To back up Procreate brushes, open the Brush Library, swipe left on a brush set (or a single brush), tap Share, and save the exported file to storage outside the iPad, such as iCloud Drive, Dropbox, Google Drive, or a computer. Procreate doesn't automatically keep copies of your brushes anywhere except inside the app, so deleting the app, a botched update, or a move to a new iPad can wipe your custom library. A full-device backup is a useful safety net, but exported brush files are the only way to restore individual sets without rolling back the whole tablet.

If you use Procreate for hand-drawn textures, ink passes, or boiling line work that ends up in After Effects, Nuke, or Blender, your brushes are production assets. They deserve the same care as a plugin preset folder or a project template.

Why Procreate Brushes Need a Separate Backup

Procreate stores your gallery, brushes, and palettes inside the app. If the app is deleted or something goes wrong during an update or device transfer, everything inside can go with it. For motion artists, that can mean weeks of tuned brush settings: custom grain, stabilization, pressure curves, and dynamics you built to match a specific look.

Full-device backups don't solve this on their own:

• iTunes/Finder backups clone the whole iPad, but you can't pull out one brush set. You'd restore the entire device to an earlier state, potentially losing newer work.
• iCloud backups have the same all-or-nothing limitation. Procreate's own support staff has noted that large Procreate data sometimes restores slowly or incompletely from iCloud, so it shouldn't be your only copy.
• The Procreate folder in the Files app is not a safe backup location. It exists only while Procreate is installed. If the app is removed, that folder goes with it.

The practical conclusion: do both. Keep a periodic full-device backup, and export brushes as standalone files to a location that doesn't depend on Procreate or the iPad.

Step 1: Choose and Prepare a Backup Location

Pick storage that lives off the iPad. Good options:

• A cloud drive (iCloud Drive, Dropbox, Google Drive)
• A computer
• An external hard drive

Create a dedicated folder before you start, for example Procreate Backup/Brushes. If you work with a team or across machines, put it somewhere that already gets backed up, such as a studio NAS or a synced project-assets folder, so your brushes ride along with existing safeguards.

Step 2: Export a Brush Set

Brushes in Procreate are organized into sets, and exporting a whole set is usually the fastest route.

1. Open a canvas and tap the Brushes (paintbrush) icon to open the Brush Library.
2. Find the set you want to back up.
3. Swipe left on the set name and tap Share.
4. Choose Save to Files (or another destination) and pick your backup folder.

The result is a single brush-set file containing every brush in that set, along with their settings. Repeat for each custom set. Exact menu wording can shift slightly between Procreate versions, but the swipe-and-share pattern is consistent.

Tip: Gather your most-used brushes into one or two custom sets before exporting. A tidy "Studio Essentials" set is far easier to back up and restore than fifty scattered individual brushes.

Step 3: Export Individual Brushes

When you want to share or archive one brush, such as a heavily tuned inking brush, you can export it alone:

1. In the Brush Library, swipe left on the brush's name.
2. Tap Share.
3. Save it to your backup folder.

Single-brush exports are useful for version snapshots. Before you make major edits to a brush you rely on, export the current version and name it clearly, for example Ink_Rough_v1. If the edits go wrong, you have a known-good copy.

Step 4: Name and Organize Your Files

Exports inherit whatever the brush or set is called inside Procreate, and default names get confusing fast. A few habits help:

• Rename sets before exporting. "Set 3" tells you nothing a year later.
• Use dated folders or version suffixes if you iterate on brushes often.
• Keep a short text note in the folder listing what each set is for (line work, texture stamps, smoke and grain, etc.).
• Separate brushes from artwork and palettes. Brushes, palettes, fonts, and canvases are different asset types. Keeping them in sibling folders makes restores simpler.

Step 5: Back Up Palettes and Canvases Too

Brushes rarely live alone. If you're rebuilding a look, you'll also want the palettes and source artwork that went with it.

