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Photopea is free to use at photopea.com, and you normally do not download anything or create an account. If you want an app-like shortcut, open Photopea, choose More → Install Photopea, and let your browser install the official web app.
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- Battery-Free Pen: StarG640 drawing tablet is the perfect replacement for a traditional mouse! The XPPen advanced Battery-free PN01 stylus does not require charging, allowing for constant uninterrupted Draw and Play, making lines flow quicker and smoother, enhancing overall performance
- Ideal for Online Education: XPPen G640 graphics tablet is designed for digital drawing, painting, sketching, E-signatures, online teaching, remote work, photo editing, it's compatible with Microsoft Office apps like Word, PowerPoint, OneNote, Zoom, Xsplit etc. Works perfect than a mouse, visually present your handwritten notes, signatures precisely
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This is not a traditional native installer such as a Windows .exe, macOS .dmg, Linux package, Android APK, or standalone iPhone app. The installed version is a browser-based progressive web app (PWA): it opens in a separate, reduced-browser window but still depends on the browser used to install it.
What you are actually downloading
Photopea is an online image editor for raster and vector work. It supports workflows such as photo editing, digital illustration, resizing, web graphics, layers, masks, smart objects, filters, and PSD documents. For painting and illustration, that means you can work with layers, selections, masks, brushes, vector shapes, and imported Photoshop files without installing a large desktop program. See Photopea’s official introduction and learning documentation for the current feature overview.
There are three different ways to use it:
- Website: Open
https://www.photopea.com/in a browser tab. - Web app or PWA: Install the website through a supported browser. It receives an icon and opens in an app-like window, while remaining powered by the browser.
- Native application: A conventional program with its own executable and runtime. The official Photopea installation method is not this type of application.
So the most accurate answer to “Can I download Photopea?” is: you cannot download Photopea from the official site as a conventional native desktop installer, but you can use it free in a browser or install the official browser-based web app.
Use Photopea immediately without installing it
- Open a current browser such as Chrome, Edge, Safari, or Firefox.
- Go directly to
https://www.photopea.com/. - Choose File → Open to select an image or PSD from your device, or drag a file into the editor.
- Edit the document.
- Choose File → Save as PSD when you need to preserve layers and continue editing later.
- Choose File → Export As when you need a finished PNG, JPG, SVG, PDF, or another output format.
Photopea’s normal local-file workflow does not require an account, sign-in, or conventional download. Its basic editor is free and supported by advertising. An optional Premium account removes advertisements and may provide additional benefits; check the live Photopea account window for current pricing rather than relying on an old article with a fixed price.
PSD versus exported files
Use PSD as your working file when the document contains layers, masks, text, adjustment layers, or other editable elements. A PNG or JPG export is generally an output copy, not a replacement for the layered working document.
| Command | Best use | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|
| File → Save as PSD | Keeping an editable layered project | Creates a working document rather than a lightweight final image |
| File → Export As → PNG | Transparency and lossless web graphics | Does not preserve the editable Photopea layer structure as a PSD does |
| File → Export As → JPG | Photographs and smaller common image files | Does not preserve layers or transparency |
| File → Export As → SVG or PDF | When the destination specifically requires a vector or document format | Check the result for the particular fonts, effects, and document structure used |
Photopea documents its supported opening and saving workflow in Opening and Saving Files.
Install the official Photopea web app
The simplest and most reliable installation route is built into Photopea itself:
- Open Photopea while online.
- Click More in the top menu.
- Select Install Photopea.
- Accept the browser’s installation prompt.
- Start Photopea from the new desktop, Start-menu, Dock, launcher, or home-screen icon.
Photopea’s official installation tutorial describes the result as an icon that starts Photopea in a special browser mode with less browser interface. That is useful if you want Photopea to feel more like a desktop painting or image-editing program, but it does not remove the browser dependency.
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What the installed version does—and does not do
- It opens Photopea in a dedicated or reduced-browser window.
- It still runs through the browser that installed it.
- It depends on that browser remaining installed and functioning.
- Browser extensions can remain active in the installed version.
- Depending on the browser and operating system, it may allow PSD files to open through a double-click or file association.
- Some keyboard shortcuts may work differently from those in an ordinary browser tab.
- Installing it in two different browsers can create separate app instances with different browser storage and settings.
