Download Krita for PC, Windows 11/10 & Mac (Free)

The Krita download for Windows 11, Windows 10 and Mac is free from krita.org, where the Krita Foundation publishes the painting app under the GNU GPL. The current stable release is Krita 5.3.3, out since 26 July 2026.

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You can also install the same app from Steam or the Microsoft Store. Those copies cost money, and the payment funds development and adds automatic updates.

This guide covers the file that matches your machine, installing on Windows and Mac, winget, checksums, the portable build, requirements, and fixes for Krita not installing.

Krita logo with version, price and supported systems
Version 5.3.3 is free from krita.org for 64-bit Windows, macOS 10.15 or later and Linux.

Which Krita download do you need?

Krita publishes one build per platform, and every Windows build is 64-bit. Match your machine to a row.

Your machine Get this Cost
Windows 11 or 10, 64-bit krita-x64-5.3.3-setup.exe Free
Windows, no administrator rights Portable 64-bit zip in the release folder Free
Mac on macOS 10.15 Catalina or newer Signed disk image in the release folder Free
Linux, 64-bit x86_64 AppImage in the release folder Free
Windows, and you want automatic updates Krita on the Microsoft Store $14.99, free trial
Windows, Mac or Linux through Steam Krita on Steam, app 280680 $9.99
32-bit Windows No current build None

Press Windows + I, open System > About and read System type to confirm a 64-bit PC.

Download Krita from the official links

The Krita Foundation distributes Krita from these places. A copy on any other site is a repackaged file.

  1. Krita website — the Krita Foundation’s home page and download menu
  2. Krita 5.3.3 release notes — links every Windows, Mac, Linux and Android file
  3. Release folder on download.kde.org — installer, portable zip, disk image, AppImage and hashes
  4. Krita on the Microsoft Store — product 9N6X57ZGRW96, paid, x64 only
  5. Krita on Steam — app 280680, Windows, macOS and Linux

The setup file is a full offline installer, not a small web bootstrapper. Once it is on your drive, installing needs no connection.

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How to install Krita on Windows 11 and 10

The installer adds Krita for every user on the PC, so it needs administrator rights.

  1. Open the Krita 5.3.3 release notes and find the Windows list.
  2. Select 64 bits Windows Installer to download krita-x64-5.3.3-setup.exe .
  3. Double-click the downloaded file.
  4. Select Yes at the User Account Control prompt.
  5. Accept the licence agreement.
  6. Keep the default install folder, or pick another one.
  7. Select Install and wait for the files to copy, then close the wizard.
  8. Open Krita from the Start menu.

There is no account, licence key or activation step. The installer registers .kra, .ora and .psd files, among others, to open in Krita.

Install Krita with winget or from the Microsoft Store

winget fetches the same free installer from download.kde.org. The Microsoft Store sells a separate MSIX package that updates itself.

  1. Right-click Start and select Terminal (Admin).
  2. Run winget install –id KDE.Krita -e to install the free build.
  3. Run winget upgrade –id KDE.Krita -e later to move to a newer release.
  4. For the Store copy instead, open Microsoft Store and search for Krita.
  5. Check the publisher line reads Krita, then buy it or start the free trial.
  6. Open Krita from the Start menu when it finishes.

The Store package is x64 only, needs Windows 10 build 17134 or newer, and downloads up to 229.2 MB.

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How to verify the Krita installer before you run it

A hash match proves the setup file is the one the Krita Foundation built.

  1. Save krita-x64-5.3.3-setup.exe to your Downloads folder.
  2. Press Windows + R, type cmd and select OK.
  3. Run cd %USERPROFILE%\Downloads .
  4. Run certutil -hashfile krita-x64-5.3.3-setup.exe SHA256 .
  5. Compare the output with CF6DC324C1F3BDB5D3069A7F7D7456FCBB6176FAB1F09683A52B836FA0D97A05 .
  6. Delete the file and download it again from krita.org if the two differ.

For the zip, disk image or AppImage, open the release folder and select Details beside the file to see its hashes.

Run Krita without installing it

The portable zip holds the whole app with no setup wizard and no administrator prompt.

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  1. Open the release folder and download krita-x64-5.3.3.zip .
  2. Open the zip in File Explorer.
  3. Drag the folder inside to your desktop, another drive or a USB stick.
  4. Open that folder and double-click the Krita icon.

