Krita is powerful out of the box, but its community has built a long list of add-ons that fill specific gaps: reference boards, timelapse helpers, composition overlays, palette tools, shortcut panels and more. Installing them is straightforward once you know that “plugin” in Krita can mean two different things — Python plugins that add features, and resource bundles that add brushes and textures — and each installs differently.
Quick answer: To install plugins in Krita, download the plugin’s .zip file, then in Krita go to Tools > Scripts > Import Python Plugin from File, select the zip and confirm. Enable it under Settings > Configure Krita > Python Plugin Manager if it is not already ticked, then restart Krita. Docker plugins appear under Settings > Dockers; script plugins appear under Tools > Scripts. Brush packs (.bundle files) are installed separately through Settings > Manage Resources.
This guide walks through how to install plugins in Krita by three methods, how to enable and find them, how to install brush bundles, and how to fix plugins that refuse to appear. If you are still deciding which add-ons are worth installing, our roundup of the best Krita plugins for digital painting covers the most useful options.
Plugins vs Resource Bundles: Know What You Are Installing
| Type | File format | What it adds | Where to install |
|---|---|---|---|
| Python plugin | .zip containing a folder and a .desktop file | New features, dockers, menu actions, automation | Tools > Scripts > Import Python Plugin, or the pykrita folder |
| Resource bundle | .bundle | Brushes, patterns, gradients, palettes, textures | Settings > Manage Resources |
| Individual brush preset | .kpp | One brush | Manage Resources, or the brush presets panel |
| Built-in filter plugins (e.g., G’MIC) | Included with Krita on supported platforms | Filters and effects | Usually no installation needed |
If you downloaded a .bundle, skip to the resource bundle section below. If you downloaded a .zip with Python files inside, read on.
Before You Start
- Update Krita. Many plugins target Krita 5.x. Older versions may lack the import option or the Python API features the plugin needs. Download the current version from the official Krita website.
- Check Python support. The official Windows, macOS and Linux AppImage builds include Python scripting. Some Linux distribution packages may ship without it. If you see no Python Plugin Manager in the settings, your build may lack Python.
- Download from trustworthy sources. Python plugins run code on your computer. Use the developer’s official repository, the Krita Artists community forum or another source you trust, and avoid re-uploaded files from unknown sites.
- Read the plugin’s instructions. Some require extra steps, a minimum Krita version or a specific folder layout.
Method 1: Import Python Plugin from File (Recommended)
This built-in importer handles extraction and placement for you.
- Download the plugin as a .zip. Do not unzip it. If you downloaded from a code repository, use the download-as-zip option, or the release zip the developer provides.
- Open Krita.
- Go to Tools > Scripts > Import Python Plugin from File.
- Select the .zip file and click Open.
- Confirm the prompt. Krita usually asks whether to enable the plugin. Choose Yes.
- Restart Krita. Plugins load at startup, so a restart is required before they appear.
- Find the plugin. Check Settings > Dockers for a new docker, or Tools > Scripts for a new action, depending on the plugin type.
Newer Krita versions may also offer an option in the same menu to import a plugin directly from a web address. The principle is the same; the file is fetched rather than selected locally.
Method 2: Manual Installation via the pykrita Folder
Use this if the importer fails, the plugin came as loose files, or you want full control.
Step 1: Open the resource folder
In Krita, go to Settings > Manage Resources and click Open Resource Folder. This opens Krita’s user resource directory in your file manager. Typical default locations are:
| Operating system | Typical path |
|---|---|
| Windows | %APPDATA%\krita\ |
| macOS | ~/Library/Application Support/krita/ |
| Linux | ~/.local/share/krita/ |
Step 2: Find or create the pykrita folder
Inside the resource folder, look for a folder named pykrita. If it does not exist, create it, using exactly that name in lowercase.
Step 3: Copy the plugin files
Unzip the plugin. A correctly structured Python plugin has two items at the top level:
- A folder named after the plugin, containing an __init__.py file and other Python files.
