How to Install Photoshop Brushes

Installing Photoshop brushes takes less than 30 seconds once you know the right method. Below you'll find every installation method that works across all Photoshop versions — CS6, CC, and all releases through 2025.

What You Need

• A downloaded .ABR brush file (from PhotoshopBrushes.com or any trusted source)
• Adobe Photoshop installed (any version: CS6, CC, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, or 2025)
• About 2 minutes

Method 1: Double-Click (Recommended)

The fastest method — works in Photoshop CC 2018 and all later versions:

1. Download the .ABR file and save it anywhere on your computer.
2. Open Adobe Photoshop first — double-click won't work if Photoshop isn't already running.
3. In Finder (Mac) or File Explorer (Windows), double-click the .ABR file.
4. Photoshop automatically imports the brush set. You'll see a brief loading indicator.
5. Press B to select the Brush tool, then right-click the canvas — your new brushes appear at the bottom of the Preset Picker.

Method 2: Drag and Drop

Also fast, and available in Photoshop CC 2018+:

1. Open Photoshop with any document open.
2. Open Finder or File Explorer alongside it.
3. Drag the .ABR file directly onto the Photoshop canvas and release it.
4. Photoshop imports the brushes instantly — no confirmation needed.

Method 3: Import via Brushes Panel

Use this if double-clicking doesn't work, or in Photoshop CC 2017 and earlier:

1. Go to Window > Brushes to open the Brushes panel.
2. Click the hamburger menu (≡) in the top-right corner of the panel.
3. Select "Import Brushes..."
4. Navigate to your .ABR file, select it, and click Open.
5. Your brushes are added as a new group at the bottom of the Brushes panel.

Method 4: Preset Manager (CS6 & Older)

For Photoshop CS6 and older CC versions that predate the modern Brushes panel:

1. Go to Edit > Presets > Preset Manager.
2. Set the Preset Type dropdown to "Brushes."
3. Click "Load..."
4. Navigate to your .ABR file and click Load.
5. Your brushes are added to the current brush library. Click Done.

Method 5: Manual Installation (Advanced)

Copy the .ABR file directly into Photoshop's Presets folder — useful for installing many brush sets at once without opening Photoshop each time.

Mac path:

~/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Adobe Photoshop [version]/Presets/Brushes/

Windows path:

C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop [version]\Presets\Brushes\

After copying, restart Photoshop. The brushes appear automatically in your Brush Preset Picker.

Accessing Your Installed Brushes

1. Select the Brush tool (keyboard shortcut: B).
2. Right-click on the canvas to open the Brush Preset Picker, or click the brush preview thumbnail in the Options bar at the top of the screen.
3. Scroll to the bottom of the preset list — newly installed brushes appear there.
4. In Photoshop CC 2018+, installed brushes are organized into a named folder group matching the .ABR file name.

Troubleshooting

• Brushes not showing after install: Restart Photoshop completely, then check the Brushes panel again.
• "Could not complete your request" error: The .ABR file may be corrupted. Re-download it from the original source.
• Brushes showing as small grey squares: The brush was made in a newer Photoshop version. It still works — try increasing the preview size in the Preset Picker options menu.
• Brushes disappeared after a Photoshop update: Copy your .ABR files from the old version's Presets/Brushes folder to the new version's folder and restart Photoshop.