Setting up a new iCON product is meant to be simple, and Smart Install is the easiest way to do it. You install one app, plug in your device, and Smart Install finds your exact model and offers the software that goes with it. You do not have to know which driver or which app you need. Smart Install works that out for you.

You can use Smart Install for iCON audio interfaces, DAW control surfaces, and MIDI keyboards. It recognizes current products and older ones too, including the QCon and Platform control surfaces.

Before you start. This requires an internet connection to get the correct drivers!

You need the device, its USB cable, and a Windows or Mac computer. For the first setup, connect the device to a USB 3.0 port (the blue one) and plug it straight into the computer rather than through a hub. That gives it the steadiest connection while everything installs.

Step 1: Download and install Smart Install

Go to www.iconproaudio.com. Find your device, click on the link for it. Go to downloads and find the “Smart Install” link and download it to your computer. 

Open the installer and follow the prompts. On the first launch, Smart Install may ask for permission to install drivers. Go ahead and allow it, so it can set everything up in the right order.

Step 2: Connect your device

Plug the device into the computer with its USB cable and turn it on if it has a power switch. Give it a few seconds to be recognized.

Step 3: Let Smart Install find your device

Smart Install reads the connected device and shows you the software that fits it. You do not need to search for your product by name. If nothing appears yet, see "If your device is not found" below.

Step 4: Choose what to install

Smart Install shows only the software that matches your device. Depending on the product, that can include:

• iMap, the tool for control surfaces and keyboards. You use iMap to assign functions, change how buttons and faders behave, and update the device firmware.
• iO Core, the control panel for audio interfaces, where you set things like buffer size and levels.
• FX-Play, the effects tool for live streaming devices.

Pick what you need and let Smart Install take care of the rest. It chooses the correct driver for your operating system and installs everything in the right order.

Updating firmware

Firmware updates for control surfaces and keyboards run through iMap, which Smart Install installs for you. Open iMap, select your model, and follow the update steps. Keep the device connected and powered the whole time.

Before you update, turn off and unplug any extenders, and update one device at a time. A main unit and its extender are separate devices with separate firmware. In iMap, check the device dropdown and confirm it names the exact device you are updating, since loading the wrong firmware onto a device can damage it.

If macOS blocks the installer

On a Mac, especially an Apple Silicon Mac (M1, M2, M3, M4), the system may hold the installer back the first time and say it is from an unidentified developer. This is a normal macOS safety step, and it is quick to clear:

1. Open System Settings, then Privacy & Security.
2. Scroll to the Security section, where you will see a note about the iCON installer.
3. Click Open Anyway, then confirm.
4. Run the installer again.

If your device is not found

If Smart Install does not automatically detect your device, try adding it manually before troubleshooting the USB connection.

Manually select your device

1. In Smart Install, choose the option to manually select or add a device.
2. Select your iCON product from the device list.
3. Follow the prompts to install the available driver, iMap software, and/or firmware for that product.
4. When the installation is complete, reconnect the device if prompted and allow Smart Install a few moments to detect it.

If your product is not available for manual selection, or Smart Install still cannot communicate with it after the manual installation, continue with the connection troubleshooting below.

Check the USB connection

The issue is usually related to the USB connection. Try these steps in order:

1. Connect the device directly to a USB 3.0 port on the computer rather than through a hub. USB 3.0 ports are often blue, and we recommend USB 3.0 for iCON devices.
2. If the device is still not found, try another USB port and a different, known-good USB cable.
3. If it still does not appear, try a reliable powered USB hub such as the iCON OneHub. We recommend first connecting the device directly to the computer to confirm that it is detected, then adding the hub.
4. Close Smart Install, make sure the device is connected and powered on, then reopen Smart Install. If needed, restart the computer and try again.
5. If the device screen is blank, or if a recent firmware update did not complete, the device may be in firmware upgrade mode. Follow the recovery instructions for your product, then reopen Smart Install for V/P series controller recovery or QCon/Platform recovery.

If it still does not appear, contact support with your product model, your operating system, and the step where it stopped. We are glad to help you get it running.