PLC Simulator
Mitsubishi Electric

GX Works & Mitsubishi PLC Software Guide

GX Works3 is Mitsubishi Electric's current IDE for MELSEC iQ-R and iQ-F series PLCs. GX Works2 programs the legacy Q and FX series. This guide covers the full MELSOFT software family, 30-day trial access, GX Simulator3, system requirements, Mitsubishi addressing conventions, and how to practice IEC 61131-3 ladder logic free in your browser.

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GX Works Mitsubishi PLC software guide — GX Works3, GX Works2, MELSOFT download, trial, and IEC 61131-3 practice

Product overview

GX Works family — which version do you need?

Mitsubishi Electric's programming tools have evolved through GX Developer (legacy, deprecated), GX Works2 (current for Q/FX series), and GX Works3 (current for iQ-R/iQ-F series). Your hardware determines which version you need.

Mitsubishi MELSEC PLC architecture — CPU scanning X input and Y output modules, the model GX Works programs and GX Simulator3 emulatesA modular PLC rack on a backplane: power supply, CPU processor, input module, output module and a communications module side by side.PLC RACKbackplane busPSUPowerCPUProcessorDIInputDOOutputNETComms
The MELSEC PLC model GX Works programs: a CPU running your logic against X input and Y output modules — emulated on a PC by GX Simulator3.
The five IEC 61131-3 languages GX Works3 Structured Project mode supports on Mitsubishi iQ-R and iQ-F hardwareThe five IEC 61131-3 PLC programming languages as chips: Ladder Diagram, Function Block Diagram, Structured Text, Instruction List and Sequential Function Chart.IEC 61131-3 — five languagesLDLadder DiagramFBDFunction BlockSTStructured TextILInstruction ListSFCSequential Func. Chart
GX Works3 Structured Project mode follows IEC 61131-3 — the same five standard languages, so the core skills transfer in and out of Mitsubishi.
SoftwareHardware targetProgramming styleStatus
GX DeveloperA/QnA/Q series (very old)Classic Mitsubishi LADLegacy — discontinued for new projects
GX Works2MELSEC Q, L, FX2N/FX3G/FX3U seriesSimple Project (classic) + Structured Project (IEC)Current — for legacy hardware maintenance
GX Works3MELSEC iQ-R, iQ-F (FX5U/5UJ), some QIEC 61131-3 structured + Mitsubishi LADCurrent — recommended for new projects

Addressing

Mitsubishi device addressing explained

Mitsubishi PLCs use a device-letter addressing scheme. Each device type has a letter prefix followed by a decimal or octal number. Understanding this is essential before writing your first GX Works rung.

Mitsubishi Device Addressing — GX Works2 / GX Works3DeviceAddressFunctionA-B equivalentXX000, X001...Digital input bitsI:0/0, I:0/1 (file I)YY000, Y001...Digital output bitsO:0/0, O:0/1 (file O)MM0, M1...Internal relay (bit)B3:0/0 (bit file)TT0, T1...Timer (100ms default)T4:0 (timer file)CC0, C1...Counter (up/down)C5:0 (counter file)DD0, D1...Data register (16-bit)N7:0 (integer file)X/Y addresses in octal on older hardware; decimal on iQ-R/iQ-F series
Mitsubishi device addressing: X inputs, Y outputs, M internals, T timers, C counters, D data registers — compared to Allen-Bradley file equivalents.

Requirements

System requirements for GX Works3

Operating systemWindows 10 (64-bit) or Windows 11 — no macOS, no Linux natively
RAM4 GB minimum; 8 GB recommended
Disk spaceApproximately 3–4 GB for GX Works3
SimulatorGX Simulator3 included in GX Works3 package — runs on same Windows PC
CommunicationUSB (direct to CPU), Ethernet (built-in on iQ-R/iQ-F), or CC-Link IE Field network
macOS / LinuxRequires Windows VM — Mitsubishi does not support native macOS/Linux installs

Download steps

How to download GX Works3 trial

1

Register on Mitsubishi FA Global Website

Go to the Mitsubishi Electric FA Global Website (mitsubishielectric.com/fa) and register for a free account. Different regional portals exist — select your country. Mitsubishi requires registration to access trial downloads.

