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Where are GIMP plugin files?

Published in GIMP Plugins 3 mins read

GIMP plugin files are typically located in two main locations: the GIMP installation directory and your user profile directory.

Here's a breakdown of where to find them:

  • System-wide plugins (for all users):

    • This location depends on your operating system and where you installed GIMP. It's usually within the GIMP installation folder. For example, on Windows, it's commonly found under C:\Program Files\GIMP 2\lib\gimp\2.0\plugins\ (or similar, depending on the exact GIMP version). On Linux systems installed with package managers, the plugins directory can vary. A common location is /usr/lib/gimp/2.0/plugins/.

  • User-specific plugins (for your account only):

    • These are plugins you've added yourself. GIMP looks for plugins in a specific folder within your user profile. This allows you to install plugins without needing administrator privileges and keeps your personal plugins separate.
      • Windows: Typically located under C:\Users\{your_username}\AppData\Roaming\GIMP\2.10\plugins\ (The 2.10 corresponds to the GIMP version, so adjust as needed.) Note that the AppData folder might be hidden, so you'll need to enable "Show hidden files and folders" in your File Explorer settings.
      • Linux: Usually located in ~/.config/GIMP/2.10/plugins/ (The tilde ~ represents your home directory). Similar to Windows, the .config folder may be hidden. Use ls -a in the terminal to reveal hidden folders.
      • macOS: Usually located in ~/Library/Application Support/GIMP/2.10/plugins/.

To quickly find these folders within GIMP itself:

  1. Open GIMP.
  2. Go to Edit > Preferences.
  3. In the Preferences dialog, navigate to Folders > Plug-ins.
  4. You will see a list of folders where GIMP searches for plugins. These are the locations mentioned above. You can add or remove folders from this list as needed.

Important Notes:

  • The exact GIMP version number (e.g., 2.10) will be reflected in the folder paths. Adjust accordingly if you are using a different GIMP version.
  • Ensure that the plugin files have execute permissions, especially on Linux and macOS. You can set this in the file properties or via the command line using chmod +x plugin_filename.
  • After adding new plugins, you usually need to refresh the plugin list in GIMP. This can be done by going to Filters > Refresh Plug-ins (or similar menu item). Sometimes restarting GIMP is necessary.

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