What is MATLAB Runtime (MCR) and how do I install it?

I need to install MATLAB Runtime. How do I install MATLAB Runtime (MCR)?

Answer 1

[MathWorks Support Team]

The MATLAB Runtime (MCR) enables you to run applications compiled within MATLAB using MATLAB Compiler. MCR does not require a MATLAB license and can be used to run the MATLAB compiled program on computers which do not have MATLAB installed. 

For R2018a and newer, you can run the following command to install MATLAB Runtime. This command will only work if you have MATLAB Compiler installed and activated, have a working internet connection, and do not have a proxy or firewall.

>> compiler.runtime.download 

(Note: Starting from R2019a, if you have updated your MATLAB software, the compiler.runtime.download function will download the MATLAB Runtime installer that corresponds to the update level of your MATLAB software.)

Installers for the current versions of MATLAB Runtime can also be found on our website at:

https://www.mathworks.com/products/compiler/matlab-runtime.html

These installers can be used offline, as the download contains all the files needed for a complete MATLAB Runtime installation. For releases before R2019a, runtime installers for General Releases will be downloaded. For releases starting from R2019a, runtime installers for the latest update level will be downloaded.

Running a MATLAB Runtime installer that is tied to a software update will remove any existing installation of the runtime for that release and install the MATLAB Runtime at the installer's update level. MATLAB Runtime installations from other releases will remain untouched.

It is possible to run applications with a MATLAB Runtime update level which is newer than the MATLAB release used to build the application. However, when creating "Runtime included in package" installers, the MATLAB Runtime version and update level needs to exactly match the MATLAB Compiler version and update level that was used to compile the application.

If you need to install an older version of MATLAB Runtime, please see the following article:

How do you install older versions of MCR which are not available online?

https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/170951-how-do-i-install-older-update-versions-of-matlab-compiler-runtime-mcr-can-i-obtain-versions-of-mc

[Bruno Luong]

"Can I use runtime compiler 9.2 with MATLAB 2020a?"

No

"And is there a way to get codes of the compiled application without runtime 9.2 and just using MATLAB?"

No

[Steven Lord]

If you have a standalone application and you want to see the files used to generate that standalone application, you will need to contact the author of that application and ask them for the files that MATLAB Compiler compiled into the application.