In practical terms, installation gives you a shortcut and cleaner window—not an independent Photopea engine that continues to exist if the browser is removed.
Install Photopea on a computer
Windows with Microsoft Edge
In Edge, open Photopea and use one of these routes:
- Select the install icon in the address bar if Edge displays it; or
- Open Settings and more (…) → More tools → Apps → Install this site as an app.
- Confirm the installation.
- Manage or remove it later at
edge://apps.
Microsoft documents the current Edge process in Install, manage, or uninstall apps in Microsoft Edge. Menu names can change slightly between Edge releases and operating-system configurations.
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First try Photopea’s own More → Install Photopea command. If that option is not available, the browser may show an install icon in the address bar or a menu command such as Install app, Save and share → Install page as app, or Add to home screen. The wording differs by browser, operating system, and version.
On a Chromebook, Photopea remains a Chrome web app. After installation, its icon may appear in the Chromebook launcher. On Linux, installation availability depends on the Chromium-based browser and desktop environment. In both cases, the normal website remains available if the install prompt is absent.
Browser support and installation behavior depend on the site’s configuration, browser settings, existing installation state, and platform. MDN’s PWA installation guide explains why a browser may offer an installation prompt on one device but not another.
macOS with Safari
On supported recent macOS versions, including macOS Sonoma and later, Safari can turn a website into an app using File → Add to Dock. Open Photopea in Safari, choose that command, and follow the prompt. The exact behavior can vary by Safari version and by how the site exposes its web-app configuration. Photopea can also be used normally in a Safari tab.
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Apple describes the feature in its guide to opening websites as web apps; Safari’s desktop labels may differ from the iPhone instructions shown in Apple’s support documentation.
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Firefox
Firefox supports normal Photopea use, but it does not provide the same built-in manifest-based PWA installation flow as Chromium browsers. MDN notes that Firefox requires a PWA extension for this kind of installation. If you simply need to edit, open Photopea in Firefox without installing it.
Install Photopea on Android, iPhone, or iPad
iPhone and iPad
- Open
https://www.photopea.com/in Safari. - Tap Share.
- Select Add to Home Screen.
- Enable Open as Web App if that option appears.
- Tap Add.
This places a Photopea icon on the Home Screen and opens the site in an app-like mode. It does not download a native Photopea package from the App Store. Apple’s instructions are available for opening a website as a web app and adding a website icon to the Home Screen.
Android
Open Photopea in Chrome and tap More (…). Depending on the phone, browser version, and site configuration, you may see Install app, Add to home screen, or similar wording.
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- Open the site in Chrome.
- Tap More (…).
- Tap Add to home screen.
- Choose Create shortcut when Chrome offers that choice.
A shortcut may simply open Photopea in Chrome. A true PWA installation may open in an app-like window and offer stronger system integration. Those are both shortcuts to the web service, not native Android Photopea packages. See Google’s Android Chrome shortcut instructions.
Can Photopea work offline?
Yes, Photopea can continue working offline after it has been loaded while online. The safe procedure is to open the site fully before disconnecting, then test the exact tools and files you expect to use. This is cached browser-based operation, not proof that you own a fully independent native application.
Test offline use before relying on it
- Connect to the internet.
- Open Photopea and wait for the editor interface to load completely.
- Open a small local test image.
- Make a simple edit, such as a brush stroke, crop, or layer change.
- Save a PSD and export a PNG or JPG to your device.
- Disconnect from the internet.
- Reopen or continue using Photopea and test the specific painting, illustration, or editing tools needed for your trip, class, or restricted network.
Save before working offline. Photopea’s privacy policy warns that unsaved work can be lost if the editor closes. Do not treat browser caching as a long-term backup or archive.
What may not work offline
- Opening files through Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, or another cloud-storage connection.
- Saving to a cloud service rather than saving to the local device.
- Photopea API workflows that depend on a server.
- Features that call a third-party service.
- Account, synchronization, or other functions requiring a network connection.
Photopea says that files opened through the normal local workflow are processed on the user’s device and do not leave it. That statement should not be expanded to every possible workflow: cloud connections, API integrations, logins, server-save configurations, and third-party services can involve network transfers. Consult the Photopea API documentation and privacy policy when building a connected workflow.
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Privacy and security: use the official address
The official launch address is:
Be cautious with pages that advertise a Photopea EXE, DMG, APK, cracked installer, or “offline download” from an unrelated domain. The official Photopea pages reviewed direct users to the web editor and the browser installation process, not to a conventional native installer.
