How to install PhotoGIMP on Linux

#Which GIMP do you have?

flatpak list --app | grep -i gimp   # Flatpak: shows org.gimp.GIMP and its version
gimp --version                      # distro package: prints the version
snap list gimp                      # Snap

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS and distributions based on it, such as Linux Mint 22, still ship GIMP 2.10 in their own repositories, which PhotoGIMP 3.1 does not support. Use the Flatpak there. Immutable systems such as Bazzite and Fedora Silverblue use the Flatpak too.

#One command

Choose your install type. The command refuses to run while GIMP is open, checks the zip against the 3.1 release hash, backs up your settings to ~/.config/GIMP/3.2-backup-date, copies PhotoGIMP, applies the GIMP 3.2 fix and, for Flatpak, installs the launcher. No sudo.

We pasted the distro-package version of this command into zsh and bash, with the GIMP 3.2.6 AppImage (same folder): the hash check passed, GIMP started with no toolbox warnings, and the Photoshop toolbox order was still there after quitting. With GIMP open, it refused to run and changed nothing. We also ran it with GIMP from the Snap Store, and the Flatpak variant (it checks flatpak ps and adds the launcher) with GIMP from Flathub: same result on both, and the PhotoGIMP launcher opened the Flatpak GIMP.

#By hand, in a file manager

1. Show hidden files

   The folders that matter start with a dot. In most file managers press Ctrl+H to show them.

2. Extract the zip somewhere

   Right-click PhotoGIMP-linux.zip → Extract. Extracting it into your home folder does not install anything; it only creates ~/PhotoGIMP-linux/.

3. Copy the settings

   Open PhotoGIMP-linux/.config/GIMP/3.0, select everything, copy, and paste into ~/.config/GIMP/3.2. Choose Replace for files that already exist.

4. Copy the launcher (Flatpak only)

   Copy the contents of PhotoGIMP-linux/.local/share into ~/.local/share (merge folders). GIMP then appears as “PhotoGIMP” in your menu.

5. Apply the GIMP 3.2 fix and start GIMP

   Edit three lines as shown on the GIMP 3.2 page, then start GIMP.

cd ~/Downloads && unzip -q PhotoGIMP-linux.zip
cp -a ~/.config/GIMP/3.2 ~/.config/GIMP/3.2-backup
cp -a PhotoGIMP-linux/.config/GIMP/3.0/. ~/.config/GIMP/3.2/
cd ~/.config/GIMP/3.2
sed -i 's/"gimp-vector-tool"/"gimp-path-tool"/' toolrc
sed -i 's/"gimp-vectors-list"/"gimp-path-list"/' sessionrc
sed -i 's/"tools-vector"/"tools-path"/' shortcutsrc
# Flatpak GIMP only: the PhotoGIMP launcher and icons (a distro GIMP would get a second, broken menu entry)
cp -a ~/Downloads/PhotoGIMP-linux/.local/share/. ~/.local/share/

The trailing /. copies the contents, including hidden files, rather than the folder.

#PhotoGIMP’s install.sh

The README tells Linux users to run ./install.sh from the extracted zip. The 3.1 zip does not contain it: the script was added to the repository after the release (issue #251). It is on the master branch, together with the GIMP 3.2-ready files, so use them together:

cd ~/Downloads
curl -fsSLO https://github.com/Diolinux/PhotoGIMP/archive/fc61a8f.zip
unzip -q fc61a8f.zip && cd PhotoGIMP-fc61a8f*
chmod +x install.sh && ./install.sh

What it does, from its source and our run:

• Finds GIMP: a Flatpak org.gimp.GIMP, or a gimp-3.x or gimp command on your PATH (or GIMP.app on macOS). With both Flatpak and native GIMP installed, it asks which one, recommending the Flatpak.
• Asks GIMP itself for its settings folder, so it works for 3.0 and 3.2.
• Stops if GIMP is running, if GIMP is older than 3.0, or if the settings folder does not exist yet.
• Backs up the folder to ~/.config/GIMP/GIMP-backup-date/, copies the files, and for the Flatpak installs the launcher and icons (backing those up too).

PhotoGIMP Installer
===================
GIMP installation source: native
GIMP config directory: /home/you/.config/GIMP/3.2
Backing up current config to: /home/you/.config/GIMP/GIMP-backup-20261031-131251
Installing PhotoGIMP config into /home/you/.config/GIMP/3.2...

Done! Start GIMP to use PhotoGIMP.
To restore your previous settings: cp -a '/home/you/.config/GIMP/GIMP-backup-20261031-131251/3.2'/. '/home/you/.config/GIMP/3.2'/

#The PhotoGIMP launcher

For the Flatpak GIMP, PhotoGIMP adds ~/.local/share/applications/org.gimp.GIMP.desktop. Because it has the same name as the Flatpak’s own launcher, it takes its place in your menu: GIMP shows up as “PhotoGIMP” with the PhotoGIMP icon. The 3.1 launcher runs:

flatpak run --branch=stable --command=gimp --file-forwarding org.gimp.GIMP @@u %U @@

The launcher from the older 3.0 release ran --command=gimp-3.0, which fails on the GIMP 3.2 Flatpak (bwrap: execvp gimp-3.0: No such file or directory), so clicking it did nothing. If you have that one, replace it with the 3.1 file or fix it:

sed -i 's/--command=gimp-3\.0/--command=gimp/' ~/.local/share/applications/org.gimp.GIMP.desktop

For a distro package or AppImage the launcher is not needed and install.sh skips it. To get GIMP’s own name and icon back, delete that file.

#Where GIMP keeps its settings on Linux

#Questions

Found something wrong or out of date? Tell us: hello@photogimp.org. We fix mistakes within a day.