MATLAB Runtime

MATLAB Runtime is a standalone set of shared libraries that enables the execution of compiled MATLAB applications, Simulink applications, or libraries on computers without an installed version of MATLAB.

Yes, MATLAB Runtime is freely available and can be downloaded directly from the MathWorks MATLAB Runtime page without a MATLAB license.

Standalone applications, Standalone Docker container applications, Microsoft Excel add-ins, MATLAB MapReduce Applications, MATLAB Web Apps, C/C++ libraries, .NET libraries / COM components, JAVA JARs, Python Packages, Microservice Docker containers, MATLAB Production Server archives

You must download the version that matches the MATLAB release used to compile your application. You can find this information in the readme.txt file that accompanies the application or component.

Download the installer for your release and platform from the MathWorks MATLAB Runtime page, save it to the target computer, then double-click the installer and follow the instructions in the installation wizard.

Only if the applications/libraries are compiled on different releases. For example, if you have a R2025a compiled standalone application and you install a second R2026a developed standalone application then you would need to download the R2026a MATLAB Runtime. If the applications are compiled on the same release they can share the same MATLAB Runtime.

Yes, MathWorks provides MATLAB Runtime installers for Windows (64-bit), Linux (64-bit), and Mac (Intel 64-bit and arm64, depending on the release).

The default option for compiled applications is to “Fetch MATLAB Runtime from mathworks.com during application installation.” This happens automatically behind the scenes during installation, so the user does not need to manually download MATLAB Runtime. The author of the compiled application/library can also choose to “Include MATLAB Runtime in application installer for offline installation” which is especially useful in air gapped environments. The user only must manually download MATLAB Runtime from this page if the author of the application/library explicitly chooses the option “Do not include MATLAB Runtime in application installer.”

Yes, if “Fetch MATLAB Runtime from mathworks.com during application installation” or “Include MATLAB Runtime in application installer for offline installation” is selected the installer will fetch only the specific components and toolboxes required to run the application. This typically results in a smaller MATLAB Runtime footprint. MATLAB Runtime downloaded from this page contains all the components and toolboxes.

No, MATLAB Runtime is designed specifically to run compiled MATLAB applications on systems that do not have MATLAB installed.

No, if MATLAB Runtime resides persistently on the disk of the CI Runner, you only need to recompile the artifact. MATLAB Runtime only needs to be downloaded and installed if you change releases or platforms.

Yes, important security fixes are available for the R2016a, R2016b, and R2017a releases. If your application uses MATLAB App Designer files (.mlapp), MathWorks recommends applying the latest update after installing the runtime for those releases.

Online downloads are only available for releases after R2012a. For R2011b and earlier, open MATLAB and run the command mcrinstaller to locate the runtime for redistribution, or request it from the person who created the deployed package.

An AI agent or harness connects directly to an installed MATLAB program through the MCP Server to execute code and does not need to download MATLAB Runtime unless it is testing a compiled application for verification or equivalency.