MS Paint not working in Windows 11/10

Is Microsoft Paint not working in Windows 11/10? Well, that seems to be a common issue, and we have some great solutions to fix this issue.

Users have been complaining that while trying to use MS Paint, does not work or open. the scroll bar in the app is not working, the Paste icon is not showing up, it crashes, and so on. Fortunately, we have rounded up some of the most effective troubleshooting methods to help you fix the problems with the Microsoft Paint application.

Why is Microsoft Paint not working?

Some of the possible reasons why MS Paint is not working on Windows 11/10 PC are as follows:

Corrupted security identifier.
Pending system updates.
Interference by installed fonts.
Accumulated cache in Microsoft Store.
Outdated Paint app version.
Corrupted system files.
There is a problem with the Paint app itself.

Fix MS Paint not working in Windows 11/10

MS Paint has long been a basic yet very useful tool for image editing or designing new images. It has also been infused with new features like the AI-based Cocreator. However, the app is not untouched by glitches and crashes. So, if you encounter problems with the Microsoft Paint application, here’s what you can do to solve the issue.

Delete the SID Entries for Paint in the registry
Remove unsupported Fonts
Clear the Microsoft Store Cache
Reset Paint via PowerShell
Repair the Paint app
Uninstall and Reinstall Paint Using PowerShell
Other suggestions.

Before you begin, update the Paint app to its latest version.

1] Delete the SID entries for Paint in the registry

Chances are, the Security Identifier entries for the Paint app are damaged and hence, you encounter the problem. In this case, removing the corrupted SID entries from the registry editor is recommended to fix the issue. However, before that, back up your registry settings to restore any lost data in the future.

Open the registry editor, and navigate to the path below:

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore

Here, under the AppxAllUserStore key on the left, you should find the SID entries, starting with S-1-5.

Expand each of these keys to locate any entries related to the Paint app.

Once you find the entries for the Paint app, right-click on it and select Delete to remove.

Now, exit the registry editor, uninstall the Paint app, and reinstall it to clear the damaged SID profile.

Read: Paint 3D app not working or opening, Error 0x803F8001

2] Remove unsupported Fonts

Yes, even some Fonts can interfere with the Paint app and cause it to crash or lead to other problems. In this case, we suggest that you uninstall any recenetly installed Fonts on your system.

Open Windows Settings (Win + I) > Personlisation > Fonts > select the font you want to remove > Uninstall.

3] Clear the Microsoft Store Cache

Since Paint is a Microsoft store app, it’s known to accumulate cache and this can interfere with the functioning of the Paint app. In this case, it’s recommended that you clear the Microsoft Store cache at regular intervals to fix any issues related to the store as well as the Paint app.

Read: How to remove Image Background using Paint app

4] Reset Paint via PowerShell

You can reset the MS Paint app using Windows PowerShell to revert to its default state.

To do this, open the Run console (Win + R) > type PowerShell > press the Ctrl + Shift + Enter shortcut keys to open the elevated PowerShell window.

Now, run the below command in the PowerShell window and hit Enter:

Get-AppxPackage *Microsoft.Paint* | Reset-AppxPackage

5] Repair the Paint app

You can also repair or reset the Paint app files through the Settings app and fix the problems with the Microsoft Paint application .

Open Windows Settings (Win + I) > Apps > Apps & features > App list > Paint > three dots > Advanced options > Reset or Repair.

Read: Paint cannot read this file, This is not a valid bitmap file

6] Uninstall and reinstall Paint using PowerShell

While you can uninstall the Paint app from Apps & features in Settings, this may not help you to fix the issue successfully if the app is not working. In such situations, you can uninstall the Paint app using Windows PowerShell as a foolproof method.

So, for this, open Windows PowerShell in admin mode, and run the below command:

Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.MSPaint | Remove-AppxPackage

Once the app has successfully removed, reinstall the Paint app by running the following command:

Get-AppxPackage -allusers Microsoft.MSPaint | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}

7] Other suggestions

Before you move on to the primary troubleshooting methods, here are a few preliminary techniques you can try to resolve the issue off-hand:

Run the Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter.
Exit the app from the Task Manager and relaunch it.
Perform a clean boot to identify the issue and troubleshoot.
Run the SFC scannow command to find and fix the damaged files.
Install the latest or any pending Windows update.
Run the Paint App as an Administrator.

How do I fix Paint on Windows 11?

To fix MS Paint on Windows 11, open Settings and navigate to Apps. Then select Installed Apps. Find Microsoft Paint, select the three-dot menu, and choose Advanced Options. Now, scroll down to the Reset section and click on the Repair button. If that fails, use Reset to reinstall the app, which can resolve issues.

What happened to Paint in Windows 11?

In Windows 11, Paint received a significant overhaul, reflecting the modern design language of the new OS. Enhancements include a streamlined interface with a simpler toolbar, advanced color selection, and upgraded text functions, aligning with the fresh aesthetic and improved usability of Windows 11 features.