UserLAnd
Linux apps on Android

How to run GIMP on Android

Install the GIMP app from Google Play. It runs the full Linux desktop edition of GIMP on your phone or tablet, so you get the same layers, filters, brushes and plug-ins as on a PC, with touch gestures mapped to mouse actions.

Get it on Google PlayGIMP

Step by step

  1. Install the app from Google Play

    Search Google Play for GIMP by UserLAnd Technologies, or use the button on this page. It is a one-time purchase.

  2. Open it and let it set up

    The first launch downloads and sets up the Linux files the app needs. Stay on Wi-Fi; this only happens once.

  3. Open GIMP and edit

    GIMP opens in a desktop window. Open a photo from Pictures, or start a new canvas with File → New.

  4. Use touch as a mouse

    Tap with one finger to click, two-finger tap to right-click, pinch to zoom, slide two fingers to scroll, and hold and slide to pan. Tap the screen and choose the keyboard icon to type.

What you get

  • The full GIMP desktop app for photo retouching, image composition and drawing
  • Layers, masks, filters, brushes and the GIMP plug-ins you know
  • Adjustable desktop scaling, so menus are readable on a phone or roomy on a tablet
  • Direct access to Android folders such as Documents and Pictures

What you need

  • An Android phone or tablet with Google Play
  • Free storage for the Linux files (a tablet or a phone with a large screen is most comfortable)
  • Internet for the first-time setup
  • Optional: a Bluetooth or USB keyboard and mouse

Working with your files

Your Linux home folder (/home/userland) links to Android’s Documents, Pictures and other folders, so you open and save files there directly.

Prefer free? Run it inside UserLAnd

UserLAnd is free, and you can install GIMP in it yourself: in UserLAnd, set up Debian, choose Graphical, open a terminal and run sudo apt install gimp. GIMP does all of that for you in one tap, and buying it supports UserLAnd development.

How UserLAnd works →

Frequently asked questions

Is this the real GIMP or a lookalike?

It is the Linux desktop edition of GIMP, adapted to run on Android. The GIMP team did not make the app, but the editor inside it is GIMP itself.

Can I open and save photos from my phone's gallery?

Yes. Your Linux home folder links to Android's Pictures, Documents and other folders, so you can open a photo, edit it and save it back without importing or exporting.

Does it work with a stylus, mouse or keyboard?

Touch works out of the box. A Bluetooth or USB mouse and keyboard also work, which makes long editing sessions much easier on a tablet.

Can I run GIMP on Android for free?

Yes. Install Debian in the free UserLAnd app and run sudo apt install gimp in its terminal. GIMP saves you those setup steps.

About this app

This app adapts the Linux desktop edition of GIMP for Android. It is not made by the GIMP team.

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