Help and resources

G-Scope Desktop is our free, local microscopy application for Windows, macOS and Linux. Connect almost any USB (UVC) microscope or microscope camera, choose a session folder, and capture, calibrate, measure, annotate and organize images. All on your computer. There are no accounts, no cloud storage and no telemetry.

Yes. Downloading, installing and the core workflow (live view, capture, video, time-lapse, calibration, ruler measurements, annotations and annotated PNG export) are free with no time limits. An optional one-time Pro license adds advanced measurement tools, OME-TIFF capture, compare view, SVG/CSV export, PDF and PowerPoint folder reports and batch export. Pro runs free while a genuine Smart G-Scope is connected.

If your microscope appears as a camera in your operating system, it almost certainly works: the app connects through the standard UVC camera interfaces on Windows, macOS and Linux. See the compatibility list for tested brands and models, including Smart G-Scope, Dino-Lite, Jiusion, Plugable, TOMLOV, Andonstar, Bysameyee, HAYEAR, AmScope, Celestron, Carson and OMAX.

No. G-Scope Desktop works fully offline: no accounts, no cloud storage, no analytics and no crash telemetry. Images, videos, calibrations, settings and reports stay on your computer. The only network request is a short startup check for the current release number. Nothing is sent.

Open the calibration wizard, draw a line over a known distance (a ruler or a stage micrometer) and enter its real length. Profiles are saved per camera, resolution and magnification, and measurements are shown in µm / mm. A connected Smart G-Scope calibrates automatically from the device.

Press F4, F10 or Space (or a supported hardware button) to capture. Best-moment capture keeps the sharpest frame of a burst; JPEG is the default, with lossless PNG and OME-TIFF (Pro) options. Record H.264/MP4 video with embedded acquisition metadata, or run a time-lapse from 1 second to 5 minutes. Every capture lands as a normal file in your session folder.

The app checks for a new release at startup and tells you when one is available; you can also download the latest version from our Software page. Installing over the previous version keeps your settings, calibrations and folders.

Yes. Annotated PNG export is free; vector SVG, per-image CSV, PDF folder reports, PowerPoint folder reports and whole-folder batch export are Pro features. All exports are generated locally on your computer.

Buy a Pro license and the key is sent to you by email; activate it in the app's license settings. Licenses are verified offline against a signed certificate and do not expire by default. A genuine Smart G-Scope unlocks the same Pro features automatically while connected.

Smart G-Scope is the fully integrated reference device: automatic calibration and magnification from the device, click-to-focus, calibrated EDOF capture, the hardware capture button and full device diagnostics. Compatibility is fully tested at every magnification level, and the Pro features run free while the device is connected. If the device SDK is ever unavailable, the microscope still works as a generic UVC camera.