- A .desktop file with the same base name, which tells Krita the plugin exists.
Copy both into pykrita. Make sure they sit directly inside pykrita, not nested in an extra folder. A common mistake is ending up with pykrita/plugin-main/pluginname/…, which Krita cannot detect.
Step 4: Enable and restart
Restart Krita, open Settings > Configure Krita > Python Plugin Manager, tick the plugin, click OK and restart again.
Method 3: Enabling a Plugin That Is Already Installed
Krita ships with a set of Python plugins that are disabled by default, including tools for batch exporting, document tools, color space conversion, a ten-brushes shortcut tool and a scripting console. To turn these on:
- Go to Settings > Configure Krita (on macOS, this may be under the Krita menu as Preferences).
- Select Python Plugin Manager in the left sidebar.
- Tick the plugins you want.
- Click OK and restart Krita.
Hovering over a plugin in the manager shows a description. Grayed-out entries usually indicate an error or a missing dependency; hovering often reveals the reason.
Where to Find a Plugin After Installing
- Docker plugins: Settings > Dockers. Tick the docker to show it, then drag it to where you want it in the workspace.
- Extension or action plugins: Tools > Scripts, or sometimes a new menu entry elsewhere.
- Shortcut-driven plugins: assign keys via Settings > Configure Krita > Keyboard Shortcuts, searching for the plugin’s action name.
- Toolbar buttons: some plugins add actions you can place on a toolbar via Settings > Configure Toolbars.
Save your workspace (Window > Workspace > New Workspace) once you have arranged plugin dockers, so the layout persists. With your favorite add-ons visible, it is worth reviewing our list of Krita plugins painters rely on for others that complement them.
Installing Brush Packs and Resource Bundles
Brushes, textures and palettes usually come as .bundle files.
- Go to Settings > Manage Resources.
- Click Import Resources (or the import bundles option in older versions).
- Select the .bundle file and open it.
- Confirm the bundle is listed and active.
- Find the new brushes in the Brush Presets docker. Use the tag filter dropdown to show the bundle’s tag.
Individual .kpp brush files can be imported through the same Import Resources option. Restart Krita if new resources do not appear right away.
Removing or disabling bundles
In Manage Resources, you can deactivate bundles you do not use. This keeps the brush list tidy and can speed up startup slightly.
The Built-In G’MIC Filters
G’MIC is a large open-source collection of image filters. In Krita 5, G’MIC-Qt is bundled with the official builds on supported platforms, so there is nothing to install. Find it under Filter > Start G’MIC-Qt. If the menu item is missing, check your platform and build; availability has varied, and some package versions may exclude it.
Troubleshooting: Plugin Not Showing Up
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Not listed in Python Plugin Manager | Wrong folder structure | Ensure the plugin folder and .desktop file sit directly in pykrita |
| Listed but grayed out | Error loading or missing dependency | Hover for the message; check Krita version requirements |
| Enabled but invisible | Krita not restarted, or docker hidden | Restart; check Settings > Dockers |
| No Python Plugin Manager | Build without Python | Install the official build from the Krita website |
| Import option missing | Old Krita version | Update Krita, or use manual installation |
| Errors after a Krita update | Plugin uses changed API | Check for an updated plugin version |
| Brushes not visible after importing bundle | Tag filter or inactive bundle | Set the tag filter to All; activate the bundle in Manage Resources |
For deeper debugging, the Scripter (Tools > Scripts > Scripter, once enabled) can show Python errors. Starting Krita from a terminal can also print loading messages.
Platform Notes
Windows: the resource folder sits inside the hidden AppData directory. Typing %APPDATA%\krita into the File Explorer address bar jumps straight there. If you use the portable version of Krita, resources may be stored alongside the program instead, so always use Open Resource Folder to be sure.
macOS: the Library folder is hidden by default. Use Open Resource Folder from inside Krita, or in Finder choose Go > Go to Folder and paste the path. Settings live under the Krita menu as Preferences rather than under Settings.
