Non-default plugins don't show up, no matter what folder they're added to. It seems like a change in GIMP is responsible. It does work when GIMP is installed with the official installer, though (i.e. if I add the plugins to AppData/Roaming/GIMP/3.2/plug-ins). I also noticed that the plugin names appear on the splash screen, when GIMP is loading. I haven't been using earlier GIMP 3 versions from PortableApps.com, but I used samjcreations' v 3.0.2 (where it was working). As far as I can see, the 3.0.4 fix is included in GIMP 3.2.0 Portable, as seen in:
https://portableapps.com/node/78914 and https://portableapps.com/node/79163 .
(Unfortunately, I didn't figure out how to test the fixed v 3.0.4 portable.)
I tried:
- Checking the plugin folders in the GIMP settings (opened in explorer and added my plugins to this folder - I did notice that this opened the parent folder of the plug-ins folder, though).
- Using official 3.2 compatible plugins.
- Using Python plugins (Batcher that I was using in 3.0.2) and Script-fu plugins.
- Creating and using the sample Script-fu plugin from this tutorial: https://developer.gimp.org/resource/writing-a-plug-in/tutorial-script-fu/
- Adding my Script-fu plugins to the script folder, which made them appear, but they don't work like this (they behave differently as plugins).
- Like I wrote earlier: I installed the exact same plugins in the installed version and they all worked.
The Microsoft Store version of GIMP has the same problem. To make it clear: It doesn't matter what plugin is used, or where it's placed, but it matters which version is used (official installer v 3.2.2 works, PortableApps v 3.2.0 doesn't work, Microsoft Store v 3.2 [exact version not specified] doesn't work).
I've managed to get Resynthesizer, NikCollection adn G'Mic working with v3.2 with the following configuration:
PLUG-INS
All my plug-ins are copied to:
D:\PortableApps\GIMPPortable\Data\GimpAppData\plug-ins\
RESYNTHESIZER
Use John’s Resynthesizer script from the Portable Apps page
https://portableapps.com/apps/graphics_pictures/gimp_portable
NikCollection (only works with v1.2.1.1 – as far as I’ve found)
Google search for a copy, as newer versions are commercial – I found it at archive.org.
Install the nikcollection-full-1.2.11.exe to the host computer
Copy the “nikplugin” folder to the plug-ins folder listed above
G’MIC
https://gmic.eu/download.html
GMIC Version Latest stable version: 3.5.5 (7/24/2025) (last time I checked)
Extract the Zip archive and copy the folder “gmic_gimp_qt” and all contents to D:\PortableApps\GIMPPortable\Data\GimpAppData\plug-ins
Hope that helps!