PrusaSlicer: add a pause and swap filament colors

In PrusaSlicer's preview, move the slider to the first new-color layer and click the orange + for an M600 color change. Right-click it for Add Pause.

Good for: Prusa CORE One, MK4S, MINI, the single-tool XL, and any other printer with a PrusaSlicer profile. Menus match PrusaSlicer 2.9.6 (September 2026).

Setting the pause in PrusaSlicer

  1. 1

    Slice once

    Press Slice now. The preview appears with a layer slider standing on the right.

  2. 2

    Go to the color change

    Move the slider up to the lowest layer that's only the new color. Its label reads the height in mm, followed by the layer number in brackets.

  3. 3

    Click the orange plus

    Click the orange + icon beside the handle. With one extruder, that puts a color change (M600) in front of this layer.

  4. 4

    Prefer a simple stop?

    Right-click the + instead (on a Mac, Ctrl-click) and pick Add Pause. You'll be asked for a short message for the printer to show on its screen.

  5. 5

    Send it

    Send it to the printer directly or save the G-code, same as any other job.

Which layer, though? The first one in the new color. Here's how to spot it.

Your printer's stop command

Prusa's own profiles are ready to go. On another brand, look in Printer Settings → Custom G-code (switch to Expert mode first):

Color change G-codeM600
Pause Print G-codeM601 for Prusa; M0 or PAUSE on other printers

When the printer stops

Load your first color and start the print. Once it reaches the pause:

  1. 6

    The printer unloads

    When it reaches the change, it parks the head and pulls the first color out by itself.

  2. 7

    Feed in the new one

    When the screen asks, insert the second filament. The printer draws it in and purges.

  3. 8

    Say yes to the color

    It then checks whether the color looks right. Choose yes once it's clean, or no to purge a bit more. Take off the purged string and the job continues.

Changed your mind? Taking the pause out

Find the layer carrying the change marker and hit the small grey × icon beside it to clear it. Right-click that icon instead if you'd rather edit the change than lose it.

Things that trip people up

  • On a Prusa, go with the color change (M600). It handles the unload, load, and purge for you, while a pause (M601) only waits.
  • Color changes are off the table when Complete individual objects (sequential printing) is on.
  • Swap like for like, such as PETG after PETG. The temperatures come from the first filament.

Quick answers

Should I click the + or right-click it?
Clicking adds a color change (M600). With that, the printer does the unloading, prompts for the next filament, loads it, purges, and confirms the color with you. Right-clicking and choosing Add Pause adds M601, which only stops and shows your message until you resume.
If I select layer 21, is layer 21 the new color?
Yes. The change lands right ahead of the layer you selected, so pick the first one that should come out in the second color.