In versions following v5.35, Microchip removed support for 32-bit operating systems and, crucially, phased out the in favor of the newer PIC-AS assembler.
If a portable instance of v5.35 is absolutely required (e.g., for legacy project maintenance on a locked-down PC), follow this verified manual process:
Yes. Microchip allows free download and use of MPLAB X IDE for development. No license fee. XC8 compilers have a free mode (optimization limited) and paid PRO mode.
For developers moving between computers, working in restricted corporate environments, or managing limited disk space, a portable version of MPLAB X IDE v5.35 is the perfect solution. Version 5.35 holds a legendary status in the Microchip community as the final version to fully support 8-bit assembly toolchains (MPASM) before Microchip transitioned entirely to the newer, C-focused compiler architecture. Why Version 5.35 is Highly Sought After download mplab x ide v535 portable
An IDE cannot build code without its compilers. To keep the compilers portable:
A standard installation of MPLAB X writes files to program directories, user folders ( %USERPROFILE% ), and system registries. A portable configuration bypasses these constraints by wrapping the IDE, compilers, and configurations into a single, self-contained directory. Key Benefits:
Download MPLABX-v5.35-windows-installer.exe . In versions following v5
When creating projects within the IDE, ensure that all file referencing, header inclusions, and output directories use relative paths ( .\src ) rather than absolute paths ( C:\Users\Name\Projects... ). This prevents broken paths when your portable drive letter changes (e.g., from drive E: on one PC to drive F: on another).
Microchip typically releases installers that integrate deeply with the OS (Windows Registry, Start Menu, etc.). However, "portable" in this context usually means a version that can be installed on an external drive or run without requiring administrator privileges, often achieved by extracting the installer files rather than running the full installation wizard, or by moving the installation folder directly. Features of the v5.35 Release
Many companies lock their entire engineering team into a specific toolchain (such as v5.35 combined with the MPLAB XC8/XC16/XC32 compilers) to ensure version control and uniformity across team environments. No license fee
Because Microchip frequently updates its website, finding older versions requires using the Microchip Ecosystem Downloads Archive . Visit the Microchip Archive page. Navigate through the pages to locate . Download the specific installer for your operating system: Windows: MPLABX-v5.35-windows-installer.exe Linux: MPLABX-v5.35-linux-installer.run macOS: MPLABX-v5.35-osx-installer.dmg
For 32-bit PIC and SAM microcontrollers.