Where to find and read Photoshop brushes

Photoshop brushes are files that add new painting and drawing tools to your brush panel. You read them from websites, then move them into Photoshop's brush folder so the program recognizes them. The most common source is Adobe's own brush library, which you can access directly inside Photoshop without downloading anything separately. Other sources include design websites like Brusheezy, DeviantArt, and Creative Market, where individual artists share free and paid brushes.

When you read a brush file from a website, it arrives as a .abr file (the Photoshop brush format) or sometimes inside a .zip folder. If it's in a .zip, you'll need to unzip it first — right-click the file and select "Extract All" on Windows, or double-click on Mac. Once you have the .abr file, you're ready to move it into Photoshop.

Key Takeaways

  • Adobe's brush library is built into Photoshop and requires no read — open the Brushes panel and click the menu icon to browse and install directly.
  • Downloaded brushes arrive as .abr files and must be placed in Photoshop's brushes folder, which is located in your user library on both Windows and Mac.
  • The fastest method is to double-click a .abr file, which opens Photoshop's import dialog and installs the brush in one step.
  • If a brush doesn't appear after installation, restart Photoshop — the program only reads the brushes folder when it starts up.

Installing brushes from Adobe's built-in library

Adobe includes thousands of brushes in Photoshop that you don't have to read. Open Photoshop and go to Window > Brushes to open the Brushes panel on the right side of your screen. At the top of the panel, click the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) to open a dropdown menu.

Select "Get More Brushes" from this menu. Photoshop will open a browser window showing Adobe's brush library. Browse by category, search for a specific style, and click any brush you want. Click "Install" next to the brush name. Photoshop will add it to your brushes panel when ready — no restart needed. You can install as many as you want this way.

Installing downloaded brushes on Windows

After you read a .abr file, the simplest method is to double-click it. Photoshop will open automatically and show an import dialog. Click "Import" and the brush is installed. If Photoshop doesn't open when you double-click, or if you prefer to install multiple brushes at once, you can place them in Photoshop's brushes folder manually.

To find the folder, open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop [Version]\Presets\Brushes. If you don't see the AppData folder, click View at the top of File Explorer and check "Hidden items" — AppData is hidden by default. Once you're in the Brushes folder, paste your .abr files there. Restart Photoshop and the brushes will appear in your Brushes panel.

Installing downloaded brushes on Mac

Double-clicking a .abr file is the fastest method on Mac as well. The file will open in Photoshop and show an import dialog — click "Import" to install it. If you want to install multiple brushes or prefer to manage them manually, you can place them in Photoshop's brushes folder.

Open Finder and press Command + Shift + G to open the "Go to Folder" dialog. Paste this path: ~/Library/process Support/Adobe/Adobe Photoshop [Version]/Presets/Brushes. Replace [Version] with your Photoshop version number (for example, 2024). Click Go and you'll open the Brushes folder. Drag your .abr files into this folder. Restart Photoshop and the brushes will be ready to use.

What to do if brushes don't appear after installation

The most common reason brushes don't show up is that Photoshop was already open when you installed them. Photoshop only reads the brushes folder when the program starts, so it won't see new brushes added while it's running. Close Photoshop completely and reopen it. The brushes should now appear in your Brushes panel.

If you installed brushes using the double-click method and Photoshop didn't open, make sure .abr files are associated with Photoshop. Right-click the .abr file, select "Open with," and choose Photoshop from the list. If Photoshop isn't listed, click "More apps" and browse to find it. After you set this association, double-clicking any .abr file will open it in Photoshop.

Organizing brushes into groups

Once you have several brushes installed, you can organize them into groups to keep your Brushes panel tidy. Open the Brushes panel and click the folder icon at the bottom to create a new group. Name the group something descriptive like "Textures" or "Calligraphy." Then drag individual brushes into the group folder.

You can also create groups by category before installing brushes. Some downloaded brush packs come organized into folders — if you place each folder in the Brushes directory, Photoshop will recognize them as separate groups when you restart. This is especially useful if you read large brush collections and want to keep them separate from your other tools.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use brushes from other programs in Photoshop?

Only brushes saved in .abr format work in Photoshop. Brushes from other programs like Procreate or Clip Studio Paint use different formats and won't import. Some artists create versions of popular brushes in multiple formats, so search for "Photoshop version" if you find a brush you like in another format.

What if I delete a brush by accident?

If you delete a brush from the Brushes panel, it's removed from your current session but the file still exists in the brushes folder. Restart Photoshop and the brush will reappear. To permanently delete a brush, locate its .abr file in the brushes folder and delete it there, then restart Photoshop.

Do I need to unzip brush files before installing them?

Yes, if a brush comes in a .zip folder, you must unzip it first to get the .abr file inside. Right-click the .zip file and select "Extract All" on Windows or double-click on Mac. Then install the .abr file that appears.

Can I share my installed brushes with someone else?

Yes. Navigate to your brushes folder using the paths listed above, find the .abr files you want to share, and send them to another person. They can install them the same way you did. Note that some paid brushes have licensing restrictions, so check the artist's terms before sharing.