Scratch Versions

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This article is about the versions of Scratch. For list of updates to Scratch, see Scratch Update History. For the compatible operating systems and web browsers for the versions of Scratch, see Compatibility of Versions of Scratch.

This page lists the versions of Scratch. The current version is Scratch 3.0.

Scratch 3.0

Scratch 3.0

Main article: Scratch 3.0

Scratch 3.0 was released on January 2, 2019.

New features:

• Stage moved back to the right
• Pen blocks moved to an extension
• Improved paint and sound editors
• A new website
• Sound effect blocks which change how a sound sounds
• A () contains () block that reports whether the first string contains the second
• An Item Number of () in () block that reports the item number of the first match of the string, or 0 if no such value is found
• A Set Drag Mode () block that sets if the sprite can be dragged around
• Go to () Layer block that has "front" and "back" in the dropdown
• Go () () Layers block that has a dropdown of front or back and an input for how many layers the sprite goes
• Costume () and Backdrop () blocks, which also include "name" in the dropdown
• Music, Pen, Video Sensing, Translate, Micro:bit, LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3, and Text to Speech extensions

Scratch 2.0

Scratch 2.0

Main article: Scratch 2.0

Scratch 2.0 was in development for several years, until a public beta began on January 28, 2013. It was officially released on May 9, 2013.

New features:

• New UI
• Procedures
• Cloning
• Cloud data
• Vector graphics
• A "backpack" to collect scripts and media to reuse
• Show and hide lists
• Sound editor
• A Username block that reports the username of the user watching a project.

Scratch 1.4

Scratch 1.4

Main article: Scratch 1.4

Released officially on July 2, 2009.

New features:

• New blocks for string handling.
• The Ask () and Wait block (asks for input from the user).
• A new boolean block for lists, () Contains (), which checks if the list has a certain item into it.
• The webcam can now be used to take pictures, to use them in sprites and backgrounds.
• There are some "hidden" blocks under the Motion category, for use with the LEGO WeDo Robotics kit.
• Modified GUI.
• A new stage mode, added to presentation mode and regular mode: Small stage mode.
• A revised color picker in the paint editor.
• Various minor changes as well.

Scratch 1.3

Scratch 1.3

Main article: Scratch 1.3

Released officially on September 2, 2008.

New features:

• Variables can handle strings (non-digit text)
• Lists (ways of storing multiple pieces of information in one place).
• Comments (small rectangles that can have text typed into them — they can attach to blocks) were added.
• Given fonts are replaced with the fonts from the user's computer.
• If () Then, Repeat, and Forever blocks automatically wrap around block stacks when dragged over them.

Note:

This version introduced the Disappearing Text Bug.

Scratch 1.2

Scratch 1.2

Main article: Scratch 1.2

Released officially on December 7, 2007.

New features:

• Rest for () Beats block.
• Better image compression for some images.
• Multiple fixes to sample projects.
• This was the last release to be compatible with Mac OS X 10.2 and 10.3, as well as Windows 98 and ME.
• Slight interface differences, especially in the Paint Editor

The beta had:

• The comment block
• Different default values on a few blocks
• Reversal of the positions of the volume and tempo blocks in the palette
• Omission of the word "beats" on Play Drum () for () Beats and Play Note () for () Beats blocks

Scratch 1.1

Scratch 1.1

Main article: Scratch 1.1

Released officially May 2007.

New features:

• A new Windows installer
• Repeat Until () block
• The Cap Block shape was added
• A single sprite can now play multiple notes at once (i.e. chords) (previously, a sprite could play only one note at a time)
• Clicking to the left or right of the knob on a slider to change the number by a small amount is now supported
• Tags can now be added to projects when sharing (when the "Share!" button is clicked)
• Support for the optional Scratch Sensor Board has been improved

Scratch 1.0

Scratch 1.0

Main article: Scratch 1.0

Released on May 15, 2007, this was the first version of Scratch available to the public. This version began the 1.x series.

New features: Although it had been in private development for a long while, everything was new to the public. Changes from the previous beta include:

• The Next Costume and Next Background, Think (), Think () for () Secs, Stop All Sounds, and Forever If () blocks
• New buttons to create sprites
• Ability to share projects online
• File extension changed from .scratch to .sb
• Multiple languages introduced
• Enter key added as shortcut for Green Flag
• Import project added

Earlier Versions

An early version of Scratch from 2004.

Main article: Development of Scratch 1.0

The development of Scratch 1.0 spanned from 2003 to 2007 and included several different interfaces and experiments with different blocks and features. It spanned many versions, from Scratch 11Oct03 to the November 2006 beta for educators.

Scratch 4.0

This article or section contains information about a feature from a future version of Scratch that is unreleased and is subject to change. Please cite any additional information in order to prevent speculation.

Main article: List of Misconceptions about Scratch

Some Scratchers have claimed that a major update to Scratch (commonly named as "Scratch 4.0") will release in 2025 due to the six-year gap between the release of the previous major updates (Scratch 1.0 releasing in 2007, Scratch 2.0 in 2013, and Scratch 3.0 in 2019 respectively). However, this release pattern is purely coincidental, and is not meant to be indicative of a major update releasing in 2025.

The possibility of an update under the name "Scratch 4.0" was first mentioned in November 2024 with developing new features for the update being a priority in 2025, but this does not guarantee that it will be released in 2025. What features it may contain are still unknown, and it is possible that depending on the number of new features added, it may simply be an update to 3.0 instead of 4.0.