To check your Procreate version, open Procreate to the Gallery and tap the Procreate logo in the top left corner. The info screen shows your version number and build number just under the logo. You can also see the version in the iPad's Settings app under Procreate, and compare it against the App Store listing to see whether an update is waiting.

Check the version inside Procreate

This is the most reliable method because it reads the version from the app you're actually running.

1. Open Procreate and stay in the Gallery (the grid of your canvases), not inside an artwork.
2. Look at the top left corner and tap the Procreate logo or word.
3. The info screen shows the version number (for example, 5.x.x) and a build number underneath the logo.

The build number matters more than it looks. If you installed through a TestFlight invite instead of the App Store, you're on a beta, and the build number is how support staff and other users tell builds apart. If you're troubleshooting with a colleague or reporting a bug, send both numbers.

Older versions look different

On very old releases (the 3.x era), the word "Procreate" sits in the center of the Gallery's top bar rather than in the top left. Anyone still on a legacy install, such as an older iPad that can't take newer iPadOS versions, may see this layout. A centered logo means a version from before Procreate 4. In current releases, a left-aligned logo is the one to tap.

Check the version from iPad Settings

If you can't open the app, or you want to confirm the version without launching it:

1. Open the iPad Settings app.
2. Scroll down the left sidebar to the list of installed apps and tap Procreate.
3. The version and build information appears on that page, alongside per-app options such as language.

The same Settings page is where you set Procreate's preferred language, so it's worth knowing even if you never need the version number.

Check the version in the App Store

The App Store tells you what's available, which is different from what you have installed.

1. Open the App Store and tap your profile picture in the top right.
2. Scroll the account page to see pending updates. If Procreate is listed, tap Update.
3. Alternatively, search for Procreate and open its product page. Note that a button reading Open doesn't always mean you're current, because an update can be slow to appear on your device.
4. The product page also shows the current version number, so you can compare it with the number in your Gallery.

At the time of writing, Procreate's official help center lists 5.4.14 as the current version for iPad. That number will change, so treat the help center FAQ as the reference for what "latest" means on the day you read this.

Check that your iPad can run the latest version

Sometimes the App Store doesn't offer an update because the device doesn't qualify. The latest Procreate releases depend on recent iPadOS technology. The 5.4.14 release listed in the help center requires iPadOS 16.3 or newer.

To confirm what you're running:

1. Open Settings → General → About.
2. Note your iPad model and Software Version (the iPadOS version).
3. Compare these against the requirements in the Procreate FAQ and Apple's list of devices that support each iPadOS release.

If your iPadOS is out of date but the hardware supports a newer one, update iPadOS first through Settings → General → Software Update, then return to the App Store.

Procreate vs. Procreate Pocket

Procreate for iPad and Procreate Pocket (the iPhone app) are separate products with separate version numbers. A common source of confusion in support forums is someone reinstalling the wrong one, then finding a different interface or feature set. If your canvas options or tools look unfamiliar after an install, confirm which app you're in by checking the App Store listing name and the info screen. Don't compare your iPad version number against Pocket's.

When the update doesn't show up

Updates sometimes roll out unevenly. Artists with multiple iPads have reported one device receiving an update immediately while another waits. Before assuming something is broken:

• Refresh the App Store. On the account or Updates page, pull the screen down and release to force a refresh.
• Wait a few hours. Staggered availability is normal after a release.
• Check iPadOS. If you recently updated iPadOS, restart the iPad and try again.
• Confirm the Apple ID. The App Store account must be the one that purchased Procreate.
• Check storage. A nearly full iPad can block installs.

Don't delete the app to force an update

Deleting and reinstalling Procreate is the one workaround to be careful with. Removing the app also removes the artwork stored inside it. Replies on Procreate's support forum are blunt about this: if you delete and reinstall, your work goes with it, and nobody can recover it for you. If you've already done it, the only realistic route is an iPad backup made before the deletion. Check Settings → [your name] → iCloud → Manage Storage → Backups → This iPad, confirm the date of the last backup, and see whether Procreate data was included.

The safer approach is to update in place. An App Store update installs over the existing version and should preserve your canvases, brushes, and palettes. Even so, back up first.

