darktable suits photographers who shoot raw files and want to sort and develop them without paying for a subscription. This page covers the Windows build, version 5.6.2, released on October 4, 2026. The installer file is fetched from github.com, the project's official server.
Raw files need a database and a darkroom
Raw photos are digital negatives, and they pile up fast. darktable keeps them in a database so you can find and compare them instead of digging through folders.
The developer describes it as a photography workflow application and raw developer. That covers two jobs in one program: organizing and developing.
Lighttable for browsing, darkroom for editing
The lighttable is a zoomable view of your negatives. From there you pick an image and move into the darkroom, where raw images are developed and enhanced.
The tags in the catalog point to the same set of tasks: darkroom, lighttable, negative, photo and editor. For details on individual editing modules, check the manual on darktable.org.
What to check on Windows before installing
The installer is 132.4 MB and the app is free. The license is GPL-3.0, and the publisher is the darktable team.
The 5.6.2 notes list Windows fixes for focus stealing, Alt+Tab failing over lighttable thumbnails, and console windows appearing when external commands ran. If you used earlier versions on Windows, these were the rough spots.
What's new in 5.6.2
Version 5.6.2 fixes darktable taking keyboard focus from other Windows applications and fixes Alt+Tab failing over lighttable thumbnails. It also stops console windows from repeatedly appearing when an external command runs, and documentation versioning has resumed.
darktable pros and cons
Pros
- Free to download and use
- Open source under GPL-3.0
- Manages raw files in a database with a zoomable lighttable
- Develops raw images in a darkroom
- 5.6.2 fixes several Windows focus and console window problems
Cons
- 132.4 MB download
- The interface takes time to learn
- The changelog lists no new headline features for 5.6.2
Is darktable safe?
The file is served from github.com, the official server, and the program is open source under GPL-3.0 from the darktable team. Beyond that there is nothing further to report, so run the downloaded file through your usual virus scanner before opening it, as you would with any installer.
How to install darktable
- Press the download button to get the official file.
- Run the installer you saved and confirm the Windows security prompt if the publisher matches.
- Follow the setup steps, then start darktable from the Start menu.
