Krita continuously evolves with major and minor releases that bring new tools, performance improvements, and broader platform support. Keeping Krita up to date ensures you have the latest text improvements, HDR support, Wayland compatibility, and stabilizing bug fixes that enhance your drawing and painting workflow.
What’s new in the latest Krita releases
The 5.3 line introduces a comprehensive overhaul of the Text Tool, including on-canvas editing, direct text flow into shapes, and full OpenType support. It also adds a Glyph Palette for alternate characters, a Type Setting Mode for on-canvas typography controls, and numerous enhancements to brushes, filters, and performance. Krita 6.0 extends these capabilities with Qt6-based architecture, improved Wayland color management, HDR display enhancements, and broader Linux support, while remaining in early access as of the latest notes. These updates are part of a broader effort to modernize rendering, color management, and user interface interactions across platforms.
Recent release notes also highlight improvements to the Transform, Liquify, and Path tools, better grid and guides handling (including isometric grids), and expanded support for file formats such as PSD, JPEG-XL, and Radiance HDR. In addition, Python plugins and API improvements expand customization and automation possibilities for power users. For testing bleeding-edge features, Krita Next and Krita Plus Nightly builds provide daily or nightly builds with the newest changes, though these are intended for testing and come with increased risk of instability.
Steps to update Krita on different platforms
- Check your current version - Open Krita and navigate to Help > About Krita to confirm your current version before updating.
- Choose the update path - Decide between the official stable release, Krita Plus, Krita Next Nightly builds for bleeding-edge features, or Krita Plus/Next bundles if you are using Windows Store or Mac App Store variants.
- Windows -
- Use the 64-bit Windows Installer (krita-x64-5.3.0-setup.exe or newer) for a standard install. If you prefer portable, you can use the 64-bit ZIP bundle (krita-x64-5.3.0.zip).
- Note that 32-bit Windows builds are no longer provided. If you previously used an AppImage/portable route, ensure you install the new installer version to a separate folder to avoid overwriting settings.
- macOS - Update through the official Krita downloads or the Mac App Store version if you installed Krita there. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the installation.
- Linux -
- Use your distribution’s package manager to upgrade Krita to the latest stable release when available (e.g., apt, dnf, pacman). If your distro’s repo is behind, consider Flatpak, Snap, or AppImage for newer builds, understanding these may include newer dependencies or sandboxing.
- Keep an eye on Wayland-related changes in Krita 6 and ensure your desktop environment and window manager support the updated color management workflow.
- Android - Android builds may follow separate release cadences; check the Google Play Store or Krita’s site for Android-specific updates. Some 5.3.x features may land later on Android as part of platform-specific releases.
- Bleeding-edge testing - If you want to try Krita Next or Krita Plus nightly builds, be aware they contain experimental features and potential instability. Only install these if you are comfortable troubleshooting occasional regressions.
- Verify integrity - If you download from Krita’s site, verify the download with the provided GPG signatures if you know how to use GPG; otherwise you can skip this step since it is primarily for advanced users who want to ensure integrity.
What to do before updating
- Back up your preferences, brushes, and custom resources. Krita can share settings between installations, but it’s prudent to save a copy of your key folders (resources, presets, and configuration).
- Review release notes to understand notable changes that may affect your workflow, such as text tool updates or new color management features.
- If you rely on specific plugins or Python scripts, verify compatibility with the new Krita version or look for updated plugins in Krita’s repository or forum community.
Post-update tips to get the most from Krita
After updating, explore the enhanced Text Tool features: on-canvas editing, inline text wrapping, and the Type Setting Mode for precise typography control. Experiment with the newly added Glyph Palette for alternate glyphs and check the updated font handling, including OpenType features and localized font names. If you work with color-managed HDR images, test the improved HDR support and Wayland Color Management under a compatible Linux session and a window manager like KWin 6.4.4 or newer.
Familiarize yourself with the new filters and brushes improvements: Propagate Colors Filter for color expansion into transparent areas, Reset Transparent for consistent transparency handling, and the enhanced Liquify and Transform speedups for a smoother workflow on angled artwork. If you use PSD import/export, try Krita’s improved support for Text, Shapes, and Guides in PSD files.
Optional resources for updates
Video and pictorial guides-where available-illustrate new features like on-canvas text editing and advanced text properties. There are also historical notes and development updates that help users track how Krita has evolved across major versions, including the move to Qt6 for Krita 6 and its impact on Linux Wayland support.
For users who want to stay on the cutting edge, Krita Next Nightly and Krita Plus Nightly builds are available, but use them at your own risk as they include the latest enhancements and experimental features.