Back up before you update

Whether it's a routine update or a jump across major versions, spend two minutes on a backup:

• Export important canvases as native .procreate files to the Files app or cloud storage.
• Export finished or in-progress work as PNG or PSD if other apps need to open it.
• Export custom brushes and palettes, since those are easy to forget.
• Confirm iCloud or computer backups are recent.

For anyone delivering client work, this is also a good moment to finish and export any open job before changing the app mid-project.

Why the version number matters

You probably don't need the version number day to day. It matters in a few specific situations:

• Support and bug reports. Version and build are the first things anyone will ask for.
• Feature availability. Tools change between releases. For example, layer opacity was moved out of Adjustments in Procreate 5X and now lives on the layer itself, accessible by two-finger tap or via the Blending Mode control.
• Layer and canvas limits. The maximum number of layers depends on your iPad's RAM and the canvas size, and has since Procreate's first versions. If your layer count seems lower than expected, a larger canvas is a more likely cause than a different version. Note your iPad model, iPadOS version, Procreate version, and canvas size before asking for help.
• Team consistency. If several artists on a project hand files around, matching versions removes one variable when something opens differently.

Where Procreate fits in a motion pipeline

Many motion designers and animators use Procreate for concept sketches, style frames, character explorations, and hand-painted textures before moving into After Effects, Cinema 4D, Blender, or Nuke. That handoff is where version hygiene pays off: you want to know which build produced a given file when something looks different on the desktop.

If you're moving those paintings into motion, Styleframe is an AI video and motion tool built around artistic control rather than one-click output. A Procreate painting can serve as a reference image or a keyframe.

A typical path is: paint style frames in Procreate, export clean PNGs, use them as references and keyframes in Styleframe, then bring the result into your comp for the usual grading, tracking, and finishing.

Quick reference

FAQ

Is there a free version of Procreate? No. If you see a different or limited app after reinstalling, check that you didn't install Procreate Pocket or another app by mistake.

Where is the build number? On the same info screen as the version number, directly below the logo.

Will updating delete my artwork? An in-place update through the App Store should preserve your content. Deleting and reinstalling does not.

Why can't I update? The usual causes are an outdated iPadOS, a different Apple ID, low storage, or a staggered rollout. Start with Settings → General → About, then refresh the App Store.

To check your Procreate version, open Procreate to the Gallery and tap the Procreate logo in the top left corner. The info screen shows your version number and build number just under the logo. You can also see the version in the iPad's Settings app under Procreate, and compare it against the App Store listing to see whether an update is waiting.

Check the version inside Procreate

This is the most reliable method because it reads the version from the app you're actually running.

1. Open Procreate and stay in the Gallery (the grid of your canvases), not inside an artwork.
2. Look at the top left corner and tap the Procreate logo or word.
3. The info screen shows the version number (for example, 5.x.x) and a build number underneath the logo.

The build number matters more than it looks. If you installed through a TestFlight invite instead of the App Store, you're on a beta, and the build number is how support staff and other users tell builds apart. If you're troubleshooting with a colleague or reporting a bug, send both numbers.

Older versions look different

On very old releases (the 3.x era), the word "Procreate" sits in the center of the Gallery's top bar rather than in the top left. Anyone still on a legacy install, such as an older iPad that can't take newer iPadOS versions, may see this layout. A centered logo means a version from before Procreate 4. In current releases, a left-aligned logo is the one to tap.

Check the version from iPad Settings

If you can't open the app, or you want to confirm the version without launching it:

1. Open the iPad Settings app.
2. Scroll down the left sidebar to the list of installed apps and tap Procreate.
3. The version and build information appears on that page, alongside per-app options such as language.

The same Settings page is where you set Procreate's preferred language, so it's worth knowing even if you never need the version number.

Check the version in the App Store

The App Store tells you what's available, which is different from what you have installed.

1. Open the App Store and tap your profile picture in the top right.
2. Scroll the account page to see pending updates. If Procreate is listed, tap Update.
3. Alternatively, search for Procreate and open its product page. Note that a button reading Open doesn't always mean you're current, because an update can be slow to appear on your device.
4. The product page also shows the current version number, so you can compare it with the number in your Gallery.

At the time of writing, Procreate's official help center lists 5.4.14 as the current version for iPad. That number will change, so treat the help center FAQ as the reference for what "latest" means on the day you read this.