A portable copy does not touch an installed one. It does share your settings and custom resources with it.

Which Krita download do you need for your Mac?

Krita ships one signed disk image for macOS. Your macOS version decides whether it runs.

Your Mac Get this Cost
macOS 10.15 Catalina or newer Signed disk image, stable branch Free
macOS 10.14 Mojave Older release notes on krita.org Free
Any supported Mac, with automatic updates Krita on Steam, app 280680 $9.99

Krita 5.3.3 raised the minimum from macOS 10.14 Mojave to 10.15 Catalina. Open the Apple menu and select About This Mac to read your version.

Double-click the disk image and drag the Krita app into Applications.

Is Krita free?

Yes. The download from krita.org is free, with no trial, watermark or subscription. Krita is open source under GPL-3.0. Steam charges $9.99 and the Microsoft Store $14.99 for the same app, and that money goes to development along with automatic updates. On Android, the in-app purchases unlock resource bundles only, and no painting feature sits behind a paywall. A site asking for a Krita licence key is selling something that does not exist.

Should you install Krita 5.3 or 6.0?

The newest 5.3 and 6.0 releases came out on the same day. They share source code but differ in the toolkit underneath.

Install 5.3 for real work, and try 6.0 only on a spare copy. The Krita team calls 5.3 suitable for productive work. The 6.0 branch moved from Qt5 to Qt6, and the release notes describe it as more experimental. Krita 6.0 also has no working Android build yet.

How to check your Krita version and update it

The installer build does not update itself, so check the version after each release.

  1. Open Krita and select Help > About Krita.
  2. Read the version number at the top of the window.
  3. Compare it with the newest release on krita.org.
  4. Download and run the newer setup file if yours is behind.
  5. Or run winget upgrade –id KDE.Krita -e in an administrator terminal.

Steam and Microsoft Store copies install new releases on their own.

Check the Krita system requirements before you download

Krita starts on modest hardware. Large canvases and animation are what eat memory.

Field Value
Developer Krita Foundation
Latest version 5.3.3 stable, released 26 July 2026 (6.0.3 experimental)
Licence Free and open source, GPL-3.0
Windows minimum 64-bit Windows 8.1, 1.6 GHz dual-core CPU, 4 GB RAM, 1 GB storage
Windows recommended Windows 10, quad-core CPU above 4.0 GHz, 16 GB RAM, 15 GB storage
Graphics A modern GPU with Vulkan or Direct3D; DirectX 12 recommended
macOS macOS 10.15 Catalina or later
Linux 64-bit x86_64 AppImage
Architecture x64 only on Windows; no 32-bit build
Microsoft Store package Up to 229.2 MB, Windows 10 build 17134 or newer
Offline installer Yes, plus a portable zip
Last verified 2026-09-13

A drawing tablet is recommended but not required. Check your RAM under Settings > System > About.

What Krita can open after you install it

The Windows installer registers these file types, so double-clicking one opens Krita.

Extension Format
.kra Krita’s own document format
.krz Compressed Krita archive
.kpp Krita brush preset
.psd Adobe Photoshop document
.xcf GIMP image
.ora OpenRaster layered image
.exr OpenEXR high dynamic range image
.jxl JPEG XL image

Fix Krita not installing or not opening

The Windows installer stops or refuses to start

The setup installs for all users and needs administrator rights, and a broken download fails part way.

  1. Right-click krita-x64-5.3.3-setup.exe and select Run as administrator.
  2. Check the SHA-256 hash against the value above.
  3. Confirm System type reads 64-bit, because no 32-bit build exists.
  4. Use the portable zip, which needs no installer and no administrator rights.

The Microsoft Store will not install Krita

The Store package needs Windows 10 build 17134 or newer on an x64 PC.

  1. Press Windows + R, type winver and select OK to read your build.
  2. Install pending updates from Settings > Windows Update.
  3. Use the free installer or winget if the PC stays below that build.

The Mac disk image will not open Krita

The current stable release needs macOS 10.15 Catalina or newer.

  1. Open the Apple menu and select About This Mac.
  2. Update macOS if it reads 10.14 Mojave.
  3. Install an older Krita release if the Mac cannot move past Mojave.

The Linux AppImage will not launch

Some AppImageLauncher versions are incompatible with the newer AppImage runtime.

  1. Open a terminal in the folder that holds the AppImage.
  2. Mark the file as executable with chmod +x followed by its name.
  3. Start the AppImage from that terminal instead of through AppImageLauncher.

