Quick answer: No, you cannot use Procreate on a PC. Procreate is made only for iPad (with a separate iPhone app, Procreate Pocket), and there is no official Windows, Mac or Android version. Websites offering “Procreate for PC” downloads are not legitimate and can carry malware. On a Windows computer, use an alternative such as Krita, Clip Studio Paint, Adobe Fresco or Photoshop, and move Procreate artwork across as layered PSD files.
Searches for “Procreate for Windows” are common, which makes sense: Procreate is one of the best-known digital painting apps, and plenty of artists draw on Windows laptops and pen displays. Unfortunately, popularity has also attracted fake download pages and misleading tutorials.
This guide explains exactly where Procreate runs, why emulators and “PC versions” are a dead end, the realistic ways to combine an iPad and a PC, and the Windows apps that feel closest to Procreate. If you are new to Procreate itself and plan to learn on an iPad, our guide to the best Procreate tutorial books can shorten the learning curve.
Can You Use Procreate on a PC? Where It Actually Runs
| Device | Procreate available? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| iPad | Yes | Full Procreate; one-time App Store purchase |
| iPhone | Procreate Pocket | Separate, smaller app with many core features |
| Windows PC or laptop | No | No official version |
| Mac or MacBook | No | Not offered in the Mac App Store |
| Android tablet or Chromebook | No | No official version |
Procreate’s developer, Savage Interactive, builds the app specifically around Apple’s iPad hardware, iPadOS and the Apple Pencil. That tight focus is part of why it feels so smooth, and also why it has not been ported to other platforms.
Can you use Procreate on a MacBook?
No. Although some iPad apps can run on Apple silicon Macs, Procreate is not made available that way. If you see Procreate listed for Mac anywhere other than an official announcement from the developer, treat it with suspicion.
Why “Procreate for PC” Downloads Are a Bad Idea
A quick search turns up sites and videos promising a “Procreate Windows download tutorial” or a free PC installer. These fall into a few categories:
- Malware and adware installers disguised as Procreate.
- Different apps renamed to borrow Procreate’s popularity.
- Emulator tutorials that do not work, because iPadOS emulators capable of running Procreate are not generally available to consumers.
- Clickbait videos that end with “use this alternative instead.”
Android emulators such as BlueStacks run Android apps, not iPad apps, so they cannot run Procreate. Installing random “cracked” software also risks your computer and your files. The safe rule is simple: if it is not from Apple’s App Store on an iPad, it is not Procreate.
Realistic Ways to Use Procreate With a PC
You cannot run the app on Windows, but you can build a workflow where an iPad and a PC work together.
1. Paint on the iPad, finish on the PC
Draw in Procreate, then export via Actions, Share and choose PSD. Layers, blend modes and layer names carry across to most desktop programs. Open the PSD in Photoshop, Krita, Clip Studio Paint, Affinity Photo or GIMP for final edits, text, print layout or client changes.
2. Transfer files easily
- Cloud storage: Export to iCloud Drive, Google Drive, Dropbox or OneDrive from the Share menu, then download on the PC.
- Cable: Connect the iPad to the PC and use a file transfer tool such as Apple’s device apps for Windows.
- Email or messaging: Fine for small files, but avoid it for large layered PSDs, which may be compressed or rejected.
3. Use the iPad as a drawing tablet for the PC
Third-party apps can turn an iPad into a second screen or pen display for a Windows computer. That lets you draw with an Apple Pencil in Windows programs. It does not run Procreate on the PC, and pressure and latency vary by app and connection, but it can be a practical bridge if you already own an iPad.
4. Mirror your iPad screen
If you want to show Procreate on a larger display or stream your process, you can mirror the iPad to a PC monitor using screen-mirroring apps or a capture device. You still paint on the iPad; the PC simply displays it.
Best Procreate Alternatives on Windows
If you want something that runs natively on your PC, these are the most common choices. Features and pricing change, so check current details on each developer’s site.
| App | Price model | Feels like Procreate? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Krita | Free and open source | Similar painting focus, more complex interface | Painting and illustration on a budget |
| Clip Studio Paint | One-time or subscription options | Powerful brushes; strong line art | Comics, manga, illustration, animation |
| Adobe Fresco | Free | Clean, touch-first interface | Windows touchscreens, live watercolor and oil |
| Adobe Photoshop | Subscription | Very capable but denser interface | Professional editing plus painting |
| Rebelle | One-time purchase | Realistic wet media focus | Traditional watercolor and acrylic look |
| Corel Painter | Subscription or purchase options | Traditional media simulation | Painterly, natural-media work |
| MediBang Paint | Free with optional premium | Light and simple | Beginners, comics, low-spec PCs |
Which alternative is closest?
For a touch-first feel on a Windows tablet, Adobe Fresco is the nearest experience. For brush depth and painting, Krita and Clip Studio Paint are the most popular. Clip Studio and Krita can both import Photoshop .abr brushes, and Clip Studio is especially strong for line art.
Bringing Your Procreate Brushes and Palettes to a PC
Procreate brushes (.brush and .brushset) do not open in Windows programs. You have three options:
- Buy dual-format packs that include Photoshop or Clip Studio versions.
- Rebuild favorites by extracting the shape and grain PNG files from the Procreate brush archive and defining new brushes in your PC software.
- Use .abr as your master format, since Procreate, Fresco, Clip Studio and Krita can all import Photoshop brushes to some degree.
Color palettes can be recreated by exporting a Procreate canvas with swatches painted on it, then sampling those colors in your PC app.
How to Use Procreate on an iPad Alongside Windows
If you are deciding whether to buy an iPad just for Procreate, think about how you will actually work. Many illustrators sketch and paint on the iPad because it is portable and fast, then use a PC for anything involving typography, page layout, client revisions or large prints. That split plays to each device’s strengths.
