Orca Slicer Not Working: Troubleshoot Guide
If Orca Slicer is not working, there could be multiple reasons behind this 3D printing and slicing software malfunctioning. Orca Slicer is one of the most popular 3D printing software tools for producing high-quality prints for printer enthusiasts. This software is more advanced and user-friendly than Bambu Studio, Cura, and other popular printing tools.
There can be multiple reasons why Orca Slicer isn’t working, such as spiral mode errors, complexity crashes, non-planar slicing, and more. We’ve listed them one by one along with their fixes.

Orca Slicer Not Connecting To Printer
Issue
If Orca Slicer detects Fluidd on your network but shows a 404 error when sending files to your printer, it’s likely due to connection or configuration issues.
Fix
- First, check that this slicing software has the correct IP address and port for Fluidd and uses the right API endpoint for file transfers.
- Ensure both your computer and printer are on the same network and that no firewall is blocking the connection.
- Also, verify that Fluidd is configured to accept uploads from external slicers and restart both applications and your network connection to reset any temporary conflicts.
- If this doesn’t resolve the issue, you can manually upload the sliced files. Save the file locally on your computer, then use Fluidd’s web interface to upload it to the printer. This manual method works well if you have problems with Wi-Fi transfers.
Orca Slicer Is Not Opening
Issue
Sometimes, after downloading and installing Orca Slicer, it just shows a pop-up when you try to open it, and the program doesn’t fully start.
Fix
There are two troubleshooting guides to resolve this issue.
- Restart your computer whenever the software doesn’t work, as this resolves the issue in most cases.
- The next step is to check for an update or uninstall and reinstall the latest version of the Slicer from our Orca Slicer download page.
- Your system’s graphics drivers should be up to date, as outdated drivers can sometimes prevent apps from launching.
- Temporarily disable your antivirus to see if it’s blocking Orca Slicer. If yes, then add it to your antivirus’s exception list.
- If the issue persists, check the Orca Slicer logs for error messages in the installation folder.
Alternative Method: Modify JSON Configuration for Spiral Mode
If the above steps don’t work, you can try adjusting the JSON configuration file for Orca Slicer:
- Navigate to Configuration Folder: Go to /AppData/Roaming/OrcaSlicer/user/[numbers]/process on your computer.
- Edit JSON File: Locate and open the .JSON file associated with your profile.
- Change Spiral Mode Setting: Within the file, search for “spiral_mode”, change its value from 1 to 0, and save the file.


If the issue persists, then Right-click on the Orca Slicer icon and select “Run as Administrator” to give it the necessary permissions.
After making these changes, try starting the Slicer again. This should resolve any issues without needing to delete configuration files.
Partial Slicing, Spiral Mode Error
Issue
Sometimes, users experience an issue where Orca Slicer only slices half of the file and shows a “spiral mode only works when wall loops are 1” error. Reinstalling doesn’t help, as Windows flags it as unrecognized.
Fix
Look for any folders named “OrcaSlicer” on your computer, especially in User/AppData. Delete these folders to clear out old settings, then try opening or reinstalling Orca Slicer to see if this fixes the issue.
Orca Slicer Complexity Crash
Issue
The slicer crashes when trying to process complex models, even though the computer meets all specification requirements.
Fix
- Using Nvidia Game Ready drivers instead of Studio drivers can prevent crashes.
- Close unnecessary programs to free up RAM, as Windows may mismanage memory during slicing.
- Simplify the model by reducing the triangle count by over 50% if possible.
- Test slicing the model on another computer to check for system-specific issues.
- Avoid setting the slicer to high priority in Windows, as this may cause additional problems.
- Monitor memory and CPU usage in Task Manager to ensure the slicer isn’t maxing out resources.
- Simplify complex models when possible, as excessive detail can impact slicing performance.
By taking these steps, you can make your slicer more stable and improve its performance when working with complex models.
Orca Slicer Not Saving Settings
Issue
Orca Slicer is not saving your settings and reverts to the default every time you open it. To temporarily fix this, you can use the “undo” arrows to restore your preferred settings after the first undo. For permanently saving the settings, try this solution.
Fix
- Save your profile after making changes by looking for a “Save” option in the profile menu.
- Also make sure you are using the latest beta version, as many issues are fixed in this version.
- You can also check or delete configuration files in User/AppData/Roaming/OrcaSlicer to reset any corrupted settings.
- In Orca Slicer, go to File, then Preferences, and make sure the “Auto-sync user presets” option is checked.
- If the problem continues, consider reporting it to Orca Slicer’s support or community forums for further assistance.


Orca Slicer Not Showing All Filaments
Issue
If you are experiencing issues with Orca Slicer not displaying all your filament profiles, here are some steps to troubleshoot and potentially resolve the problem.
Fix
- Go to the filament JSON files in \AppData\Roaming\OrcaSlicer\user[user#number#]\Filaments.
- Open the JSON files and check for any filament_id entries. If any are set to “null,” that might be why they aren’t showing in the AMS.
- If you find filament_id is null, try entering a new ID similar to existing ones (like “P8a845c8”).

