Topics

- Get Started with Scratch Software - Get Started on the Scratch Website - Viewing Projects - Sharing Projects - Remixing and Copying - Scratch Projects on Another Website or CD

- Username, Password, and Accounts - Image for "My Stuff" Profile - Friends List - Reporting Users and Inappropriate Content - Privacy - License and Permission - Other Questions

Getting Started with Scratch Software

How do I make a project?

To learn how to make a project, visit our How To Get Started page.

We also recommend looking at the sample projects that come with Scratch software. Click Open and choose a project in Animation, Games, or any of the other folders. In each folder, the simpler projects are listed first.

How do I make a game?

Here are some ways to get started making an interactive game:
- Use the code on "Key Moves" and other Scratch cards
- See Mick's project called Learning How to Make a Game
- Or, you can start by making changes to someone else's game project. In Scratch, click Open and then choose from the Games folder.

Is there a reference manual for Scratch?

The Scratch 1.3 Reference Guide contains an explanation of the Scratch interface and programming language.

For more ways to learn how to use Scratch, visit the Support page.


Getting Started on the Scratch Website

How do I get an account on the Scratch website?

See Getting Started on the Scratch Website.

How do I download projects from the website?

All projects on the website are available to download. First, log in to the website. Then, on any project page, click on "Download [project name]" in the upper righthand corner.

How do I make Scratch website my homepage?

You can set your web browser to the Scratch homepage.
- For Internet Explorer, click on the Tools menu, then select Options.
- For Firefox, go to Firefox > Preferences > Main.
Then type in the Home Page address: http://scratch.mit.edu

Viewing Projects

Why can't I see the videos or projects on the website?

- Make sure you have the Java Runtime Environment installed on your computer. Go to Java.com and click the "Verify Installation" button to see if you have Java. If not, install Java.

- If you still get a gray box instead of a Scratch project, try a different web browser (such as Firefox, Internet Explorer, or Safari).

Sharing Projects

How do I share or upload a project to the website?

- To post a project on the Scratch website, open your project in the Scratch software, then click the Share! button. You will need a username and password for the Scratch website.

Why do I get an error when I try to upload or share my project?

Here are the solutions we know of so far:
1. File too big. The largest file limit is 10 MB. (Solution: In Scratch, click the Extras button > compress sounds. Also Extras > compress images. If you have compressed sounds and your project still won't upload, delete some of the sounds.)
2. Internet connection too slow and times out (Solution: Make the file smaller. If that doesn't work, try connecting from a different computer or connection or web browser)
3. Proxy server getting in the way (Solution: Try an Internet connection that does not go through a proxy server).
4. Wrong username and password. (Solution: Try logging into Scratch website to make sure username and password are correct.)
5. Website "hiccup"  (Solution: Try again later).
6. Security software (Solution: Try a different computer or different settings on security software.)
7. Vista profile (Solution: Try changing settings or uploading from another profile.)

I can see my project page, but why won't my project load in the browser?

- Make sure you have the Java Runtime Environment installed on your computer. Go to Java.com and click the "Verify Installation" button to see if you have Java. If not, install Java.
- Your project may be too large for Java to run. Try deleting sounds to make the project smaller, and then Share! again.
- If you still get a gray box instead of a Scratch project, try a different web browser (such as Firefox, Internet Explorer, or Safari).

Can I update my existing project with a new one?

Yes, if you upload a project with the same name as one that is on the website already, the new project will replace the old.

How do I delete my project?

To delete a project, make sure you're logged in to the Scratch website. Go to My Stuff. Check the box under the project, and then click the button above that says "delete selected projects."

Remixing and Copying

What is a remix?

A remix is a project that started as someone else's and has been changed. 

How can I make a remix?

Just download someone else's project, change it in the Scratch software, then click the Share! button to upload it. The site will credit the original creator, and the project will be listed as a remix of the original project.

What if someone copies without changing a project?

Many users look at and copy other projects as a way of learning and understanding how projects work. We believe this type of sharing is a great way for the community to help each other learn. If there is a remixing link, people will see which project was the original. While copying an exact project is not forbidden, we agree that it is not respectful to claim ownership over aproject you didn’t create. Sometimes other users might not realize that they should give credit when borrowing projects, but perhaps if you mention in your project notes a reminder to give you credit, other users will respect that in the future.

Scratch Projects on Another Website or a CD

How do I put my Scratch project on another website?

