How to Restore the Classic Paint App in Windows 10

The classic MS Paint app is a user-friendly raster graphics-editing program (meaning it works with pixel-based images rather than vector graphics) that was introduced in 1985. It’s a lightweight app with simple drawing, cropping, and editing tools.

In 2017, like many other Microsoft programs, the classic MS Paint was added to the list of deprecated features of Windows 10. However, because of user backlash, in 2019, Microsoft reverted this action and kept MS Paint in Windows 10 builds like 1903 and later.

That said, Microsoft still provides a way to restore it. In this article, we will provide a step-by-step guide on how to restore the classic MS Paint app in Windows 10. (Read on to learn how or skip to the “How to check if MS Paint is installed ”  section if you need that first.)

How to restore the classic MS Paint in Windows 10

This quick video shows how to restore the classic Paint app: ‘How to Restore the Classic Paint App in Windows 10’.

Method 1: Reinstall MS Paint from Windows Features

1. Open Settings > System > Optional Features.
2. Click Add a feature and search for Microsoft Paint.
3. Select it and click Install.
4. Restart your PC and check if MS Paint is restored.

Method 2: Restore MS Paint using the Windows Registry

⚠️Note: Ensure that the old MS paint is installed first before doing this step. Otherwise, this registry mod won’t do anything.

⚠️Warning: Editing the registry can cause system issues. Create a backup before proceeding. 

1. Open an elevated Registry Editor by pressing the Windows key + R, typing regedit, and pressing Ctrl + Shift + Enter.
2. Click Yes if prompted by User Account Control (UAC) to allow the Registry Editor to make changes to your device.
3. In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Applets\Paint\Settings
4. Look for the Paint or Settings folders. If they do not exist, create them manually:
   • Right-click Applets, select New > Key, and name it Paint.
   • Right-clickPaint, select New > Key, and name it Settings.
5. Now, you need to enable classic Paint. In the left sidebar of the Registry Editor, right-click Settings.
6. Select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
7. Name it DisableModernPaintBootstrap.
8. Double-click the newly created key and set the Value data to 1.
9. Close the Registry Editor and restart your PC to apply the changes.

How to check if MS Paint is installed

Method 1: Search for MS Paint in the Start Menu

1. Click the Start menu and type “paint”.
2. If MS Paint appears, it is already installed.
3. If only Paint 3D appears, the classic MS Paint may need to be restored.

Method 2: Verify MS Paint in Windows Features

1. Open Settings > System > Optional Features.
2. Look for Microsoft Paint in the installed list.
3. If it’s missing, proceed with the methods above to restore it.

Keep in mind that on some Windows 10 22H2 builds, MS Paint doesn’t appear in Optional Features, and users instead use the installer that Microsoft now provides.

If you don’t see Paint under Optional Features, you may be on a newer Windows 10 build that manages MS Paint as a standalone app. In that case, reinstall Paint using Microsoft’s official installer instead.

Why was MS Paint replaced?

MS Paint wasn’t fully replaced; Microsoft deprecated it to focus on a newer related app called Paint 3D. Paint 3D was introduced in Windows 10 (version 1709) as an enhanced alternative. However, as mentioned earlier, Microsoft restored MS Paint in newer builds of Windows 10, while Paint 3D was removed from the Microsoft Store on November 4, 2024.

Can you still use the classic MS Paint?

Yes. MS Paint is still available for Windows 10 users. However, it may be disabled or missing from the system.

Alternatives to the classic MS Paint

While the classic MS Paint is a go-to graphics-editing app for many, some alternatives exist.

• Use the latest Microsoft Store version of MS Paint (if available).
• Install third-party alternatives like Paint.NET, IrfanView, GIMP, or Krita.

Troubleshooting common issues

Issue: I can’t find MS Paint on my PC

Windows update may have removed the classic MS Paint app from your PC. To reinstall it, check Optional Features. Open Settings by pressing the Windows key + I. Then go to System > Optional Features. From there, you can search for Microsoft Paint and install it if it is available.

Issue: I want to set MS Paint as the default image editor

You can set MS Paint as your default image editor through the following steps.

If you see an image file, right-click on it. From the context menu, select Open with > Choose another app. Select Paint from the list. Check the box that says Always use this app to open .[image file type] files and click Ok.

Restoring the classic MS Paint app

The classic Microsoft Paint app is a remarkable graphics-editing program many Windows users enjoy, and it’s known for its simplicity, user-friendliness, and ease of use.

While the classic MS Paint may be hidden in Windows 10, there are ways to restore it. This step-by-step guide should help you restore the program so you can continue using this classic graphics-editing program.