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# How to choose a slicer engine and version

# How to choose a slicer engine and version
The Cloud Slicer uses real slicer engines such as PrusaSlicer, OrcaSlicer, and BambuStudio. This guide explains how to choose the engine and version used for a slice, and why changing it can affect profiles and settings.

![The slicer engine selector in the Cloud Slicer sidebar](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/f/f/2/2/ff22a914001c1000/choose-engine-version-engine-s_1d89amf.png)

## What the slicer engine controls
The slicer engine is the program that turns your model and settings into G-code.

The Cloud Slicer does not translate your model through a small custom SimplyPrint slicer. It runs actual slicer engines in the cloud and passes your selected machine, print, and filament profiles into that engine.

The selected engine affects:

- Which printer profiles are available
- Which print profiles are available
- Which filament profiles are available
- Which settings are shown
- How the final G-code is generated
- Which engine-specific features are supported

## Choose an engine
1. Open **Slicer** in SimplyPrint.
2. Find the engine selector at the top of the Cloud Slicer sidebar.
3. Click the engine selector.
4. Choose the engine you want to use.
5. Wait for the Cloud Slicer to reload the matching profiles and settings.

The currently selected engine is shown with its name, icon, and version label.

## Choose a version
Some engines have more than one version available.

The version label may show:

- **Latest** - the latest stable version available in the Cloud Slicer
- **Pre-release** - a newer engine build that may include fixes or newer profile behavior
- A specific version number - a pinned engine version

Most users should stay on **Latest** unless a helpdesk article, support message, or slicer warning recommends a different version.

## Why changing engine can change profiles
Profiles belong to a slicer engine. A profile made for one engine may not work with another engine.

For example, changing from BambuStudio to OrcaSlicer can change:

- The available machine profiles
- The compatible filament profiles
- The print profiles shown in the sidebar
- The settings available in the settings panel

This is expected. The Cloud Slicer is showing profiles and settings from the selected engine, not a single shared SimplyPrint preset list.

## If a profile disappears
If a profile is no longer visible after changing engine or version, it usually means the profile is not compatible with the new selection.

Check:

- The selected engine
- The selected engine version
- The printer or machine profile
- The nozzle diameter
- The filament profile
- Whether the profile was created for a different engine

If you need to use a specific profile, switch back to the engine and version it was created for.

## When to use a pre-release version
Use a pre-release version only when you have a reason to.

Good reasons include:

- A helpdesk article recommends it for a specific slicer error
- Support asks you to try it
- You need a bug fix that is not available in the latest stable version yet
- You are comfortable testing newer slicer behavior

If you are not sure, use **Latest**.

## Related articles
- [The Cloud Slicer feature: slice prints directly in SimplyPrint](https://help.simplyprint.io/en/article/the-cloud-slicer-feature-slice-prints-directly-in-simplyprint-80qgxg/)
- [Print, machine, and filament profiles explained](https://help.simplyprint.io/en/article/print-machine-and-filament-profiles-explained-b9lf0s/)
- [How to select a printer, machine profile, nozzle, and bed type](https://help.simplyprint.io/en/article/how-to-select-a-printer-machine-profile-nozzle-and-bed-type-i8alc8/)
- [Why "No printer profiles" or similar messages appear](https://help.simplyprint.io/en/article/why-no-printer-profiles-or-similar-messages-appear-1nr25e7/)