Fix: Gimp Clone Tool not working [Complete guide]

Milan Stanojevic
by Milan Stanojevic
Windows & Software Expert
Milan has been enthusiastic about PCs ever since his childhood days, and this led him to take interest in all PC-related technologies. Before joining WindowsReport, he worked as a front-end web developer. Read more
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Affiliate Disclosure
  • When it comes to image editing, GIMP is one of the best free image editing applications.
  • Many reported that the GIMP Clone tool is not working for them, but there’s a way to fix this problem.
  • Want to learn more about GIMP? This dedicated GIMP article has all the information you need.
  • Having problems with other applications? If so, visit our PC Software Hub for more in-depth guides.
gimp clone tool not working
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GIMP is one of the best freeware alternatives to Photoshop, but despite being a great software, GIMP has its share of issues.

Many users reported that GIMP Clone tool isn’t working for them, and while this can be a problem, fixing it is easier than you think.

What can I do if GIMP Clone tool is not working?

1. Reset the Clone tool

  1. Open GIMP and select the Clone tool.
  2. Now click the Reset icon to reset Clone tool settings. You can also hold the Shift key and click the icon to perform a full reset.
    reset clone tool gimp clone tool not working

After resetting the Clone tool, the issue should be resolved. This issue usually occurs if you changed certain settings by accident, but after resetting the tool, the problem will be gone.

2. Make sure that the image isn’t in Indexed mode

  1. Start GIMP.
  2. Now go to Image > Mode > RGB.
    RGB mode gimp clone tool not working

After doing that, the problem with Clone tool should be resolved. Many users reported that this issue occurred because their image was in Indexed mode, but after changing it to RGB, the problem was gone.

3. Add an Alpha channel

  1. Locate your layer in the Layers panel.
  2. Right-click it and choose Add Alpha Channel from the menu.
    add alpha channel to layer gimp clone tool not working

After doing that, the issue with the Clone tool should be resolved.

4. Restart GIMP and your PC

  1. Close GIMP completely.
  2. After a few moments, start it again.
  3. If the issue is still there, click the Start button and choose Restart.
    restart PC gimp clone tool not working
  4. Once the computer restarts, start GIMP again and check if the problem is still there.

This is a simple workaround, but several users reported that it worked for them, so you might want to try it out.

Also, make sure that you select the corect layer when you’re using the Clone tool. This can also create the illusion that the tool is not working.

GIMP is a solid image editing software, but if the Clone tool is not working for you, be sure to try resetting it or use any other solution from this article.

If you have other suggestions or solutions, don’t hesitate to drop us a line in the comments section below and we will take it into consideration.

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