How to Uninstall PhotoGIMP and Restore Default GIMP Settings

Delete the GIMP 3.0 configuration folder from your user profile directory to completely remove PhotoGIMP and force GIMP to regenerate factory defaults on the next launch.

PhotoGIMP is not a standalone application but a configuration patch distributed through the Diolinux/PhotoGIMP repository. Because it only overwrites files in your user-specific GIMP directory without installing system binaries, uninstalling it requires simply removing that configuration folder rather than reinstalling the entire application.

What PhotoGIMP Actually Installs

According to the Diolinux/PhotoGIMP source code, the patch consists solely of configuration files copied into your user profile's GIMP directory. On Linux this is ~/.config/GIMP/3.0, on Windows %APPDATA%\GIMP\3.0, and on macOS ~/Library/Application Support/GIMP/3.0.

The repository modifies these specific configuration files:

• .config/GIMP/3.0/shortcutsrc – Photoshop-style keyboard shortcuts
• .config/GIMP/3.0/toolrc – Tool ordering and layout preferences
• .config/GIMP/3.0/sessionrc – Window layout and dock positions
• .local/share/applications/org.gimp.GIMP.desktop – Custom desktop launcher

How to Uninstall PhotoGIMP on Linux

Delete the Configuration Directory

Run the following command to remove the PhotoGIMP-modified settings:

rm -rf ~/.config/GIMP/3.0

When you restart GIMP, it detects the missing profile and creates a fresh default configuration automatically.

Restore From Backup (If Available)

If you created a backup before installing PhotoGIMP (as recommended in the repository's README.md), restore it with:

cp -r ~/GIMP-3.0-backup ~/.config/GIMP/3.0

How to Uninstall PhotoGIMP on Windows

Manual Deletion Steps

1. Press Win + R, type %APPDATA%\GIMP, and press Enter.
2. Delete the folder named 3.0.
3. Launch GIMP to generate a new default profile.

Restore Previous Settings

If you copied the 3.0 folder to a backup location before installation, paste it back into %APPDATA%\GIMP\ to restore your previous workspace.

How to Uninstall PhotoGIMP on macOS

Delete the Configuration Directory

1. Open Finder and choose Go → Go to Folder…
2. Enter: ~/Library/Application Support/GIMP
3. Delete the 3.0 folder.

Alternatively, use the terminal:

rm -rf ~/Library/Application\ Support/GIMP/3.0

Restore From Backup

If you saved a backup to your Desktop or another location:

cp -R ~/Desktop/GIMP-3.0-backup ~/Library/Application\ Support/GIMP/3.0

How GIMP Regenerates Default Settings

GIMP's startup logic checks for the existence of its profile directory. When the 3.0 folder is missing, GIMP automatically creates a new one populated with factory default files. This mechanism ensures that deleting the PhotoGIMP configuration completely restores the stock layout, shortcuts, and tool arrangements without requiring a full application reinstall.

Key Files Modified by PhotoGIMP

The Diolinux/PhotoGIMP repository overwrites these specific configuration files:

• .config/GIMP/3.0/shortcutsrc – Contains Photoshop-compatible keyboard shortcuts that override GIMP's defaults.
• .config/GIMP/3.0/toolrc – Defines tool ordering to mimic Photoshop's toolbar layout.
• .config/GIMP/3.0/sessionrc – Stores window geometry and dock panel positions.
• .local/share/applications/org.gimp.GIMP.desktop – Provides the custom PhotoGIMP application launcher.

Removing the entire 3.0 directory eliminates all these modifications simultaneously.

Summary

• PhotoGIMP installs only configuration files into the user-specific 3.0 GIMP directory, not system binaries.
• To uninstall PhotoGIMP, delete the 3.0 folder from ~/.config/GIMP/ (Linux), %APPDATA%\GIMP\ (Windows), or ~/Library/Application Support/GIMP/ (macOS).
• GIMP automatically restores default settings when it detects a missing configuration folder.
• Always backup your 3.0 folder before installing PhotoGIMP to enable quick restoration of your previous workspace.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will uninstalling PhotoGIMP delete my images or projects?

No. PhotoGIMP only modifies configuration files such as shortcutsrc and sessionrc inside the 3.0 directory. Your images, brushes stored in separate directories, and project files remain completely unaffected by deleting the configuration folder.

Do I need to reinstall GIMP to remove PhotoGIMP?

No. Because PhotoGIMP does not install any executables or system-wide components according to the Diolinux/PhotoGIMP source, simply deleting the 3.0 configuration folder from your user profile completely removes all PhotoGIMP modifications. The system-wide GIMP installation remains untouched.

Where does PhotoGIMP store its Photoshop-style keyboard shortcuts?

The shortcuts are stored in .config/GIMP/3.0/shortcutsrc within your user configuration directory. This file overrides GIMP's default keybindings to mimic Photoshop. Deleting the entire 3.0 folder removes this file and restores GIMP's native keyboard shortcuts.

Can I keep a backup of my default GIMP settings before trying PhotoGIMP?

Yes. The PhotoGIMP README.md explicitly recommends copying your existing 3.0 folder to a backup location before installation. On Linux, you can run cp -r ~/.config/GIMP/3.0 ~/GIMP-3.0-backup to preserve your current workspace, allowing you to restore it later if you decide to uninstall PhotoGIMP.

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  "mcpServers": {
    "instagit": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "instagit@latest"]
    }
  }
}