Where Photoshop brushes go and how to put them there

Photoshop brushes are files that add new painting and stamping tools to Adobe Photoshop. To use them, you move the brush files into Photoshop's brushes folder, then restart the program so it recognizes them. The exact folder location depends on whether you use Windows or Mac, and whether you have Photoshop as a standalone program or through a Creative Cloud subscription.

The process takes about five minutes and requires only file navigation — no special software or technical knowledge. Once installed, the new brushes appear in your Brushes panel alongside Photoshop's built-in options.

Key Takeaways

  • Photoshop brush files end in .abr and must be placed in Photoshop's Presets folder, not just anywhere on your computer.
  • On Windows with Creative Cloud, the folder path is typically C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop [version]\Adobe Photoshop [version] Settings\Presets\Brushes.
  • On Mac with Creative Cloud, the folder path is typically /Users/[Your Username]/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Adobe Photoshop [version]/Presets/Brushes.
  • After placing brush files in the correct folder, close and reopen Photoshop completely — simply switching workspaces is not enough.
  • If brushes do not appear after restart, verify the file extension is .abr and check that you placed files in the Brushes subfolder, not the parent Presets folder.

Finding your Photoshop Presets folder on Windows

On Windows, Photoshop stores brushes in a hidden folder inside your user account. The path changes slightly depending on your Photoshop version, but the structure is the same. Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\. Replace [Your Username] with your actual Windows login name.

If you do not see an AppData folder, you need to show hidden files. In File Explorer, click the View tab at the top, then check the box labeled "Hidden items." Now the AppData folder will appear. Once inside AppData\Roaming\Adobe\, look for a folder named Adobe Photoshop followed by a version number — for example, Adobe Photoshop 2024. Open that folder, then navigate to Adobe Photoshop 2024 Settings (the Settings folder is inside the version folder), then Presets, then Brushes. This Brushes folder is where you place your .abr files.

Finding your Photoshop Presets folder on Mac

On Mac, Photoshop brushes live in your Library folder, which is hidden by default. Open Finder and click Go in the menu bar at the top. Hold down the Option key on your keyboard — the menu will change and show "Library" as an option. Click Library.

Navigate to Application Support, then Adobe, then Adobe Photoshop [version] (for example, Adobe Photoshop 2024). Open Presets, then open the Brushes folder inside. This is where you place your .abr files. If you prefer not to use the Option key method, you can also paste this path directly into Finder's Go menu: /Users/[Your Username]/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Adobe Photoshop [version]/Presets/Brushes. Replace [Your Username] with your actual Mac login name and [version] with your Photoshop version number.

Downloading and organizing brush files before installation

Brush files come as .abr files, sometimes packaged inside a .zip folder. If you download a .zip file, double-click it to unzip it — your computer will automatically extract the contents to the same location. Look for files that end in .abr; these are the actual brush files you need.

Before moving brushes to the Presets folder, organize them in a temporary location so you know which ones you want. Create a folder on your Desktop called "Brushes to Install" and move or copy your .abr files there. This way you can review them and make sure you have the right files before placing them in Photoshop's system folder. If a brush pack includes a text file with instructions, read it — some brush sets require specific installation steps or have version requirements.

Moving brush files to the correct location

Once you have located your Brushes folder (either on Windows or Mac), copy or move your .abr files into it. On Windows, you can right-click the .abr file and select "Copy," then navigate to the Brushes folder, right-click inside it, and select "Paste." On Mac, you can drag and drop the .abr files directly into the Brushes folder in Finder, or use the same copy-and-paste method.

Do not place brush files in the parent Presets folder — they must go specifically in the Brushes subfolder. Photoshop only looks for brushes in that exact location. If you place them elsewhere, Photoshop will not find them even if you restart the program.

Restarting Photoshop to load the new brushes

After you have moved your brush files to the correct folder, close Photoshop completely. Simply minimizing it or switching to another workspace is not enough — you must fully close the program. On Windows, click the X button in the top-right corner of the Photoshop window. On Mac, click the red close button or use Command+Q.

Wait a few seconds, then reopen Photoshop. The program scans the Brushes folder when it starts up, so your new brushes will appear in the Brushes panel. Open the Brushes panel by going to Window menu and selecting Brushes, or press F5 on your keyboard. Your new brushes should now be visible in the list.

Troubleshooting brushes that do not appear

If your new brushes do not show up after restarting Photoshop, check these common issues. First, verify that the files you placed in the Brushes folder actually end in .abr — if they end in .psd or another extension, they are not brush files and Photoshop will ignore them. Right-click the file (or Control-click on Mac) and select Properties or Get Info to see the full filename and extension.

Second, confirm you placed the files in the Brushes subfolder, not in the parent Presets folder. Navigate back to the location where you put them and double-check the folder path. Third, make sure you fully closed and reopened Photoshop — some users close the program but it continues running in the background. On Windows, open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) and look for any Photoshop processes still running; end them and try again. On Mac, open Activity Monitor (in Applications > Utilities) and search for Photoshop; if it appears, click it and select Force Quit, then reopen it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I install brushes in Photoshop Elements or other Adobe programs?

Photoshop Elements uses a different brush system and does not support .abr files. Only full Adobe Photoshop (the standalone version or Creative Cloud version) uses the Presets folder structure described here. Other Adobe programs like Illustrator have their own separate brush or symbol folders with different file formats.

What if I cannot find the AppData folder on Windows?

AppData is hidden by default on Windows. In File Explorer, click the View tab at the top and check "Hidden items." If you still cannot find it, try typing the full path directly into the address bar: C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\. Replace [Your Username] with your actual login name and press Enter.

Do I need to restart my computer or just Photoshop?

You only need to close and reopen Photoshop itself — restarting your entire computer is not necessary. Photoshop scans the Brushes folder when the program starts, so a full restart of the application is enough for it to recognize new brush files.

Can I organize brushes into subfolders within the Brushes folder?

Photoshop does not recognize subfolders within the Brushes folder. All .abr files must be placed directly in the main Brushes folder for Photoshop to find them. If you want to organize brushes, use Photoshop's built-in brush organization tools — create brush sets or groups within the Brushes panel itself after the brushes are installed.

What if a brush file is corrupted or does not work?

If a brush file fails to load or causes Photoshop to crash, remove it from the Brushes folder and restart Photoshop. Corrupted .abr files can sometimes cause the entire Brushes panel to malfunction. If removing one brush fixes the problem, that file was damaged. Download a fresh copy from the original source or contact the brush creator for a replacement.