# Installation

## Requirements

- Blender 4.2 or newer (the extension format requires it).
- No external Python packages.
- Windows, macOS, or Linux.

```{image} ./_static/images/blender_logo.png
:alt: Blender
:width: 220px
:align: center
```

## Install the extension

1. Open Blender.
2. Go to **Edit > Preferences > Get Extensions**.
3. Click the dropdown next to the search bar and choose **Install from Disk...**.
4. Select `ViewStretch_1.0.0.zip`.
5. ViewStretch appears in the extensions list and is enabled by default.

## Confirm it is active

When ViewStretch is enabled, a small button appears below the navigation icons in the top-right corner of the 3D Viewport. To test it, move the cursor over the viewport and hold **Ctrl + Alt + Left Mouse Button**, then drag: the visible content stretches along the view axes. Release to keep the stretch, or click without dragging to reset.

If the button is not visible, open **Edit > Preferences > Add-ons**, search for `ViewStretch`, and make sure **Show Viewport Button** is enabled. See [Preferences](preferences.md) for the full UI walkthrough.

## Update the addon

To replace an older version:

1. Open **Edit > Preferences > Get Extensions**.
2. Find ViewStretch, open its options, and choose **Uninstall**.
3. Install the new `ViewStretch_x.y.z.zip` following the steps above.

Your preferences (Stretch Mode, Sensitivity, button position, and so on) are kept across reinstalls because they live in Blender's user preferences file.