forkalt.

How to Install GIMP 3.2 (Windows, macOS, Linux)

For GIMP. Difficulty: beginner. Time: PT20M. Commands below are based on official docs, not yet tested.

Prerequisites

Steps

  1. Open the official downloads page. Use https://www.gimp.org/downloads/ as the only installer source for this guide. On 2026-10-22 it presented GIMP 3.2.6 as the current stable release (notes date 2026-09-10).
  2. Pick the build for your OS. Windows: gimp-3.2.6-setup.exe (x86_64 and ARM64). macOS: gimp-3.2.6-arm64.dmg or gimp-3.2.6-x86_64.dmg. Linux: AppImage, Flathub, or snap install gimp. Source tarballs live at download.gimp.org/gimp/v3.2/.
  3. Verify the SHA256 on gimp.org. The downloads page lists SHA256 sums and VirusTotal links. This guide copies the common desktop hashes (checked 2026-10-22). We have not executed the installers.
  4. Skip unofficial stores. The macOS section says the GIMP team does not provide Apple App Store packages; store listings are third-party. Prefer gimp.org.
  5. Install help pages if you want F1 help. gimp.org/docs says help is a separate package on Linux (gimp-help) and a separate installer on Windows. The manual is also online at docs.gimp.org.
  6. Confirm GIMP 3.2 starts. If the app window appears, you installed something. We do not yet have a version string from a forkalt machine.

Based on official docs, not yet tested. Copy installers from gimp.org/downloads (opened 2026-10-22). Current stable: GIMP 3.2.6.

GIMP is the long-standing free editor on Photoshop alternatives. Read GIMP first. Head-to-head: GIMP vs Photoshop, PhotoCraft vs GIMP, Krita vs GIMP. If you are leaving Photoshop: Switch from Photoshop to GIMP. PhotoCraft (early alpha) has a separate outline: How to install PhotoCraft.

Checksums (GIMP 3.2.6)

Copied from gimp.org/downloads on 2026-10-22. The page also links VirusTotal. We did not run the installers.

File SHA256
gimp-3.2.6-setup.exe 9337cccbc01d4098ee7a3dab215b3afbe6ece99c5287c92441d6f12cf541ebca
gimp-3.2.6-arm64.dmg 854573aec2be6a185aa021109c3c0ca94f210379204b704231bdd191b4060294
gimp-3.2.6-x86_64.dmg ebe633642445d4d6fc6b68e7be7ca581c0b28c18dc9de7747849528c982e5677
GIMP-3.2.6-x86_64.AppImage 79ea41bc9b06f78fda181849a9ca8e42d83f1124dedb756f4d52352e2465010f
GIMP-3.2.6-aarch64.AppImage d1b8271e440dc4e36065ca25f219c0534abd2dfb43aeb033c76b16832d395e19
gimp-3.2.6.tar.xz 40b15e90ad0c0c631b76da3c467ea9847fa5c24f37413ac5b492804860a28cd8

Per-OS notes (copied from gimp.org)

Windows

Installer: Windows 10 1903 or newer. Microsoft Store listing is documented separately (Windows 11 or Windows Server 2022 build 10.0.20348.0+). Prefer the gimp.org EXE if you want the checksums on that page.

macOS

macOS 11 Big Sur or newer. The page warns, in its own words, that the GIMP team does not ship Apple App Store packages.

Linux

AppImage (Debian 13 or newer), Flathub, or Snap. Commands copied from the downloads page (not run here):

flatpak install --user https://flathub.org/repo/appstream/org.gimp.GIMP.flatpakref
flatpak run org.gimp.GIMP//stable
snap install gimp
snap run gimp

Source

Tarballs: download.gimp.org/gimp/v3.2/. Build instructions live on the GIMP developer site, not in this outline.

After install

Save working files as XCF (GIMP 3.0 user manual chapter 6: only XCF stores everything except undo). Export PNG/JPEG when you need interchange. Compare editors: PhotoCraft vs GIMP. Painting: Krita. RAW catalog: darktable vs Lightroom.

Troubleshooting

  • You are on a 32-bit PC. GIMP 3.2 release notes end 32-bit binary distribution. Use a 64-bit OS or an older 3.0-line build from download.gimp.org at your own risk. We did not test old builds.
  • macOS App Store listing. The official downloads page warns that App Store packages are third-party. Download the DMG from gimp.org instead.
  • AppImage will not run. The downloads page says the AppImage supports Debian 13 or newer. Use Flatpak or your distro package if your glibc is older. Not tested here.
  • Tools do nothing after install. The GIMP 3.0 user manual chapter 4 lists common causes (floating selection, hidden selection, invisible layer, indexed color, acting on a layer group). See that chapter rather than an unsourced blog. Switch from Photoshop to GIMP links the same checklist.
  • JPEG export flattened a transparent area to white or black. The same manual’s export section documents JPEG as a format without alpha. Export PNG if you need transparency. We did not retest this.

Next

FAQ

Did forkalt actually install GIMP 3.2.6?

Not yet. Commands and hashes are copied from gimp.org/downloads, not run on a named machine.

GIMP vs Photoshop — should I install GIMP instead?

GIMP 3.2.6 is the stable GPL editor. Photoshop is Adobe’s paid Creative Cloud product. See GIMP vs Photoshop and Switch from Photoshop to GIMP. We have no bake-off.

Should I install PhotoCraft instead?

PhotoCraft v0.12.0 is early-alpha Rust. Prefer GIMP if you need a mature editor this week. See PhotoCraft vs GIMP and How to install PhotoCraft.

Is Flatpak or Snap official?

gimp.org/downloads documents both (flatpak install of org.gimp.GIMP and snap install gimp). We have not run either.

Sources & verification

Last verified 2026-10-22 · Last updated 2026-10-22· Edited by forkalt editors · Editorial policy

License notes are not legal advice. Read the original LICENSE. Trademark & disclaimer.