Staged is coming to Steam! Wishlist now

Installation

Step-by-step guide to download and install Staged on your Windows system.

Download Staged

Staged is distributed through our official download page. Download the latest stable version for the best experience.

Download Latest Release

Version 1.0.0 - Windows 10/11 (64-bit)

Download Installer

Release Types

  • Stable releases - Recommended for most users. Tested and reliable.
  • Beta releases - Preview new features before they’re stable. May have bugs.
  • Nightly builds - Latest development version. For testing only.

System Requirements

Before installing, ensure your system meets these requirements:

ComponentMinimumRecommended
Operating SystemWindows 10 (1903+)Windows 11
ProcessorAny x64 CPUIntel 8th Gen+ / AMD Ryzen
Memory4 GB RAM8 GB RAM
GraphicsDirectX 11 GPUNVIDIA RTX / AMD RX 6000+
Storage100 MB100 MB
DisplayAny resolution4K / Ultrawide / HDR

Installation Steps

Step 1: Run the Installer

After downloading, run the Staged-Setup.exe installer. Windows may show a SmartScreen warning since the app is new - click "More info" then “Run anyway”.

Why does Windows warn me?

Windows SmartScreen shows warnings for new applications without an established reputation. As long as you get the installer from our official download page, it’s safe to run. The warning will disappear as more users install the app.

Step 2: Accept the License

Staged is released under the MIT License. This means you can use it for free, modify it, and share it. Read the license agreement and click "I Accept" to continue.

Step 3: Choose Install Location

The default location is C:\Program Files\Staged. You can change this if needed, but the default location is recommended.

Step 4: Install the Virtual Display Driver

The installer will prompt you to install the virtual display driver. This is required for Staged to create virtual displays. Click "Install" when prompted.

Driver Safety

The virtual display driver uses Microsoft’s IddCx (Indirect Display Driver) framework. This is the same technology Windows uses internally for display management.

  • Runs in user-mode (not kernel-mode)
  • Pre-signed by Microsoft
  • Fully reversible - uninstall anytime
  • No system modifications

Step 5: Complete Installation

Once the driver is installed, the setup will complete. You can choose to:

  • Launch Staged immediately
  • Create a desktop shortcut
  • Add Staged to Start Menu
  • Start Staged with Windows (recommended for quick access)

First Launch

When you first launch Staged, you’ll see the welcome screen with options to:

Configure Display Settings

Choose your virtual display resolution, refresh rate, and position. Staged will auto-detect your physical display and suggest optimal settings.

Create Your First Zone Layout

Use the Zone Editor to create zones for your apps. You can start from a preset or build a custom layout.

Add Games to Library

Staged can auto-detect games from Steam, Epic, GOG, and other launchers. You can also add games manually.

Driver Installation Details

The virtual display driver is the core component that allows Staged to create virtual displays. Here’s what you need to know:

Automatic Installation

The installer handles driver installation automatically. If you need to reinstall the driver, you can do so from Staged’s Settings > Driver > Reinstall Driver.

Manual Installation

If automatic installation fails, you can install the driver manually:

  1. Open Device Manager (right-click Start > Device Manager)
  2. Click Action > Add legacy hardware
  3. Select “Install the hardware that I manually select from a list”
  4. Choose “Display adapters”
  5. Click “Have Disk” and browse to C:\Program Files\Staged\Driver
  6. Select the driver and complete the installation

Updating Staged

Staged checks for updates automatically and will notify you when a new version is available. You can also check manually from Help > Check for Updates.

Update Process

  1. Download the new version from the update notification
  2. Close Staged if it’s running
  3. Run the new installer - it will upgrade your existing installation
  4. Your settings and zone presets are preserved

Uninstalling Staged

To uninstall Staged:

  1. Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps (Windows 11) or Programs and Features (Windows 10)
  2. Find “Staged” in the list
  3. Click Uninstall
  4. The uninstaller will remove the app and the virtual display driver

Clean Uninstall

The uninstaller removes all Staged files and the driver. Your zone presets are stored in %APPDATA%\Staged and are not removed by default. Delete this folder manually for a complete removal.

Next Steps

Now that you have Staged installed, learn how to create your first zone layout:

Zone Editor Guide

Learn how to create, customize, and save zone layouts for your apps and games.

Installation Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues during installation:

  • Driver installation fails - Make sure you’re running Windows 10 1903 or later. Try running the installer as Administrator.
  • Virtual display doesn’t appear - Restart your computer after installation. Check Device Manager for any driver errors.
  • Antivirus blocks installation - Staged is a new application and may trigger false positives. Add an exception for the Staged folder.

For more help, see our troubleshooting guide or join our Discord community.

PreviousGetting StartedNextZone Editor