- Save the changes and restart Orca Slicer to see if the filaments appear in the AMS.
- If you’ve imported filament profiles from other slicers (like Prusa Slicer), make sure they are compatible with all printers, as some profiles may only show for the selected printer.
- You can use scripts to convert and adapt filament profiles for better compatibility.
- If some custom filament profiles seem corrupted (showing the name but missing presets), you might need to recreate those profiles.
- There isn’t a built-in option to delete corrupted profiles directly, so keep that in mind during cleanup.
- Check if user-defined filaments are visible in the AMS selection. If not, there may be limits on how Orca Slicer recognizes user filaments.
- It may help to ask the developers about improving AMS compatibility with user filaments.
For more support and discussions, visit the Orca Slicer GitHub Issues page where users share their experiences and solutions.
Orca Slicer Not Working On Mac
Issue
If you are having trouble getting Orca Slicer to work on your Mac, follow these steps:
Fix
- Go to /Users/{your username}/Library/Application Support and find the OrcaSlicer folder. Rename it to OrcaSlicer2 to reset the settings.
- Launch Orca Slicer again; the setup window should open for you to reconfigure your preferences.
- If you can’t see the Library folder, adjust your Finder settings to show hidden files.
- Try using the latest Beta version of this printing software, which fixes compatibility issues with older macOS versions like Catalina and Big Sur. If that doesn’t work, try the stable version, v1.8.1.
- Consider installing Homebrew for easier software management on Mac.
- You can install Orca Slicer using Homebrew with the command: brew install orcaslicer.
By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the issues with Orca Slicer on your Mac.
Orca Slicer Not Setting Filament Temperatures
Issue
If you are running into trouble with Orca not saving or setting filament temperatures correctly, it can throw a wrench in your printing plans. This issue could result in the wrong temperature settings that don’t produce prints as expected.
Fix
- Go to the Filament section in the slicer sidebar and find your filament type.
- Click on the notepad icon with a pencil to open the filament settings pop-up.
- In the filament settings window, scroll down to the Bed Temperature and Nozzle Temperature fields.
- Enter your desired temperatures (e.g., Bed Temperature: 220°C) and save the changes.


- Make sure your slicer is up to date to enable advanced settings; bugs in older versions may cause issues.
- Restart Orca Slicer after making changes to see if the advanced toggle works.
- After adjusting temperatures, check the generated G-code. If the temperatures default to 0, there may be a saving issue or a bug.
- Verify the G-code settings in the slicer to match your filament settings.
Orca Slicer Not Retracting
Issue
If you are experiencing stringing while printing, you might see thin threads of plastic connecting different parts of your model to make it messy. This usually happens when the nozzle moves between areas and drags leftover filament to spoil the final look of your print.
Fix
- Change the Z Hop Type to Spiral to help the nozzle lift smoothly during travel moves to reduce filament dragging.
- Turn off Avoid Retraction in Infill to let the slicer retract more effectively, which can decrease stringing.
- Disable Wipe Before Retract so the slicer focuses on retracting the filament instead of wiping the nozzle first.
- Check the slicer output for areas where retraction is weak. Consider increasing the retraction distance and speed based on your filament type.

- Run test prints after making changes to see if stringing improves, especially with models known for stringing issues.
- If problems continue, compare the layer outputs of Bambu Studio and Orca Slicer to find specific areas where Orca may need adjustment.
- The PLA silk filament should be dried before printing, as moisture can worsen stringing.
- If stringing persists, consider switching back to Bambu Studio for prints where its retraction works better.
Non-Manifold Edges In Orca Slicer
Issue
When we have non-manifold edges in our model, we see warnings while slicing which means print may not turn out as it should. This can spell trouble in our final printing like parts not sticking together, gaps in the print, or even the print failing altogether, so it’s important to fix these edges for better results.
Fix
- You can ignore warnings about non-manifold edges since they often don’t stop the print from working. Orca Slicer can still generate G-code even if these edges are present.
- If you see a popup showing a Repair option while slicing, click it. Orca Slicer will try to fix any issues with your model.
- For a more detailed fix, use software like Blender or Meshmixer to inspect and correct non-manifold edges before bringing your model back to Orca Slicer.
- Use the analysis tools in the software to find the non-manifold edges and repair them.
- After fixing the edges, do a test print to see if the changes help. Watch the print closely, especially in areas that had problems before.
Non-Planar Slicing In Orca Slicer
Issue
When we try to use non-planar slicing, we run into snags like unexpected layer heights or printing errors due to issues with our 3D model. These challenges can make it tough to nail down the print quality as we expect, leading to frustration during the printing process.
Fix
- Download the latest beta version of Orca.
- Check the settings and make sure non-planar slicing is enabled; adjust the layer height and other settings as needed.
- Inspect your 3D model to ascertain its manifold and free of geometric errors using mesh repair tools.
- Start with simpler models to test non-planar slicing and identify any issues more easily.
- Use the slicing preview to visualize the sliced model and spot any problems.
- Make sure your printer is compatible with non-planar features and check for any necessary firmware updates.
- Experiment with different filaments, as some materials may work better with non-planar slicing.
Conclusion
In Orca Slicer not working problems troubleshooting, we have discussed multiple common issues that we face while using this printing tool, such as the software not opening, failing to save settings, difficulties with retracting, and problems setting filament temperatures. We also looked into crashes while printing complex models and compatibility issues on Mac, etc.
For each of these snags, our straightforward, helpful guidance can help users troubleshoot and resolve these problems. By following the suggested steps, like updating settings, inspecting models for errors, and checking for software updates, you can improve your experience with Orca Slicer and get back to creating successful prints.