You have a laptop, a folder of music files and a party on Saturday, and you want to practice beatmatching before then. Mixxx 2.5.6 is free DJ software from the Mixxx Project that runs on Windows, macOS and Linux. The installer is fetched straight from the developer's server, downloads.mixxx.org.
Who Mixxx suits, from laptop beginners to turntablists
The developer describes the audience as new DJs working with only a laptop and experienced turntablists alike. That makes it a reasonable first program for someone who wants to learn mixing without paying for a licence. It is free, and the licence is GPL-2.0-or-later.
The app sits in our DJ software category and also appears in our list of free offline music players for PC.
Live mixing with digital files and hardware controllers
Mixxx brings together the tools needed to build live mixes from digital music files. The 2.5.6 release lists updated mappings for the Numark Mixtrack 3, Pioneer CDJ-350, Reloop Beatmix 2/4 and Traktor Kontrol Z1, so hardware users have specific models named.
The library gets attention too. The search 'not' operator was repaired, Rhythmbox imports were fixed, and history playlists can now export track files.
Size, missing screenshots and a retired 2.5 line
The installer is 115.1 MB. The changelog says 2.5.6 should be the last 2.5 release, which means later features will come in a newer series. If you want a commercial route, rekordbox and VirtualDJ are the alternatives we list.
What's new in 2.5.6
Version 2.5.6 was released on March 25, 2026. It fixes the search 'not' operator and scratching with keylock, improves the White Noise and Echo effects, and removes crackling in QuickEffect. Version 2.5.5 was skipped after a release workflow issue.
Mixxx pros and cons
Pros
- Free, with a GPL-2.0-or-later open source licence
- Runs on Windows, macOS and Linux
- Controller mappings updated for four named devices in 2.5.6
- Download comes from the official host, downloads.mixxx.org
- Library fixes include Rhythmbox imports and history playlist export
Cons
- Later features will arrive only in a newer release series, since 2.5.6 should be the last 2.5 release
- 115.1 MB installer
- The 2.5 series is expected to end with this release
Is Mixxx safe?
Mixxx 2.5.6 is built by the Mixxx Project, and its source code is published under the GPL-2.0-or-later license, so anyone can read what the DJ software does. The program costs nothing, and the installer is about 115.1 MB.
How to install Mixxx
- Press the download button to get the official file.
- Run the installer you saved and confirm the Windows security prompt if the publisher matches.
- Follow the setup steps, then start Mixxx from the Start menu.
