GIMP Folder Finder
Where do brushes, fonts, plugins and scripts actually go? Pick your system and copy the exact path.
Photoshop .abr brushes work in GIMP 2.10 and 3.x, but only the plain bitmap ones. Brushes with dynamics or textures usually import blank.
Fonts installed system wide already show up in GIMP. Use this folder only when you want a font available to GIMP and nothing else.
On macOS and Linux the file must be executable. Run chmod +x on it, then restart GIMP.
After copying a script in, use Filters > Script-Fu > Refresh Scripts instead of restarting GIMP.
A plain PNG dropped in here becomes a tileable pattern. Restart or refresh to see it.
Photoshop .grd gradients need converting first. There are free converters online.
A .gpl file is plain text. You can write one by hand if you have the RGB values.
Each theme is a folder, not a file. Drop the whole folder in and pick it under Preferences > Interface > Theme.
Delete or rename this whole folder to reset GIMP to factory settings without reinstalling.
Install here when you want the font in every program, not just GIMP.
The answer that never goes out of date
Inside GIMP, open Edit > Preferences > Folders and expand the section you need. GIMP lists the exact folders it is reading on this machine, and you can add your own from there.
After You Copy Files In
Dropping a file into the right folder is only half of it. GIMP scans these folders at particular moments, and different resource types behave differently.
| What you added | How to make GIMP see it |
|---|---|
| Brushes, patterns, gradients, palettes | Click the refresh button at the bottom of the matching dialog. No restart needed. |
| Script-Fu scripts | Filters > Script-Fu > Refresh Scripts. |
| Plug-ins | Restart GIMP. Plug-ins are only scanned at startup. |
| Fonts | Restart GIMP, or click refresh in the Fonts dialog. |
| Themes and icon themes | Restart, then pick it in Preferences > Interface > Theme. |
When It Does Not Work
- The folder does not exist. Create it. GIMP only makes the folders it has used at least once, so a fresh install is often missing several.
- You put it in the install folder instead. There are two sets of these folders: one inside the GIMP program directory, and one in your user profile. Always use the user one. The program one gets wiped on update.
- The plug-in is not executable. On macOS and Linux, run
chmod +xon the file. This is the single most common reason a plug-in never appears. - It is in a subfolder. Most resources must sit directly in the folder. Plug-ins are the exception in GIMP 3, where a plug-in can live in a subfolder that shares its name.
- You installed the Flatpak or Snap version. Those are sandboxed and use completely different paths, listed in the tips above.
Resetting GIMP Without Reinstalling
If GIMP has become unstable, slow, or your panels are in an unrecoverable mess, you do not need to reinstall.
- Close GIMP completely.
- Find the settings folder in the list above.
- Rename it, for example add
-oldto the end. Do not delete it yet. - Start GIMP. It builds a fresh profile with factory defaults.
- If that fixed it, copy your brushes, fonts and scripts back over from the renamed folder one type at a time.
Common Questions
Can I share one folder between GIMP 2.10 and GIMP 3?
Yes, for brushes, patterns, gradients, palettes and fonts. Add the other version's folder under Preferences > Folders. Do not share the plug-ins or scripts folders, as the APIs differ enough to cause errors.
Where do downloaded GIMP resources usually come from?
Most are ZIP files. Extract them first, then move the loose files in. GIMP does not read inside archives.
My AppData folder is hidden on Windows
Type %appdata% into the File Explorer address bar and press Enter. It takes you straight there without changing any settings.
How do I install a plugin properly?
The plugins guide covers the whole process, including the executable bit on macOS and Linux and what to do when a plugin does not show up.