Setting up a print-ready canvas
Because you may finish or print from a PC, start correctly in Procreate. Tap +, then the custom canvas icon, set width and height in inches or millimeters at 300 DPI, and choose a color profile that matches your print workflow. The canvas size limits how many layers you get, so very large print canvases leave fewer layers.
How to print from Procreate
Export a PDF, TIFF or full-quality JPEG via Actions, Share. Transfer it to the PC and print from there, or send it straight to a print service. Printing directly from the iPad also works through AirPrint-compatible printers.
How to Draw Using Procreate if You Are Coming From PC Software
Desktop artists often find Procreate’s gesture-based controls unfamiliar at first. A few shortcuts make the transition faster:
- Two-finger tap to undo; three-finger tap to redo.
- Touch and hold on the canvas to sample color with the eyedropper (depending on your gesture settings).
- Draw a line or shape and hold at the end to snap it into a clean QuickShape.
- Pinch to zoom and rotate; quick pinch to fit the canvas to the screen.
- Three-finger swipe down to open the Copy and Paste menu.
Structured lessons help desktop users relearn these habits quickly. A good tutorial book or course walks through gestures, layer management and Brush Studio in order. Our comparison of the most useful Procreate learning books breaks them down by skill level.
Procreate App for Windows Tutorial Videos: What They Really Show
Many videos titled “Procreate app for Windows tutorial” follow the same pattern. They open with a Procreate thumbnail, then demonstrate a different program, such as Krita or a free mobile-style painting app, or they walk viewers through installing an emulator that ultimately fails. Some link to download sites in the description. Watching is harmless; downloading from those links is not. If a tutorial asks you to disable antivirus software or install a “crack,” close it.
Should You Buy an iPad Just for Procreate?
It depends on how you work and what you already own. An iPad plus Apple Pencil is a significant purchase, while several excellent PC apps are free or inexpensive. Consider these questions:
| Question | If yes | If no |
|---|---|---|
| Do you want to draw away from a desk? | An iPad is a strong fit | A PC with a pen tablet may be enough |
| Do you already own a pen display or graphics tablet? | Try Krita or Clip Studio first | Compare tablet costs with an iPad |
| Will you follow Procreate-specific courses or books? | Procreate’s learning ecosystem is a real advantage | Any capable app will do |
| Do you need Windows-only software for work? | Keep the PC as your main machine and add an iPad for drawing | An iPad alone may cover your needs |
Many artists find the combination ideal: sketching and painting in Procreate on the couch or in a cafe, then finishing on a PC with a larger screen and desktop tools.
Will Procreate Ever Come to Windows?
There is no official announcement of a Windows version. The developer has historically focused on iPad and iPhone and expanded with additional Apple-platform apps instead. That could change, but making a purchase decision based on a rumored PC version is risky. If you need a Windows painting app today, choose one of the native alternatives.
Moving From Procreate to a Windows App: What Changes
If you already know Procreate and switch to a PC app, a few habits need adjusting.
- Keyboard shortcuts replace gestures. Desktop apps lean on shortcuts such as Ctrl+Z for undo, B for brush and E for eraser. Learning ten core shortcuts restores most of Procreate’s speed.
- Brush engines differ. Spacing, pressure and texture settings exist everywhere, but sliders use different scales. Rebuild favorite brushes by eye rather than copying numbers.
- Layer limits relax. Desktop apps usually allow far more layers than Procreate on a large canvas, limited mainly by your computer’s memory.
- Pressure needs calibration. Pen tablets and displays have driver settings for pressure curves. Adjust them before blaming the app for a stiff feel.
- Files are larger. Desktop formats like PSD, KRA or CLIP can grow quickly. Keep an organized folder structure and regular backups.
Procreate Pocket: The Only Other Official Option
Procreate Pocket is the developer’s iPhone app. It shares the core brush engine, layers and many familiar tools, at a lower price than the iPad version. It is useful for quick sketches, color studies and reference gathering when you are away from your iPad, and files can move between Pocket and Procreate. It does not run on computers either.
Common Misconceptions
- “Procreate works on Android tablets.” It does not.
- “An emulator can run it.” Consumer emulators do not run iPadOS apps like Procreate.
- “Procreate Dreams runs on PC.” Procreate Dreams is also an iPad app.
- “I can buy Procreate once and use it everywhere.” The purchase is tied to your Apple ID on Apple devices that support it.
FAQs
How do you download Procreate on a PC?
You cannot. There is no legitimate Procreate installer for Windows. Any download claiming to be one should be avoided.
How can I use Procreate on a PC without an iPad?
You cannot use Procreate without an iPad or iPhone. Instead, try Krita, Adobe Fresco, Clip Studio Paint or MediBang Paint, all of which run on Windows.
Is there a Procreate app for Windows tablets like the Surface?
No. On Windows tablets, Adobe Fresco offers the most similar touch-first experience.
Can I open .procreate files on a PC?
Windows programs do not reliably open native .procreate files. Export from Procreate as PSD instead to keep your layers.
Can I use my Wacom tablet with Procreate?
No. Procreate works with the Apple Pencil and supported styluses on iPad, not with PC drawing tablets.
Is Procreate Pocket on iPhone a good substitute?
It is useful for sketching on the go and shares many features, but the small screen makes detailed work harder. It does not solve the PC question either.
Next Step
Procreate stays on iPad and iPhone, so the real choice is between adding an iPad to your setup or choosing a strong Windows alternative. If you go the iPad route, pair it with your PC through PSD exports and cloud storage for the best of both. Then speed up your progress with a structured guide; our list of the best Procreate tutorial books for beginners and beyond is a practical place to start.