2

Navigate to MELSOFT Download Centre

Within the FA portal, navigate to "Software" → "MELSOFT" → "GX Works3". Select the current version. Alternatively, contact your local Mitsubishi Electric FA distributor — they can supply trial licenses directly and often provide better technical support during the trial.

3

Request the 30-day trial license

The GX Works3 trial is a 30-day license key. Request it through the portal or your distributor. The download is an ISO or executable package, typically 1–2 GB.

4

Install as Administrator

Run the installer as Administrator. GX Works3 installs the IDE, GX Simulator3, and the MELSOFT Navigator launcher. Accept the default paths. Installation takes approximately 15–30 minutes.

5

Activate the trial license

When you first launch GX Works3, it will prompt for a license key. Enter the 30-day trial key from your request. After 30 days the software reverts to a viewer-only mode until you purchase a license.

Transferable logic

The GX Works ladder concepts that transfer directly

Mitsubishi's X/Y/M/T/C/D addressing is notation. The logic underneath — contacts and coils, the scan cycle, timers, and counters — is the same standard PLC craft you can drill in a browser today, then re-label with Mitsubishi device addresses inside GX Works.

A Mitsubishi GX Works ladder rung — a normally-open X contact and normally-closed X contact driving a Y output coilA basic ladder logic rung between two power rails: an examine-if-closed contact (XIC) in series driving an output coil (OTE).L1L2] [StartXIC I:0/0LampOTE O:0/0
A ladder rung as drawn in GX Works — contacts on X devices driving a Y output coil.
The Mitsubishi MELSEC scan cycle GX Simulator3 runs — read X inputs, solve the ladder, write Y outputs, repeatThe repeating PLC scan cycle: read inputs, execute the ladder logic, update outputs, then housekeeping, looping continuously.1Read Inputs2Execute Logic3Update Outputs4HousekeepingSCANCYCLE
The MELSEC scan cycle GX Simulator3 reproduces: read X inputs → solve ladder → write Y outputs.
A Mitsubishi T device on-delay timer — the timer output turns on only after the preset time counts down, equivalent to an IEC TONA TON on-delay timer: the accumulated time bar ramps up toward the preset value, and the done (DN) bit turns on when the accumulator reaches preset.TONPRE 5000ACCACC ramps to PREPREDNdone bit
A Mitsubishi T-device on-delay timer — the same on-delay behaviour as a standard IEC TON.
A Mitsubishi C device up-counter — increments on each input pulse and sets its done bit at the preset valueA CTU count-up counter: each input pulse increments the accumulator toward the preset, and the done (DN) bit turns on when count reaches preset.count pulsesCTUPRE 5ACC 3ACCcount toward presetDNdone bit
A Mitsubishi C-device counter — counts input pulses and trips at its preset, just like an IEC CTU.

Practice now

Practice IEC 61131-3 ladder logic in your browser while you wait for GX Works

GX Works3's iQ-R series uses IEC 61131-3 Structured Project mode, which means the core ladder logic concepts — NO/NC contacts, coils, TON/TOF timers, CTU/CTD counters — are identical to our browser simulator. The Mitsubishi-specific X/Y/M/T/C/D addressing is a notation difference, not a logic difference. Build your ladder fluency first; transfer the addressing notation when you have the software.

A browser PLC simulator running ladder logic with no install — practise Mitsubishi-style ladder logic instantly while your GX Works3 trial downloadsA web browser window running a PLC ladder logic simulator with an input/output strip, requiring no installation or download.plcsimulator.app/playno installINPUTSOUTPUTS
No 30-day clock, no Windows VM — write ladder logic in the browser while the GX Works trial downloads.
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Questions

GX Works and Mitsubishi PLC software FAQ

GX Works3 is not free. It is a paid commercial product. Mitsubishi Electric offers a 30-day trial that you can request through the MELSOFT Download Centre or your local Mitsubishi FA distributor. Academic institutions can apply for educational licensing. There is no permanently free version of GX Works3 or GX Works2.

IEC 61131-3 ladder logic — free in your browser while you wait for GX Works.

Core ladder logic transfers directly. No 30-day clock. No Windows required.

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