The Ultimate Deep Guide: Installing V-Ray (SketchUp Focus) This guide assumes you have a valid license (Trial, Premium, or Enterprise) from Chaos. Phase 1: Pre-Installation (Crucial) Do not just double-click the installer. Follow this checklist to avoid the "V-Ray toolbar missing" or "License server not found" errors. 1. System Requirements Check
OS: Windows 10/11 (64-bit) or macOS Big Sur+. Note: Linux is only for Maya/Houdini. RAM: 8GB minimum, 32GB recommended. VRAM: 4GB GPU RAM minimum (for GPU rendering). Host Version: Ensure SketchUp is updated to the latest minor version (e.g., 2024.0 → 2024.3). V-Ray lags 1-2 months behind new major releases.
2. The "Clean" Prerequisite If you have a previous V-Ray version installed:
Uninstall via Control Panel (Windows) or drag to Trash (macOS). Manually delete residual folders: instalar vray
C:\Program Files\Chaos Group\ C:\ProgramData\Chaos Group\ (Hidden folder – enable "Show hidden files") C:\Users\[YourUser]\AppData\Local\Chaos Group\ C:\Users\[YourUser]\AppData\Roaming\Chaos Group\
SketchUp Plugins folder: Remove vfs.rb and VRayForSketchUp folder from C:\Users\[YourUser]\AppData\Roaming\SketchUp\SketchUp 20XX\SketchUp\Plugins\
3. Antivirus & Firewall Temporarily disable real-time protection. V-Ray’s licensing service ( Chaos License Server ) and online installer are often falsely flagged. Phase 2: Download & Installation Step 1: Get the Official Installer The Ultimate Deep Guide: Installing V-Ray (SketchUp Focus)
Go to chaos.com/downloads Select your product: V-Ray for SketchUp (or Rhino/3ds Max). Choose version: Stable (e.g., 6.00.03) over Beta. Download the Universal Installer (works for all Chaos products on one machine).
Step 2: Run the Installer
Launch vray_for_sketchup_60003_win_x64.exe (Run as Administrator on Windows). Language: Keep English unless you need localized tooltips. License Agreement: Accept. Installation Type: RAM: 8GB minimum, 32GB recommended
Workstation (recommended): Full V-Ray + License Server (for local licensing). Render Slave: Only the rendering engine (no UI, for network rendering). Remote: Only license server. Choose "Workstation" for a design machine.
Host Application Selection: Check the box for SketchUp 2024 (or your version). Uncheck any other hosts you don't use. Installation Path: Default ( C:\Program Files\Chaos Group\V-Ray\V-Ray for SketchUp\ ) is fine. Do not use spaces or special characters in custom paths. Click "Install" – wait 3-8 minutes.