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- Exclusive for Ugee's S640/S640W/S1060/S1060W/M708 V3 digital drawing tablets: The Ugee stylus is specifically designed to work with these devices, giving you precise and intuitive control over your artwork
- Not compatible with iPads or other graphics displays: This pen is specifically designed for digital drawing boards, so your customers won't have to worry about accidentally contaminating their devices with other pens or devices
- EMR technology: The Ugee stylus uses an EMR，which means it doesn't require a battery or charging socket. Simply place the stylus on the graphics drawing tablet and it's ready to go
- Two quick-access buttons: The Ugee stylus features two built-in buttons, allowing you to quickly switch between your pen stroke and eraser without ever having to take your hand off the tablet
- 8192 pressure sensitivity and ±60°tilt: The Ugee stylus features high-resolution pressure sensitivity and precise side peaks, allowing you to create detailed and expressive artwork
App-store search results also require care. Listings using names such as Photopea, PhotoPea, or Photopea AI are not automatically affiliated with the official service. Current Google Play results include products from publishers such as Arfa Soft tech and unrelated guide applications, while similarly named products can appear in Apple’s App Store. The safest rule is to verify any claimed app through Photopea’s official website and use the web app at photopea.com when the publisher is unclear. Examples of unrelated or independently published listings include this Google Play listing, this Photopea guide listing, and this similarly named App Store product.
Is local editing private?
For a file opened locally through the normal editor workflow, Photopea states that processing happens on the device and that the file does not leave the device. That is a useful privacy advantage for personal artwork and images, but it is not a universal guarantee for every feature or integration. Do not grant cloud-storage or server permissions unless you understand where the document will be sent and saved.
Troubleshooting Photopea installation and loading
“Install Photopea” is missing or disabled
Photopea identifies two common causes: the browser does not support or has not enabled the installation prompt, or Photopea is already installed and only its visible shortcut was deleted.
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- Try a current version of Chrome or Edge.
- Reload Photopea while online.
- Use More → Install Photopea again.
- Check the browser’s installed-app manager to see whether Photopea is already registered.
- If you removed the icon but used Chrome, check
chrome://appsand remove the existing Photopea entry before reinstalling. - In Edge, check
edge://apps. - Use the normal Photopea website if the browser or device does not support web-app installation.
Deleting a desktop shortcut or phone icon is not always the same as uninstalling the web app. Remove the registered app from the browser’s app manager when you need a clean reinstall.
The editor is blank, stuck, or will not load
- Update the browser and reload Photopea while connected to the internet.
- Temporarily test with extensions disabled, especially ad blockers, privacy tools, antivirus web filters, and extensions that rewrite pages.
- Try a private or incognito window to identify extension or cached-data problems.
- In Edge, check whether Enhanced Security has disabled WebAssembly; Photopea’s troubleshooting documentation identifies disabled WebAssembly as a possible cause of failures.
- Try the regular website in another supported browser.
- On a school or workplace device, ask whether browser apps, WebAssembly, local file access, or site storage are blocked by policy.
Photopea’s guides cover general loading and editor problems and ad and ad-blocking problems.
A file will not open or the saved work disappeared
- Confirm that you opened the file from the local device or through the intended cloud connection.
- Save a PSD before closing if you need layers or editable content.
- Export a separate PNG or JPG when you need a viewable final copy.
- Save manually before changing browser tabs, clearing site data, switching profiles, or going offline.
- Remember that closing Photopea with unsaved work can discard the current document.
Uninstall Photopea
Uninstall it from the browser that installed it:
- Edge: open
edge://apps, select Photopea, choose Details, and then choose Uninstall. - Chrome: use Chrome’s installed-app manager; Photopea’s own instructions specifically mention
chrome://apps. - iPhone or iPad: remove the web-app icon from the Home Screen using the normal iOS removal controls.
If you installed Photopea in more than one browser, remove each browser-specific installation separately. The Photopea installation tutorial and Microsoft’s Edge app guide provide the relevant management instructions.
