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).
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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!
Thanks, I can confirm that the G'MIC plugin works. I tested the latest stable version 3.7.4 (compatible with GIMP 3.2.0).
So this problem seems to only apply to some plugins. I tried a few things with the .scm plugins, but wasn't able to make them work in GIMP 3.2.0 Portable (while they work with GIMP 3.2.2, installed from the official website). I got batcher 1.2.4 and it works with GIMP Portable 3.2.0 as well.
It's just the .scm plugins at this point that don't work. Would be nice, if that issue could be solved somehow.
There were some changes in 3.2.0 that will likely make some older plugins incompatible. 3.2.2 drops 32-bit support entirely, so 32-bit plugins will no longer work at all going forward. I'm building out GIMP Portable Legacy 32-bit 3.2.0 and GIMP Portable 3.2.2 at the moment.
UPDATE: GIMP Portable 3.2.2 as well as 3.2.0 Legacy 32-bit are now available. Modern 3.2.x 64-bit plugins should be good in 3.2.2. Older 32-bit plugins should still work in 3.2.0 Legacy 32-bit.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!