The easiest way is to post your project to the Scratch site and then you can still play it from your website by embedding a link as described here: http://scratch.mit.edu/pages/embed

If you only want the Scratch project on your website and not on the Scratch website, see this forum topic http://scratch.mit.edu/forums/viewtopic.php?id=191

Can I run my Scratch project from a CD or Flash drive?

With some setup, you can copy and run a project from a Scratch CD (or USB Flash drive). To learn how, see this forum topic: http://scratch.mit.edu/forums/viewtopic.php?id=191

Username, Password, and Accounts

 How can I reset my password?

Please confirm your account by contacting us with the birthdate and country you used to create the account. Then, we can reset your password for you.

How can I change my username?

At the moment, there is no way to change your username in Scratch without creating an entirely new account.

How can I retrieve my username?

- If you posted comments on another person's project (or gallery or forum), you can search for the title of the project and find your username on your comments.
- If you created projects and remember the names of them, you can search for them to look for your username.
- If you can email us from the address you used to sign up for your account, we may be able to retrieve your username for you.

How do I delete my account?

Please confirm your account by contacting us with the birthdate and country you used to create the account. Or, if you signed up with an email address, email us from that account.

Why does the Scratch site keep logging me out?

- Make sure your browser is set to accept cookies.
- If you are using Internet Explorer, please see this forum topic. You may want to try Firefox web browser.

Image for "My Stuff" Profile

Why can't I change my profile image?

You may be experiencing this problem because the image file is too large or the filetype is not supported.Try reducing the size of your image or changing it to another format: JPEG, PNG, or GIF. Sometimes it takes awhile for the update to take effect. If your browser is caching the old picture, it won't show you the new one until the cache is cleared. Try restarting your browser. Also, there is a setting in your browser that will let you manually clear the cache.

Why does my profile image look distorted?

In order for your picture to keep its shape, it should be square (90 x 90 pixels).

How do I use a sprite for my profile image?

First, export the sprite's costume by right-clicking (Mac: Ctrl+click), select "export" and choose a folder to save it in. Then, in My Stuff on the Scratch website, under your username, there is a link to "change picture". Browse through your folders and select the image you exported.

How do I make my profile an animated image?

To make a profile image an animated gif, please see this animated image forum topic

Friends List

How do I add a friend to my friend list?

You can add any user to your friend list by going to their "MyStuff" page and clicking on "add to friends" on the left-hand panel of the page.

How do I remove a friend from my friend list?

You can remove any user from your friend list by going to your "MyStuff" page and clicking on "see more" under your list of friends. This will show all your friends. To delete, click on the [X] under their username.

Reporting Users and Inappropriate Content

How do I report a user?

You click the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of any page on the website and explain the problem.

How do I ignore another user?

You can elect not to receive comments from any user by adding them to your "ignore" list.To add them to your ignore list, go to your "MyStuff" page and click on "Edit My Ignore List" in the lefthand column. This will take you to a page where you can enter the username to be ignored.

How do I report inappropriate content?

You can flag any projects or comments that you find offensive or inappropriate for the Scratch team to review.

How do I know if material I am posting is appropriate?

Please see our Terms of Use for more information on what is considered appropriate.

What do I do about someone who is copying my projects?

Remixing is great and we encourage sharing of projects and project materials, and suggest that others give credit when doing so. Many users look at and copy other projects as a way of learning and understanding how projects work. We believe this type of sharing is a great way for the community to help each other learn. While copying an exact project is not forbidden, we agree that it is not respectful to claim ownership over a project you didn’t create. Sometimes other users might not realize that they should give credit when borrowing projects, but perhaps if you mention in your project notes a reminder to give you credit, other users will respect that in the future.

Privacy

What information can I share online?

We recommend you do not share any personal contact information, such as your physical address, email address, phone number, or any other personal contact information.

License and Permission 

Is Scratch free?

Yes! You can download, copy, and use Scratch software free of charge.

What is the license for Scratch? 

Please visit our Scratch license page.

Can I present Scratch at a conference?

Please feel free to make presentations about Scratch to educators or other groups. We grant our permission to make presentations. We would appreciate if you let us know which conference or event.

Can I use Scratch in a textbook or a CD for educational purposes? 

Yes, you can mention Scratch in your textbook, and include Scratch software in a CD with the book. Please include a note that "Scratch is developed by the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at the MIT Media Lab http://scratch.mit.edu"

Other Questions?

Search or visit the Scratch discussion forums