• Palettes: open the Colour panel's Palettes tab, swipe left on a palette, and share it to your backup folder.
• Canvases: from the Gallery, swipe left on a file, tap Share, choose the native Procreate format, and save it. You can select multiple files at once for a batch export, though large batches take longer. Native Procreate files preserve the full file data, including Time-lapse recordings, which a PSD export will not.
• A flattened image of each piece, such as a PNG, is worth saving alongside it. Native Procreate files can't be opened outside Procreate, so a PNG gives you a visual reference for finding the right file.

Step 6: Add a Full-Device Backup

Standalone exports cover brushes, palettes, and files. A full-device backup covers everything else: settings, other apps, and anything you forgot.

• Computer backup: connect the iPad, open Finder (macOS) or iTunes (Windows), and back up to the computer rather than iCloud. Each new backup overwrites the previous one unless you archive a copy.
• iCloud backup: if you prefer this route, go to Settings, tap your name, open iCloud, then See All under apps using iCloud, and confirm Procreate is toggled on. Then start a backup manually from the iCloud Backup screen.

Treat these as insurance against total device failure, not as your brush archive.

How to Restore Brushes

Restoring is simple if your exports are intact:

1. Locate the brush-set file in Files, Dropbox, or wherever you saved it.
2. Tap it. Procreate should open and import the set automatically.
3. Alternatively, open the Brush Library and use the Import option to browse to the file.

The imported set appears in your library. Check a few brushes to confirm dynamics and stamps came across correctly before you delete anything or wipe a device.

Test your restore once, before you need it. Import a backed-up set on a second iPad, or delete a duplicate copy of a non-critical set and bring it back. A backup you've never restored is only a hope.

Backup Habits for Working Artists

• Back up after meaningful changes, not on a vague schedule. Finished a new brush set for a project? Export it that day.
• Keep two copies in two places, for example cloud storage plus an external drive.
• Back up before updates or device changes. Major Procreate releases and new iPads are the moments when mistakes cluster.
• Check licenses on purchased or third-party brushes. Backing up for your own recovery is one thing; redistributing a marketplace brush set to colleagues may violate the license.
• Don't clear storage in a hurry. Deleting the app to free space is how many people discover their only copy was inside it.

Where Backed-Up Brushes Fit in a Motion Pipeline

For many motion designers, Procreate is a concept and texture tool: hand-inked frames, painted styleframes, grain and dry-brush elements exported as PNGs to composite in After Effects, Nuke, or Blender. Because the brush is what defines that look, a lost library means a visibly inconsistent style when you return to a project months later.

This is also where reference material matters for AI-assisted work. The hand-drawn frames you make in Procreate can serve as visual references for style-driven tools.

The connection to backups is practical: if your references are made with a specific brush set, being able to restore that set means you can draw new references that match earlier ones, and your style stays consistent across a campaign or series. Keep the exported brush files and a few representative reference PNGs together in the same project archive, so the look can be reproduced later.

Quick Checklist

1. Create a backup folder off the iPad.
2. Group and rename custom brushes into clear sets.
3. Swipe left on each set, tap Share, and save to your folder.
4. Export key individual brushes before editing them.
5. Export palettes and native canvas files, plus PNG previews.
6. Run a full-device backup to a computer or iCloud as a second layer.
7. Test one restore.
8. Repeat after any significant brush changes.

FAQ

Does Procreate back up brushes automatically? No. Procreate doesn't create separate backups of your brushes outside the app. Only a full-device backup includes them, and that can't restore a single set.

Is the Procreate folder in Files enough? No. That folder depends on Procreate staying installed. If the app is deleted, the folder disappears. Use it as a transfer point, then move files to cloud storage or a computer.

Can I back up all brushes at once? Brushes are exported per set or per brush, so consolidate your custom brushes into a few sets to make backups quick, and export each set.

How often should I back up? Whenever you create or significantly change a brush, and before any app update, iPadOS update, or device switch.

