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How to download and install GIMP on Mac

GIMP is a free, open-source image editor, and the GIMP team publishes it for Mac only on gimp.org. Here is which build to download, how to install it and what to know after the first launch.

GIMP

  • macOS 11 or later
  • Apple Silicon and Intel
  • Free, open source
Official GIMP websitegimp.org ↗

Or the installer straight from the developer’s server:

For Apple Silicon.dmgFor Intel.dmg

The links go to the developer’s website (gimp.org, download.gimp.org). MacWashing is not affiliated with the developer and keeps no installers.

Open Terminal (Applications › Utilities) and run:

brew install --cask gimp

Homebrew downloads the app from the developer’s server, checks the file and puts the app in Applications.

No Homebrew yet? How to install Homebrew: one command from brew.sh.

Which version to download

Under GIMP for macOS, the download page has separate builds for Apple Silicon and Intel. If it shows the wrong one, click the link to show the downloads for the other chip. To check your chip:

  1. Choose Apple menu › About This Mac.
  2. If you see Chip with Apple M1, M2 or later, take the build for Apple Silicon. If you see Processor with Intel, take the one for Intel.

GIMP needs macOS 11 Big Sur or later. Download it only from gimp.org: the GIMP team doesn’t publish GIMP in the App Store, and copies there come from other people.

How to install GIMP

  1. Open gimp-…-arm64.dmg (or gimp-…-x86_64.dmg for Intel) in your Downloads folder.
  2. In the window that opens, drag GIMP to the Applications folder.
The GIMP disk image window: GIMP and the Applications folder to drag it to
  1. Eject the GIMP disk: click the eject button next to it in the Finder sidebar.
  2. Open GIMP from Applications and click Open when macOS asks about an app downloaded from the internet.
  3. Wait: the first launch takes longer than usual while GIMP prepares fonts and other resources.

What to set up after the first launch

  • Interface language. GIMP follows your Mac’s language. To pick another one, look in GIMP’s preferences, under Interface, and restart GIMP.
  • Saving and exporting. Save keeps your work with layers in GIMP’s own .xcf format. For a JPEG or PNG, use File › Export As.
  • Folder access. If macOS asks whether GIMP can open files in Documents, Desktop or Downloads, click Allow, or GIMP won’t see your images there.
  • The installer. Move the .dmg from Downloads to the Trash once GIMP runs.

If GIMP won’t install or open

  • «GIMP is damaged and can’t be opened». The download was incomplete. Delete the file and download it again from gimp.org.
  • GIMP won’t open on an Intel Mac. You probably took the Apple Silicon build. Download the build for Intel.
  • GIMP doesn’t start on an older Mac. Check your macOS version in About This Mac: GIMP needs macOS 11 or later.
  • GIMP crashes or keeps broken settings. Remove it with its settings folder and install it again: see how to uninstall GIMP on Mac.

Alternatives to GIMP

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Questions and answers

Is GIMP free?

Yes. GIMP is free and open source, for any use. The GIMP team accepts donations on gimp.org, but you never have to pay for the app.

Is GIMP in the Mac App Store?

Not from the GIMP team. They publish GIMP for Mac only on gimp.org. Anything in the App Store is made by third parties and is not connected to the project.

Why does GIMP save files as XCF?

.xcf is GIMP’s own format: it keeps layers, masks and selections so you can keep editing. To get a regular picture, use File › Export As and choose JPEG, PNG or another format.