Where to put brush files so Photoshop finds them

Photoshop looks for brushes in a specific folder on your computer. When you download a brush file (usually a .abr file), you need to move it to that folder so Photoshop can see it. The location depends on whether you use Windows or Mac, and which version of Photoshop you have.

For Photoshop 2020 and newer on Windows, the folder is: C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop [Version Number]\Presets\Brushes. For Mac, it's: Users/[Your Username]/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Adobe Photoshop [Version Number]/Presets/Brushes. If you have an older version of Photoshop, the path may be slightly different — check Adobe's documentation for your specific version number.

The AppData folder on Windows is hidden by default, so you'll need to show hidden files first. On Mac, the Library folder is also hidden — you can reach it by opening Finder, clicking Go in the menu bar, and selecting Library.

Key Takeaways

  • Brush files (.abr format) must go in your Photoshop Presets/Brushes folder, which is hidden on both Windows and Mac.
  • On Windows, navigate to AppData/Roaming/Adobe/Adobe Photoshop [your version]/Presets/Brushes; on Mac, go to Library/Application Support/Adobe/Adobe Photoshop [your version]/Presets/Brushes.
  • You can also drag and drop .abr files directly into Photoshop's Brushes panel if the program is already open.
  • After adding brushes, restart Photoshop or refresh the Brushes panel to see them in your brush list.
  • If brushes don't appear, check that the file extension is .abr and that you placed it in the correct folder for your Photoshop version.

Step-by-step installation on Windows

Step 1: Show hidden files. Open File Explorer and click the View tab at the top. Check the box next to "Hidden items" so you can see folders that are normally hidden.

Step 2: Navigate to the Brushes folder. In the address bar at the top of File Explorer, paste this path: C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop [Version Number]\Presets\Brushes. Replace [Your Username] with your actual Windows username and [Version Number] with your Photoshop version (for example, 2024 or 2023). Press Enter.

Step 3: Move your brush file. Locate the .abr file you downloaded. Drag it into the Brushes folder you just opened, or right-click it, select Cut, then right-click inside the Brushes folder and select Paste.

Step 4: Restart Photoshop. Close Photoshop completely and reopen it. The new brushes will now appear in your Brushes panel (usually on the right side of the screen). If you don't see them, open the Brushes panel by going to Window > Brushes.

Step-by-step installation on Mac

Step 1: Open Finder and navigate to Library. Click the Finder icon in your dock, then click Go in the menu bar at the top. Select Library from the dropdown menu. This opens your user Library folder.

Step 2: Find the Brushes folder. Double-click Application Support, then Adobe, then Adobe Photoshop [Your Version Number], then Presets, then Brushes. You are now in the folder where Photoshop stores brushes.

Step 3: Add your brush file. Drag your .abr file into this Brushes folder. You can also right-click the file, select Copy, then right-click inside the Brushes folder and select Paste.

Step 4: Restart Photoshop. Quit Photoshop entirely (not just closing the window — use Command+Q or Photoshop > Quit Photoshop in the menu). Reopen Photoshop, and your new brushes will appear in the Brushes panel.

Installing brushes by dragging them into Photoshop

If you have Photoshop already open, you can skip the folder navigation and drag brush files directly into the program. Open the Brushes panel (Window > Brushes if it's not visible), then drag your .abr file onto the Brushes panel. Photoshop will ask if you want to install the brushes — click OK.

This method is faster for one or two brushes, but it doesn't permanently move the file to the Presets folder. If you delete the original file later, the brushes may disappear. For brushes you plan to use regularly, moving the file to the Presets folder is more reliable.

What to do if your brushes don't appear

Check that the file extension is .abr. Some brush downloads come as .zip files that need to be unzipped first — extract the contents and look for the .abr file inside. If you unzipped a file but only see a folder, open that folder to find the actual .abr file.

Verify you placed the file in the correct Brushes folder for your Photoshop version. If you have multiple versions of Photoshop installed, brushes in one version's folder won't show up in another version. Check the version number in your Presets path and make sure it matches the Photoshop you're using.

If the brushes still don't appear after restarting Photoshop, try refreshing the Brushes panel. Click the three-line menu icon (hamburger menu) in the top right of the Brushes panel and select "Refresh Brushes." If that doesn't work, try resetting the brushes entirely by selecting "Reset Brushes" from the same menu — this will reload all brushes from the Presets folder.

Organizing multiple brush sets

If you install many brushes, you can organize them into subfolders within the Brushes folder. Create a new folder inside Brushes (for example, "Texture Brushes" or "Painting Brushes"), then move related .abr files into those subfolders. Photoshop will display these as separate brush libraries in the Brushes panel.

You can also load and unload brush sets without moving files. In the Brushes panel menu, select "Load Brushes" to temporarily load a brush set from anywhere on your computer, or "Replace Brushes" to swap out the current set. This is useful if you have many brushes but only want to see certain ones at a time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I install brushes from Adobe's website?

Yes. Adobe offers free and paid brushes through their Creative Cloud app and website. Download them through Creative Cloud, and they install automatically. For brushes from other sources, follow the manual installation steps above.

What if I can't find the AppData folder on Windows?

AppData is hidden by default. In File Explorer, click View at the top and check "Hidden items." If you still can't find it, paste this directly into the address bar: %AppData% and press Enter — Windows will take you there automatically.

Do I need to restart Photoshop every time I add a brush?

Yes, you need to restart Photoshop for it to recognize new brushes in the Presets folder. The exception is if you drag the brush file directly into the open Brushes panel — that loads it immediately without restarting.

Can I share brushes with someone else?

Yes. Send them the .abr file, and they can follow these same installation steps on their computer. Brushes are not tied to a specific user account, so anyone with Photoshop can use them once they're in the Presets folder.

What happens if I delete a brush file after installing it?

If you delete the .abr file from the Presets folder, the brush will disappear from Photoshop the next time you restart. If you used the drag-and-drop method instead of moving the file to Presets, deleting the original file will remove the brush immediately.