To back up Procreate brushes, open the Brush Library, swipe left on a brush set (or a single brush), tap Share, and save the exported file to storage outside the iPad, such as iCloud Drive, Dropbox, Google Drive, or a computer. Procreate doesn't automatically keep copies of your brushes anywhere except inside the app, so deleting the app, a botched update, or a move to a new iPad can wipe your custom library. A full-device backup is a useful safety net, but exported brush files are the only way to restore individual sets without rolling back the whole tablet.

If you use Procreate for hand-drawn textures, ink passes, or boiling line work that ends up in After Effects, Nuke, or Blender, your brushes are production assets. They deserve the same care as a plugin preset folder or a project template.

Why Procreate Brushes Need a Separate Backup

Procreate stores your gallery, brushes, and palettes inside the app. If the app is deleted or something goes wrong during an update or device transfer, everything inside can go with it. For motion artists, that can mean weeks of tuned brush settings: custom grain, stabilization, pressure curves, and dynamics you built to match a specific look.

Full-device backups don't solve this on their own:

• iTunes/Finder backups clone the whole iPad, but you can't pull out one brush set. You'd restore the entire device to an earlier state, potentially losing newer work.
• iCloud backups have the same all-or-nothing limitation. Procreate's own support staff has noted that large Procreate data sometimes restores slowly or incompletely from iCloud, so it shouldn't be your only copy.
• The Procreate folder in the Files app is not a safe backup location. It exists only while Procreate is installed. If the app is removed, that folder goes with it.

The practical conclusion: do both. Keep a periodic full-device backup, and export brushes as standalone files to a location that doesn't depend on Procreate or the iPad.

Step 1: Choose and Prepare a Backup Location

Pick storage that lives off the iPad. Good options:

• A cloud drive (iCloud Drive, Dropbox, Google Drive)
• A computer
• An external hard drive

Create a dedicated folder before you start, for example Procreate Backup/Brushes. If you work with a team or across machines, put it somewhere that already gets backed up, such as a studio NAS or a synced project-assets folder, so your brushes ride along with existing safeguards.

Step 2: Export a Brush Set

Brushes in Procreate are organized into sets, and exporting a whole set is usually the fastest route.

1. Open a canvas and tap the Brushes (paintbrush) icon to open the Brush Library.
2. Find the set you want to back up.
3. Swipe left on the set name and tap Share.
4. Choose Save to Files (or another destination) and pick your backup folder.

The result is a single brush-set file containing every brush in that set, along with their settings. Repeat for each custom set. Exact menu wording can shift slightly between Procreate versions, but the swipe-and-share pattern is consistent.

Tip: Gather your most-used brushes into one or two custom sets before exporting. A tidy "Studio Essentials" set is far easier to back up and restore than fifty scattered individual brushes.

Step 3: Export Individual Brushes

When you want to share or archive one brush, such as a heavily tuned inking brush, you can export it alone:

1. In the Brush Library, swipe left on the brush's name.
2. Tap Share.
3. Save it to your backup folder.

Single-brush exports are useful for version snapshots. Before you make major edits to a brush you rely on, export the current version and name it clearly, for example Ink_Rough_v1. If the edits go wrong, you have a known-good copy.

Step 4: Name and Organize Your Files

Exports inherit whatever the brush or set is called inside Procreate, and default names get confusing fast. A few habits help:

• Rename sets before exporting. "Set 3" tells you nothing a year later.
• Use dated folders or version suffixes if you iterate on brushes often.
• Keep a short text note in the folder listing what each set is for (line work, texture stamps, smoke and grain, etc.).
• Separate brushes from artwork and palettes. Brushes, palettes, fonts, and canvases are different asset types. Keeping them in sibling folders makes restores simpler.

Step 5: Back Up Palettes and Canvases Too

Brushes rarely live alone. If you're rebuilding a look, you'll also want the palettes and source artwork that went with it.