How to uninstall Krita

Removing the app leaves your artwork where you saved it.

  1. Press Windows + I and open Apps > Installed apps.
  2. Find Krita, select the three dots and choose Uninstall.
  3. Confirm, then select Yes at the User Account Control prompt.
  4. Or run winget uninstall –id KDE.Krita -e in an administrator terminal.
  5. Delete the folder yourself if you used the portable zip.
  6. On a Mac, drag the Krita app from Applications to the Bin.

A Steam copy is removed from the Steam library with Manage > Uninstall.

Which alternative should you try instead of Krita?

Each covers part of what Krita does. Only Blender matches its price.

Tool Price Best for
Krita 5.3 Free, GPL-3.0 Painting, illustration, comics and frame-by-frame animation
Blender Free, GNU GPL 3D work, with 2D drawing through Grease Pencil
Adobe Photoshop Paid subscription Photo editing and PSD workflows shared with studios
Microsoft Paint Included with Windows 11 Quick sketches and simple edits

Krita opens and saves .psd files, so moving work to or from Photoshop keeps the layers.

Frequently asked questions

Is Krita free to download?

Yes. Krita is free and open source under GPL-3.0, and the download from krita.org costs nothing. There is no trial period, watermark or subscription. The Steam and Microsoft Store copies are paid versions of the same app.

What is the official Krita download page?

The Krita website at krita.org, run by the Krita Foundation. Its files are hosted on download.kde.org. Steam and the Microsoft Store are the other official routes, and both sell Krita rather than giving it away.

Is Krita free on Steam?

No. Steam sells Krita for $9.99, and the purchase funds development and adds automatic updates. The app itself is identical to the free build that the Krita Foundation offers on krita.org.

What is the Krita download size?

The Microsoft Store package downloads up to 229.2 MB. Steam asks for at least 1 GB of free storage and recommends 15 GB, which leaves room for large canvases and animation files.

Is there a Krita offline installer?

Yes. The Windows setup file from krita.org is a full installer, and a portable 64-bit zip is also published. Neither needs an internet connection once the file is downloaded.

Does Krita work on Windows 11?

Yes. Krita runs on 64-bit Windows 11 and Windows 10. The Microsoft Store package needs Windows 10 build 17134 or newer, and Steam recommends Windows 10 or later with 16 GB of RAM.

Is there a Krita download for Mac?

Yes, a signed disk image for macOS, free from krita.org and also sold on Steam. Krita 5.3.3 needs macOS 10.15 Catalina or later, up from 10.14 Mojave in earlier releases.

Is there a 32-bit or Arm version of Krita for Windows?

No. The Krita team no longer makes 32-bit Windows builds, and the current Windows installer and portable zip are x64 only. The Microsoft Store package is x64 as well.

Which Krita version is the latest?

Krita 5.3.3 is the current stable release, published on 26 July 2026. Krita 6.0.3 came out the same day on the newer Qt6 toolkit, and the Krita team describes it as more experimental.

Is Krita safe to download?

Yes, from krita.org, Steam or the Microsoft Store. The Windows installer has a published SHA-256 hash, so you can confirm the file with certutil before running it. Copies on download portals are repackaged.

Why is Krita not installing on my PC?

The usual causes are missing administrator rights, a 32-bit copy of Windows and a broken download. Run the setup as administrator, check the SHA-256 hash, or use the portable zip, which needs no installation.

Can I install Krita with winget?

Yes. Run winget install –id KDE.Krita -e in an administrator terminal. It installs the free build from download.kde.org, and winget upgrade –id KDE.Krita -e moves it to a newer release later.

Philip Celasco

Philip is a Texas-based technology writer and IT administrator at Techdows.com with more than 10 years of experience creating practical content for everyday users and professionals. He specializes in web browsers, particularly Chromium-based platforms such as Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Brave, and Opera. Through his work as an IT administrator, Philip has hands-on experience managing devices, configuring browser policies, troubleshooting software and network issues, and helping people resolve problems that affect productivity and security. His articles are based on practical testing and real-world technical experience. He covers browser settings, extensions, performance problems, privacy controls, security features, and Windows troubleshooting. Outside work, Philip enjoys the quieter side of life in Texas and stepping away from the screen when he can. He has two kids, two cats and loves to play golf with his mother during the weekends.

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