How to import Procreate brushes on iPad

Check the file before importing

Save the download in Files on your iPad and inspect its actual extension. The current Procreate handbook describes .brush for one brush, .brushset for a set, and .brushlibrary for a whole library, and also lists .abr imports. If the download is a ZIP, extract it to find the brush files. Keep the original archive and version notes. For an older Procreate release, check its official format support before importing.

Check the resource page for the app version that was actually tested. An importable format does not guarantee that a particular brush will look identical across Procreate releases or devices. If the file arrives with several folders, read the included instructions before importing every copy: some packs contain alternatives or older versions.

Import through Procreate’s brush library

Open a canvas and the brush library. Use the menu in the upper-right area and choose “Import from Files,” then select the saved .brush, .brushset, or .brushlibrary file. Look in the current library for a new set, in the libraries overview for a whole library, or in the Imported set for a single brush. If your version supports Brush Search, search by the brush or set name; otherwise inspect the lists by name. Do not rely on one fixed position in the list.

You can also tap a compatible brush file in Files and follow any prompt to import it into Procreate; in some cases it opens directly. Another route is to drag the file from Files into Procreate. Pick one route that works on your iPad. You do not need to repeat the import through every route.

If the brush seems to be missing

First check that you imported the brush file rather than its ZIP wrapper. Look for Imported, the new set, or the new library, depending on the file type, and use Brush Search if your version supports it. If the library is stored in iCloud Drive, allow time for changes to sync. Check these destinations before importing again so you do not create unnecessary duplicates.

If a file still will not open, record its extension, the Procreate version on your device, and the exact step at which the process stops. “The .brushset is visible in Files, but tapping it returns to Files without adding a set” is a more useful report than “installation failed.” Changing an unknown file’s extension to .brush does not make it a compatible brush file.

Make a small mark and keep a backup

On a spare canvas, draw a slow line, a fast line, and a broad patch. Change size once and check the mark at normal viewing scale. The fact that a brush appears in the library only proves that it was imported; it does not prove the effect matches a preview. A live resource should offer genuine marks made with its actual file for comparison.

Keep the original package and version notes in a separate backup location outside the folders used for the live brush library. You can export brushes and sets through Share and save those copies in that independent location. In Procreate 5.4 and later, changes in the library and Files reflect each other: moving a brush or set moves its files, and deleting it removes it from both places. Back up before moving or deleting. Duplicate a brush or set before moving it if you want it in both locations. Duplicate a brush before changing its settings to keep the original intact.

Check backups before moving to a new iPad

Before changing devices, check where your brush library is stored. If you use iCloud Drive, check that syncing has finished. In Procreate 5.4 and later, the locations are On My iPad → Procreate → Brushes or iCloud Drive → Procreate Brushes, depending on your storage settings. Seeing a brush on one device does not show that the original download and version notes moved with it. Keep a separate copy of those files in a location you control outside the live brush-library folders.

On the new iPad, import one set and repeat a familiar test stroke before transferring the rest. Check the brush names, marks, and any saved personal adjustments. This small check can help you catch missing settings or duplicates before they affect the whole collection.

Check where Procreate import stopped

Identify where import stopped before repeating it, and keep the original files. In Procreate 5.4 and later, changes in Files and the live brush library reflect each other: moving a brush or set moves its files, and deleting it removes it from both places. Back up outside the live-library folders before moving or deleting.

• No file to select: confirm the download is saved in Files and locate the actual brush file inside any outer archive.
• Import finishes but no brush is visible: check Imported and the new brush, set, or library by name. Use Brush Search if your version supports it; do not rely on one fixed position in the list.
• An error appears: record the exact message, filename, Procreate version, and device. Sign in to report it from the resource page, or contact support if that page is no longer public.