Linux: AppImage builds use the folder in your home directory. Flatpak and Snap versions are sandboxed and may store resources in a different location, which is another reason to rely on Open Resource Folder rather than typing a path from memory.
Uninstalling a Plugin
- Disable it in Settings > Configure Krita > Python Plugin Manager.
- Close Krita.
- Open the pykrita folder and delete the plugin’s folder and .desktop file.
- Restart Krita.
Common Types of Krita Plugins
Knowing the categories helps you decide what is worth installing:
- Workflow dockers: panels with quick buttons for frequent actions, brush toggles or layer operations.
- Reference and composition tools: overlays such as grids and thirds guides, or panels for viewing reference images while you paint.
- Color and palette tools: harmonies, palette generation or quick color sampling helpers.
- Export and batch tools: exporting layers, multiple sizes or formats in one go, useful for game assets and print-on-demand.
- Timelapse and recording helpers: saving snapshots of progress for process videos.
- Animation helpers: onion-skin and frame management tools that extend Krita’s animation features.
- Pixel art and specialty tools: plugins that set up grids, palettes and settings for specific styles.
Running Your Own Scripts with Scripter
Krita’s built-in Scripter is a small Python console that is handy for testing snippets before committing to a full plugin. Enable it in the Python Plugin Manager, restart, and open it from Tools > Scripts > Scripter. A one-line script such as reading the active document’s name confirms that Python is working on your installation. If Scripter runs but a downloaded plugin does not, the problem is almost certainly in the plugin’s structure or compatibility rather than in Krita’s Python support.
The official Krita documentation includes a guide to writing simple Python plugins, including the required .desktop file and the difference between extensions and dockers, if you want to build your own tool.
Keeping Plugins Organized
- Install one plugin at a time and open a test document to try it, so you know which one causes problems if something breaks.
- Keep a text file listing your plugins and where you downloaded them.
- Back up the pykrita folder before major Krita updates.
- Avoid installing many overlapping plugins; a lean setup is easier to maintain.
- Review your plugins every few months and remove any you have not opened. Fewer active plugins means a faster startup and fewer conflicts after updates.
How to Install Krita First (If You Have Not Yet)
Download Krita from the official website, which offers installers for Windows, macOS and Linux. Krita is free and open source. It is also sold through some app stores; those paid versions fund development and offer automatic updates but have the same features. On Windows, run the installer and follow the prompts. After installing, open Krita once before adding plugins so it creates the resource folder.
FAQs
How do I install a Python plugin in Krita?
Use Tools > Scripts > Import Python Plugin from File, select the plugin’s .zip, confirm enabling it, then restart Krita.
Where is the pykrita folder?
Inside Krita’s resource folder. Open it via Settings > Manage Resources > Open Resource Folder. If pykrita does not exist, create it.
Why is my Krita plugin not showing?
Common reasons are incorrect folder structure, not restarting Krita, the plugin not being enabled in the Python Plugin Manager, or the docker being hidden under Settings > Dockers.
How do I install brushes in Krita?
Go to Settings > Manage Resources, choose Import Resources, select the .bundle or .kpp file and confirm. Find the brushes in the Brush Presets docker.
Are Krita plugins safe?
Python plugins run code on your computer, so download them only from trusted sources such as the developer’s official page or the Krita community forum.
Do plugins work on all versions of Krita?
Not always. Plugins rely on Krita’s Python API, which changes between versions. Check each plugin’s stated compatibility.
Next Step
Installing Krita plugins takes a few clicks: import the zip through Tools > Scripts, enable it in the Python Plugin Manager, restart, and find it in Dockers or the Scripts menu. Brush bundles go through Manage Resources instead. With that process mastered, choose your add-ons from our guide to the top Krita plugins for digital painting in 2026.