• Palettes: open the Colour panel's Palettes tab, swipe left on a palette, and share it to your backup folder.
• Canvases: from the Gallery, swipe left on a file, tap Share, choose the native Procreate format, and save it. You can select multiple files at once for a batch export, though large batches take longer. Native Procreate files preserve the full file data, including Time-lapse recordings, which a PSD export will not.
• A flattened image of each piece, such as a PNG, is worth saving alongside it. Native Procreate files can't be opened outside Procreate, so a PNG gives you a visual reference for finding the right file.

Step 6: Add a Full-Device Backup

Standalone exports cover brushes, palettes, and files. A full-device backup covers everything else: settings, other apps, and anything you forgot.

• Computer backup: connect the iPad, open Finder (macOS) or iTunes (Windows), and back up to the computer rather than iCloud. Each new backup overwrites the previous one unless you archive a copy.
• iCloud backup: if you prefer this route, go to Settings, tap your name, open iCloud, then See All under apps using iCloud, and confirm Procreate is toggled on. Then start a backup manually from the iCloud Backup screen.

Treat these as insurance against total device failure, not as your brush archive.

How to Restore Brushes

Restoring is simple if your exports are intact:

1. Locate the brush-set file in Files, Dropbox, or wherever you saved it.
2. Tap it. Procreate should open and import the set automatically.
3. Alternatively, open the Brush Library and use the Import option to browse to the file.

The imported set appears in your library. Check a few brushes to confirm dynamics and stamps came across correctly before you delete anything or wipe a device.

Test your restore once, before you need it. Import a backed-up set on a second iPad, or delete a duplicate copy of a non-critical set and bring it back. A backup you've never restored is only a hope.

Backup Habits for Working Artists

• Back up after meaningful changes, not on a vague schedule. Finished a new brush set for a project? Export it that day.
• Keep two copies in two places, for example cloud storage plus an external drive.
• Back up before updates or device changes. Major Procreate releases and new iPads are the moments when mistakes cluster.
• Check licenses on purchased or third-party brushes. Backing up for your own recovery is one thing; redistributing a marketplace brush set to colleagues may violate the license.
• Don't clear storage in a hurry. Deleting the app to free space is how many people discover their only copy was inside it.

Where Backed-Up Brushes Fit in a Motion Pipeline

For many motion designers, Procreate is a concept and texture tool: hand-inked frames, painted styleframes, grain and dry-brush elements exported as PNGs to composite in After Effects, Nuke, or Blender. Because the brush is what defines that look, a lost library means a visibly inconsistent style when you return to a project months later.

This is also where reference material matters for AI-assisted work. The hand-drawn frames you make in Procreate can serve as visual references for style-driven tools.

The connection to backups is practical: if your references are made with a specific brush set, being able to restore that set means you can draw new references that match earlier ones, and your style stays consistent across a campaign or series. Keep the exported brush files and a few representative reference PNGs together in the same project archive, so the look can be reproduced later.

Quick Checklist

1. Create a backup folder off the iPad.
2. Group and rename custom brushes into clear sets.
3. Swipe left on each set, tap Share, and save to your folder.
4. Export key individual brushes before editing them.
5. Export palettes and native canvas files, plus PNG previews.
6. Run a full-device backup to a computer or iCloud as a second layer.
7. Test one restore.
8. Repeat after any significant brush changes.

FAQ

Does Procreate back up brushes automatically? No. Procreate doesn't create separate backups of your brushes outside the app. Only a full-device backup includes them, and that can't restore a single set.

Is the Procreate folder in Files enough? No. That folder depends on Procreate staying installed. If the app is deleted, the folder disappears. Use it as a transfer point, then move files to cloud storage or a computer.

Can I back up all brushes at once? Brushes are exported per set or per brush, so consolidate your custom brushes into a few sets to make backups quick, and export each set.

How often should I back up? Whenever you create or significantly change a brush, and before any app update, iPadOS update, or device switch.