering and saving data. Please allow this to run till complete (this process may take 1 or 2 minutes).
  4. Once complete, zip up the folder named Maxon Support Log Files (OS Account Name) and attach it to to your ticket.

  If you can't find the folder, click the "Desktop" link in the status section to quickly find the folder.
  

• Maxon_Support_Tool__Mac_.zip6 MB
• Maxon_Support_Tool__Windows_.zip6 MB