Is Photopea the right editor for you?
| Your requirement | Best choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Quick, free editing without installing software | Photopea in a browser | Open the official site and start without an account or conventional download |
| A desktop-like icon and separate window | Photopea PWA | Provides app-like access while retaining browser dependence |
| A genuine downloadable desktop editor | GIMP or Krita | Both provide native desktop downloads for supported platforms |
| Digital painting and illustration in a native application | Krita | Designed strongly around painting, although its workflow differs from Photopea |
| Adobe integration and a professional desktop, web, and mobile ecosystem | Adobe Photoshop | Broader Adobe integration, but it is a paid product after its trial or included plan |
| Another browser-based editor or AI-assisted workflow | Pixlr | Another online option, with its own account, advertising, AI, and pricing policies |
Photopea is a capable browser-based alternative for many Photoshop-style tasks, especially layered PSD editing, quick graphics, and occasional illustration. It is not automatically a replacement for every native-editor feature, plug-in, batch pipeline, catalog system, tethered workflow, color-management setup, or very large production document. Performance depends on the computer, browser, available memory, file size, document complexity, and extensions. Photopea recommends a large screen, precise pointing device, and keyboard for the best experience; there is no universal official RAM or file-size threshold to promise.
Quick decision
Choose Photopea in a browser if you want free, immediate editing and do not need a native installer.
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- Ultra thin tablet: Active Area 4 x 3 inches. Fully utilizing our 8192 levels of pen pressure sensitivity―Providing you with groundbreaking control and fluidity to expand your creative output. Please note: The 4 x 3 inches is very small, please confirm that it will meet your needs before you purchase it
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- Accurate Pen Performance: StarG430S computer graphics tablet is the perfect replacement for a traditional mouse! The XPPen advanced Battery-free PN01 stylus does not require charging, allowing for constant uninterrupted Draw and Play, making lines flow quicker and smoother, enhancing overall performance
- Compact and Portable: The G430S art tablet is only 2 mm thick, it’s as slim as all primary level graphic tablets,Ultra-thin and portable, allowing you hold it in one hand and carry it on the go. This graphic drawing tablet supports Mac. However, since the product interface is micro USB to USB-A, if your computer is a Mac and does not have a USB-A port, you will need to purchase an OTG transfer adapter to ensure compatibility with your Mac. So please confirm your computer port before you purchase it
- PLEASE NOTE: The XPPen StarG 430 is compatible with the Windows system 11/10/8/7(32/64 bit), and the Mac OS X version 10.10 or later, but it is incompatible with iOS and iPad OS. If your computer is a Mac, you need to grant permission to the Mac preferences first. Please go to our official website, and according to the guide: XPPen>Support>FAQ, find out the Star G430 and click, then click the question according to your Mac system. There are detailed guidelines for installing the driver so your tablet will work correctly. It's possible incompatible with the customer's own EMR system or other signature system. Please feel free to contact us to confirm the compatibility before your purchase
Install the Photopea PWA if you want a launcher icon and a cleaner app-like window.
Choose GIMP or Krita if “download” really means a native program with a more predictable long-term offline installation.
Whichever route you choose, use https://www.photopea.com/, save a layered PSD plus an exported copy, and avoid unverified EXE, APK, DMG, or “cracked Photopea” downloads.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an official Photopea EXE, DMG, or APK to download?
The official Photopea workflow is the web editor at https://www.photopea.com/ and its browser-installed PWA. Do not assume that an EXE, DMG, APK, or similarly named app-store listing is official unless Photopea’s own website clearly identifies it.
Does installing Photopea make it a standalone desktop program?
No. The PWA opens in an app-like window with less browser interface, but it still runs through the browser used during installation and depends on that browser.
Can I use Photopea without an account?
Yes. Normal use of the free editor does not require an account or sign-in. The free version is advertising-supported, while Premium is optional.
How do I keep my layers when saving Photopea work?
Use File → Save as PSD for the editable working document. Use File → Export As for final PNG, JPG, SVG, PDF, or other delivery copies.
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Deleting a shortcut does not always unregister the PWA. Check the browser’s app manager—chrome://apps in Chrome or edge://apps in Edge—and uninstall Photopea there before installing it again.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: Photopea is free at photopea.com, but there is no conventional native Photopea installer in the official workflow. Use the site immediately in a browser, or choose More → Install Photopea for a browser-based PWA with its own icon and app-like window. Load it while online before attempting offline work, save your PSD and exports manually, and treat similarly named app-store products or download sites as unverified unless the official Photopea website confirms them.
Quick Recap
