Gerbv FAQ

Straight answers about downloading and installing Gerbv, Gerber files and formats, using the viewer, and checking your files before you order PCBs. Each answer links to the page with the full detail.

Downloading & installing

Is Gerbv free to download and use?

Yes. Gerbv is free and open-source software licensed under GPL-2.0-or-later, with no paid tier or licence key. Download the current release, v2.13.0, from our download page, which links to the official GitHub release files.

Where should I download Gerbv from?

Official releases are published on GitHub Releases, and the buttons on our download page go to those files. Each file there is listed with its size and SHA-256 checksum so you can verify your copy after downloading.

Which version should I install on Windows 7?

Windows 7 is supported only up to Gerbv 2.8.0; the current Windows builds are 64-bit and tested on Windows 10. The version history explains where to find that older release in the GitHub archive.

Files & formats

What file formats does Gerbv open?

Gerbv views Gerber RS-274X files, Excellon drill files and CSV pick-and-place files, stacked together as layers. It does not support legacy RS-274D files. Our Gerber file explainer covers what each of those files contains.

What is a Gerber file, in plain terms?

A Gerber file describes one layer of a circuit board — copper, solder mask, silkscreen or paste — as manufacturing shapes, and a complete board is a set of them plus a separate drill file. The full plain-English explanation is on What is a Gerber file?

Can Gerbv open my drill and pick-and-place files too?

Yes. Excellon / NC drill files and CSV pick-and-place (centroid) files are supported alongside Gerber layers, so you can check holes and component positions in the same view. Open them together with your layers as described on the Gerber viewer page.

Using Gerbv

Can Gerbv measure distances and export images?

Yes. Gerbv can measure distances on the displayed image and export views to PNG, PDF, PS, SVG and DXF, with DXF export built in on all platforms since v2.12.0. The Gerber viewer page lists the viewing, measurement and export features in full.

Is Gerbv a PCB editor? Can it check design rules?

No. Gerbv is a viewer: editing is limited to selecting objects to view or delete them, format conversion on export, and command-line panelisation. It has no layout editing, no 3D view and no design-rule or DFM checking, as the comparison in best free Gerber viewers makes clear.

Does Gerbv work offline and keep my files private?

Yes. Gerbv is a native desktop application, so your fabrication files never leave your machine and no account or upload is involved. That privacy difference is the main subject of online vs desktop Gerber viewers.

Ordering PCBs

Why should I view my Gerber files before ordering boards?

Because the Gerber set is what the factory will build from, and exports can be mirrored, incomplete or out of date. Stacking the layers with the drill file in a viewer catches those errors while they are still free to fix. Our Gerber file guide walks through what to check.

How do I install Gerbv on my system?

Use the guide for your platform: Windows, macOS or Linux. Windows users who cannot install software can run the portable ZIP build from any folder.

Is there a DMG installer for macOS?

No. The first official macOS build, shipped in v2.13.0, is a ZIP archive — there is no DMG in the release. The macOS install guide covers unzipping it, Gatekeeper, and the Homebrew alternative.