Check that your iPad can run the latest version

Sometimes the App Store doesn't offer an update because the device doesn't qualify. The latest Procreate releases depend on recent iPadOS technology. The 5.4.14 release listed in the help center requires iPadOS 16.3 or newer.

To confirm what you're running:

1. Open Settings → General → About.
2. Note your iPad model and Software Version (the iPadOS version).
3. Compare these against the requirements in the Procreate FAQ and Apple's list of devices that support each iPadOS release.

If your iPadOS is out of date but the hardware supports a newer one, update iPadOS first through Settings → General → Software Update, then return to the App Store.

Procreate vs. Procreate Pocket

Procreate for iPad and Procreate Pocket (the iPhone app) are separate products with separate version numbers. A common source of confusion in support forums is someone reinstalling the wrong one, then finding a different interface or feature set. If your canvas options or tools look unfamiliar after an install, confirm which app you're in by checking the App Store listing name and the info screen. Don't compare your iPad version number against Pocket's.

When the update doesn't show up

Updates sometimes roll out unevenly. Artists with multiple iPads have reported one device receiving an update immediately while another waits. Before assuming something is broken:

• Refresh the App Store. On the account or Updates page, pull the screen down and release to force a refresh.
• Wait a few hours. Staggered availability is normal after a release.
• Check iPadOS. If you recently updated iPadOS, restart the iPad and try again.
• Confirm the Apple ID. The App Store account must be the one that purchased Procreate.
• Check storage. A nearly full iPad can block installs.

Don't delete the app to force an update

Deleting and reinstalling Procreate is the one workaround to be careful with. Removing the app also removes the artwork stored inside it. Replies on Procreate's support forum are blunt about this: if you delete and reinstall, your work goes with it, and nobody can recover it for you. If you've already done it, the only realistic route is an iPad backup made before the deletion. Check Settings → [your name] → iCloud → Manage Storage → Backups → This iPad, confirm the date of the last backup, and see whether Procreate data was included.

The safer approach is to update in place. An App Store update installs over the existing version and should preserve your canvases, brushes, and palettes. Even so, back up first.

Back up before you update

Whether it's a routine update or a jump across major versions, spend two minutes on a backup:

• Export important canvases as native .procreate files to the Files app or cloud storage.
• Export finished or in-progress work as PNG or PSD if other apps need to open it.
• Export custom brushes and palettes, since those are easy to forget.
• Confirm iCloud or computer backups are recent.

For anyone delivering client work, this is also a good moment to finish and export any open job before changing the app mid-project.

Why the version number matters

You probably don't need the version number day to day. It matters in a few specific situations:

• Support and bug reports. Version and build are the first things anyone will ask for.
• Feature availability. Tools change between releases. For example, layer opacity was moved out of Adjustments in Procreate 5X and now lives on the layer itself, accessible by two-finger tap or via the Blending Mode control.
• Layer and canvas limits. The maximum number of layers depends on your iPad's RAM and the canvas size, and has since Procreate's first versions. If your layer count seems lower than expected, a larger canvas is a more likely cause than a different version. Note your iPad model, iPadOS version, Procreate version, and canvas size before asking for help.
• Team consistency. If several artists on a project hand files around, matching versions removes one variable when something opens differently.

Where Procreate fits in a motion pipeline

Many motion designers and animators use Procreate for concept sketches, style frames, character explorations, and hand-painted textures before moving into After Effects, Cinema 4D, Blender, or Nuke. That handoff is where version hygiene pays off: you want to know which build produced a given file when something looks different on the desktop.

If you're moving those paintings into motion, Styleframe is an AI video and motion tool built around artistic control rather than one-click output. A Procreate painting can serve as a reference image or a keyframe.

A typical path is: paint style frames in Procreate, export clean PNGs, use them as references and keyframes in Styleframe, then bring the result into your comp for the usual grading, tracking, and finishing.

Quick reference

FAQ

Is there a free version of Procreate? No. If you see a different or limited app after reinstalling, check that you didn't install Procreate Pocket or another app by mistake.

Where is the build number? On the same info screen as the version number, directly below the logo.

Will updating delete my artwork? An in-place update through the App Store should preserve your content. Deleting and reinstalling does not.

Why can't I update? The usual causes are an outdated iPadOS, a different Apple ID, low storage, or a staggered rollout. Start with Settings → General → About, then refresh the App Store.