Start by opening GIMP and going to Windows -> Dockable Dialogs ... Remember to also check the Toolbox settings (Edit -> Preferences -> Interface) if you want to customize how tools are grouped.

Whenever you open the GIMP app, it will open without the canvas ... you desire by using the background tool provided in the toolbox. After adding the canvas, you should know the difference ...

One of the most popular image editing tools is GIMP, and there are good reasons why this is the case. Yes, it is not as easy to use when compared to Photoshop, but we cannot complain about that ...