To organize brushes in Procreate on iPad, use the official drag-and-drop method inside the Brush Library or create custom brush sets by managing folders in the Files app. These are the only documented methods in the Procreate Handbook, and they work on both iPad and iPhone.
The official way to organize brushes in Procreate
No undocumented features, third-party workarounds, or Android support are included. You will learn the exact steps to reorder brushes, move them between sets, and create new brush sets using the Files app.
Reorder and move brushes with drag and drop
Procreate’s Brush Library uses a simple drag-and-drop system to rearrange brushes and brush sets. You can move individual brushes to a new position within the same set, or transfer them to a different set entirely.
- Open the Brush Library in Procreate.
- Tap and hold a brush or Brush Set until it lifts up.
- Drag it to a new position and release it to reorder it within the current set.
- To move a brush to another set, pick up the brush, hover it over the destination Brush Set, and drop it. Alternatively, pick up the brush and tap the destination set with another finger to move it there.
This method works for both brushes and entire brush sets, giving you full control over the arrangement of your library.
Create custom brush sets using the Files app
The Procreate Handbook documents that brush libraries are stored as folders in the Files app. This means you create new brush sets by managing folders outside of Procreate, and changes sync back automatically.
- Open the Files app on your iPad.
- Navigate to On My iPad → Procreate → Brushes, or iCloud Drive → Procreate Brushes. Brush libraries are stored in the Files app at On My iPad → Procreate → Brushes or iCloud Drive → Procreate Brushes.
- In those folders, each folder is a brush library, the folders inside are brush sets, and the files inside each set are the individual brushes.
- To create a new brush set, create a new folder inside your chosen brush library folder. Name it whatever you like.
- To add brushes to your new set, copy or move .brush files into that folder. Import individual .brush files by bringing them into a brush set folder in the Files app.
Changes made in the Files app, including copy, move, and duplicate actions, are reflected in Procreate the next time you open the Brush Library.
Group brushes by style or type
Procreate’s documented method for grouping brushes is to move them into different brush sets, since the set is the organization unit inside each brush library.
For example, you might create one brush set for inking and sketching, another for watercolor effects, and a third for textures. You can also create sets dedicated to specific stages of your workflow, such as coloring, shading and rendering in Procreate. To group brushes this way, use the drag-and-drop method to move each brush into the appropriate set, or manage the folders directly in the Files app.
What about favorites, labels, and tags?
No supported labels, tag fields, or tag limits are documented in the pages retrieved. No supported labels, tag fields, or tag limits are described in the handbook pages. If you need a documented favorite or pinned-brush workflow, that detail is not shown in the retrieved Procreate handbook pages. The only official organization methods are brush sets and the drag-and-drop reordering described above.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you reorder brushes in Procreate?
This reorders brushes within the same set or moves entire sets within the library.
How do you move a brush to another set?
Pick up the brush by tapping and holding, hover it over the destination Brush Set, and drop it. Procreate also allows tapping the destination set with another finger while holding the brush.
Where are brush libraries stored?
Each folder inside is a brush library, subfolders are brush sets, and the files inside are individual brushes.
Can you organize brushes on Android?
The brush-library features described are for iPadOS and iOS only.
Are labels or tags documented for brushes?
No. The only documented organization methods are brush sets and drag-and-drop reordering.
