Buy and Use Images

Difference between Physical and Digital cartridges
- Cricut^® images are available in two formats: (1) physical and (2) digital.
  
  A physical Cricut® cartridge can be purchased at Cricut.com, local craft retailers, and online craft retailers. When using the Cricut Craft Room^® design software, you will need to insert the cartridge into your Cricut^® machine for it to cut. Physical cartridges also come with a digital version that you can access by linking your cartridge to your Cricut.com account. The cartridge will then be added to your My Cartridges list and appear in bold. You will then be able to cut those images from the Cricut Craft Room^® design software without having to insert the cartridge into the machine each time.
  
  A physical Cricut^® cartridge includes a cartridge (with digital version), a storage binder, and a keypad overlay. Most cartridges also include a handbook.
  
  A digital only version of a Cricut^® cartridge can be purchased at Cricut.com. When you purchase a digital version, it will show up in your My Cartridges list instantly and appear in bold. While you will not receive a physical version of the cartridge, purchasing a digital only version allows you to cut those images right away. This is also a great option for cartridges no longer available from retailers. There are also many images in the Cricut Craft Room^® Exclusives filter that were specially designed just for use in the Cricut Craft Room^® design software and are only available digitally.
  
  A digital only Cricut^® cartridge includes the digital cartridge and an online PDF handbook.

Buying Digital Only Versions of a cartridge
- When you buy the digital version of a cartridge, it will be added to your My Cartridges list instantly and appear in bold. This means you can cut those images right away! Sometimes you will find Cricut® images that are only available digitally. These may be cartridges that are no longer available from retailers or images in the Cricut Craft Room^® Exclusives filter that were specially designed for use in the Cricut Craft Room^® design software.
  
  Note: When purchasing digital only versions, you will not receive a physical/hard copy of the cartridge.
  
  To buy a digital only version of a Cricut^® cartridge:
  
  1. Select the cartridge in the Image Drawer. If that cartridge is available for purchase, a Buy button will appear.
  
  2. Click Buy to automatically open an Internet browser.
  
  3. If needed, sign into your Cricut.com account. Make sure you sign into the same Cricut.com account that you use to log in to the Cricut Craft Room^® design software.
  
  4. Enter your billing zip code. If you have a promo code, enter it here. Then click Continue to Checkout.
  
  5. If you have store credit you would like to you use, click Apply Credit.
  
  6. Enter your billing address and payment information. Click Continue.
  
  7. Submit your order.
  
  8. Print your order confirmation. You will also be sent a confirmation via email.
  
  Your digital images will instantly be available in your Cricut.com account for use in the Cricut Craft Room^® design software.

What is cartridge linking?
- Cartridge linking is a feature available in the Cricut Craft Room^® design software. When you link a cartridge, the digital version of that cartridge will be added to your Cricut.com account, as if you had purchased the digital only version of that cartridge. You will no longer have to insert that cartridge into your machine to cut those images when using the Cricut Craft Room^® design software in the future.
  
  Note: Your Cricut^® machine may require a firmware update in order to access cartridge linking.
  
  A cartridge can only be linked to one Cricut.com account. If you do not want to link your cartridge, you can insert the cartridge into the machine to cut those images. If you do not link your cartridges, you will be prompted to insert the cartridge to cut.
  
  A linked cartridge can still be used in a Cricut^® machine as normal.
  
  To link a cartridge, first make sure your Cricut^® machine has the latest software (firmware):
  
  Cricut Imagine^® machine: 123
  Cricut Expression^® 2 machine: 79
  Cricut Expression^® machine/Cricut Cake® machine: v2.43
  Cricut Create^® machine/Cricut Cake® Mini machine: v1.61
  Cricut Mini^® machine: 23
  
  Cricut^® machine is unable to support cartridge linking at this time

How to link a cartridge
- You can link a cartridge two different ways in the Cricut Craft Room^® design software.
  
  1. Log in to the Cricut Craft Room^® design software with your Cricut.com account.
  2. Create a project. Click CUT.
  3. Insert the cartridge into your Cricut^® machine as the Cricut Craft Room^® design software prompts you to do so.
  4. When the cartridge is detected, click Link Cartridge.
  
  5. Read the End User License Agreement and click I Accept, Link Cartridge. The Cricut Craft Room^® design software will then link your cartridge to your Cricut.com account.
  
  OR
  
  1. Log in to the Cricut Craft Room^® design software with your Cricut.com account.
  
  2. Using the images/cartridges view in the Image Drawer, locate the cartridge you wish to link.
  
  3. Click the Link button in the Image Drawer.
  
  4. Insert the cartridge into your Cricut® machine as the Cricut Craft Room^®design software prompts you to do so.
  
  5. When the cartridge is detected, click Link Cartridge.
  
  6. Read the End User License Agreement and click I Accept, Link Cartridge. The Cricut Craft Room^® design software will then link your cartridge to your Cricut.com account.

Images/Cartridges linked to your account
- Cartridges linked to your account will appear in the My Cartridges filter and appear bolded in the cartridge list. You will be able to cut these images from the Cricut Craft Room^® design software without physically inserting a cartridge into the machine.

The Cricut Craft Room^® Design Software and Cricut Gypsy™ Device
- At this time, cartridges that have been linked to a Cricut Gypsy™ device cannot be directly linked to a Cricut.com account.
  
  When you purchase digital Cricut^® cartridges, the images will be added to your Cricut Gypsy™ device the next time you connect it to Cricut^® Sync. For new digital images, you may need to wait for a Hello Thursday update in order for the images to appear on your Cricut Gypsy™ device. If you have ever had your Cricut Gypsy™ device replaced for warranty or if you own more than one Cricut Gypsy™ device, you may want to contact Cricut^® Support to make sure that your cartridges are shared with the correct Cricut Gypsy™ device.