Tech Reference

How to get new Procreate brushes and add them to the iPad app

Apple iPad Apple Pencil Art
It only takes a few moments to add brushes to Procreate. Apple
Read in app

Procreate is one of the premiere drawing and sketching apps for iPad. With a variety of features and an interface designed specifically for the iPad, it's a great app for artists.

One of these features is the ability to add new brushes. Procreate lets you import .brush and .brushset files into the app, giving you a massive amount of new tools to play with.

Here's how to add new brushes to Procreate.

How to find new Procreate brushes to add

Before you can add brushes, you'll need to find them. Procreate accepts both .brush files (which are single brushes) and .brushset files (which are packs of multiple brushes).

Probably the best site for this is Brushes for Procreate. A massive gallery of brushes from creators all over the world, Brushes for Procreate offers both free and premium downloads. They've also got an iPad app that lets you install your new brushes quickly.

A webpage showing a "Textured Lettering Brush" that can be downloaded.
There are thousands of Procreate brushes available online.  Digilense; Brushes for Procreate

You can also check out Creative Market, a website which specializes in add-ons for a wide range of art apps. None of their brushes are free, but they're high-quality.

How to add Procreate brushes directly from your iPad

1. Download the .brush or .brushset files from Safari, an email, or whichever app they've been sent to you in. 

2. The brushes will be saved to the Files app. Open this app and find the files you downloaded — they'll likely be in the Downloads section. If they're in a .ZIP file, tap the .ZIP file first to extract the brushes.

The Files app on an iPad, with the "Downloads" option highlighted.
You'll find your new brushes in the Files app.  William Antonelli/Insider

3. Press and hold your finger on a brush file, and then select Share.

A file in the iPad Files app that's been selected, and is now displaying a menu. The "Share" option in this menu is highlighted.
You'll add the brush to Procreate by "sharing" it.  William Antonelli/Insider

4. Swipe through the suggested apps and tap More, and then select Procreate from the list.

A list of iPad apps. Procreate is highlighted.
Select Procreate from the list of apps to share to.  William Antonelli/Insider

5. Procreate will open, and your brush file will be imported.

You'll now be able to find it in the Imported section of your brushes menu.

The Procreate app on an iPad. A line has been scribbled on the canvas, and the Brushes menu is opened, with the "Imported" section highlighted.q
Your new brushes are kept in the "Imported" menu.  William Antonelli/Insider

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ExperienceWilliam joined Business Insider in 2019 to help found Tech Reference, a vertical dedicated to answering the internet’s most common questions about the gadgets they buy. In that role, he helped grow the vertical into a powerhouse that attracted over 20 million pageviews a month. He also wrote and edited one of Business Insider’s most successful stories: How to take a screenshot on Windows.William later became one of Business Insider's lead consumer tech reporters, writing roundups and reviews about gadgets ranging from smartphones to gaming PCs. He also established key industry contacts at brands like Apple, Google, Nintendo, and more. He’s also cited on the Wikipedia page for Among Us, an honor above all others.William’s work for Business Insider has included reviewing the best gaming laptops, publishing previews of new Nintendo games and consoles, and comparing Apple’s latest releases so readers know what’s worth their money. Across all assignments, he’s been praised for his depth of knowledge and research skills.In addition to his work at Business Insider, William’s writing has appeared in outlets like The Guardian, Polygon, Thomson Reuters’ Context, and more. He's also a regular guest on TV stations like CBS and NBC, where he provides expert analysis on AI, consumer tech, and Silicon Valley moguls.Why you can trust WilliamWilliam believes the goal of journalism should be to tell the truth, not sell products. In his reviews, William never hesitates to call out a product’s flaws, but he also has no issue complimenting features that genuinely add value.When reviewing a product, William doesn’t test it in a vacuum. He tries to incorporate each product into his daily routine to get a better sense of how it’ll work for the everyday user. And when writing, he focuses on reader comprehension. He’s talented at explaining complicated concepts in ways that all readers can understand, without losing depth or nuance — or his distinctively engaging voice.Expertise
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