# Microsoft Paint

Application: Microsoft Corporation

Also called paint, mspaint, ms paint

Microsoft Corporation, System

The in-box raster editor. The process is mspaint.exe. Layers arrived late. It is not Paint 3D and not Paint.NET.

## What you need to know

Paint is mspaint.exe. Paint 3D and Paint.NET are different apps.

Microsoft Paint is the in-box raster editor. Current Windows 11 Paint is a Store package still named mspaint.exe. Layers arrived late. Paint 3D is a different app. Paint.NET is third-party.

- **What is it?**: The in-box raster editor

  **Same as Paint 3D?**: No. Paint 3D is a different app

  **Same as Paint.NET?**: No. Paint.NET is third-party

Feex says

If mspaint is the window, I treat it as Paint. I do not hunt Paint 3D settings and I do not download a third-party mspaint.exe. Paint.NET is a different install if you want that editor.

## What is Microsoft Paint?

Microsoft Paint edits raster images. mspaint.exe on Windows 11 usually lives under WindowsApps\Microsoft.Paint. Paint 3D was Paint3D.exe. Paint.NET is paintdotnet.exe from a different vendor.

## If you have never used it

If you need to crop a PNG or draw a box, Microsoft Paint is the in-box raster editor. Open it from Start > Paint. On current Windows 11 it is a Store app still named mspaint.exe. Layers arrived late in this app. Paint 3D is a different, retired-direction app. Paint.NET is a third-party editor.

## What is it used for?

**Crop, resize, and draw on a bitmap**

Everyday PNG and JPEG edits. Photos.exe is the gallery viewer. Snipping Tool captures. Paint edits.

**Layers on current Windows 11 Paint**

Layers arrived late. Old guides that say Paint cannot layer are stale for current Store Paint. Paint.NET had layers for years.

**Paste a snip and save**

Win+Shift+S still captures in Snipping Tool. Pasting into Paint is a habit, not Paint 3D.

## Who is it for?

- Anyone who typed "paint" in Start
- People who should not download Paint from a filename site
- Users comparing this to Paint.NET or Photos

## Current status

Microsoft Paint (1985) is a current raster editor from Microsoft Corporation. The vendor still points Windows users at https://support.microsoft.com/windows/paint.

## How old is it?

Paint shipped with Windows 1.0 in 1985. Windows 11 Paint kept the mspaint.exe name and later added layers. Paint 3D was a separate Windows 10 app and is not this canvas. A 1990s 16-color screenshot is history.

## Versions

Major channels first. Exact build numbers are not all verified here.

Windows 11 Store Paint

Classic System32 Paint on older Windows

## System requirements

Values follow the publisher's public guidance. Workload still changes the real need.

### Minimum

| Operating system | Ships with supported Windows 10 and Windows 11. Current Store Paint is the Windows 11 package |
| ---------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| RAM              | Enough for Windows plus this app. Heavy projects want more.                                   |

## Resource profile

- **CPU demand**: Low except large bitmaps

  **RAM demand**: Follows image size

## Installed processes

These executables belong to this product when it is installed.

| mspaint.exe | Paint window |
| ----------- | ------------ |

## Startup components

Paint starts when you open it. A Startup shortcut is something you added.

## File locations

| Typical install | C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.Paint\_\*\PaintApp\\ |
| --------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- |

## File formats

PNG, JPEG, BMP, GIF, TIFF

## Common problems

### People search System32\mspaint on Windows 11

Store Paint moved. The image name stayed. A Downloads\mspaint.exe is not Microsoft.

### Confused with Paint 3D or Paint.NET

Paint 3D was the 3D app. Paint.NET is dotPDN. This article is classic Paint.

## Getting unstuck

### Start > Paint. Do not download mspaint from a third-party exe site

Use the Store listing or Optional features. Paint.NET is a separate download if that is what you meant.

### If Paint is missing, install it from the Microsoft Store or Settings > Apps > Optional features

Debloat scripts often remove the package. Paint 3D is a different listing.

### Save as PNG if you pasted a snip and the JPEG looks dirty

Paint still does simple formats. Photos is the gallery if you wanted albums.

## Alternatives

Paint.NET for extra tools. Photos for viewing. Snipping Tool for capture. Paint 3D is not the current recommendation.

## Official help and downloads

Start with the vendor. Random exe sites are not a support channel.

| Download      | [support.microsoft.com/windows/paint ](https://support.microsoft.com/windows/paint)Official installer or vendor page |
| ------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Help          | [apps.microsoft.com/detail/9dcs3rk0n1mh ](https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9dcs3rk0n1mh)Vendor support              |
| Official site | [support.microsoft.com/windows/paint ](https://support.microsoft.com/windows/paint)Start here, not a random exe host |

## Related hardware

Image size drives RAM. A huge bitmap wants more memory. Paint is not a GPU workstation.

## Technical details

Technical details

Vendor version numbers change. This article does not pin a build.

## Related

These entities connect to this article. Type is shown on every link.

[mspaint.exe: Application Process](https://feex.it/wiki/process/mspaint.exe)[Snipping Tool: Application](https://feex.it/wiki/software/snipping-tool)[Microsoft Photos: Application](https://feex.it/wiki/software/microsoft-photos)[How to read Task Manager: Guide](https://feex.it/wiki/software/system/how-to-read-task-manager)

## Sources and verification

Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Feex Reviewed. [How we research](https://feex.it/wiki/research).

- [Microsoft Paint official site ](https://support.microsoft.com/windows/paint)· Vendor product page
- [Microsoft Paint help ](https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9dcs3rk0n1mh)· Vendor support
- [Microsoft Store: Paint ](https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9dcs3rk0n1mh)· Current Paint package
- [Microsoft Support: Paint ](https://support.microsoft.com/windows/get-microsoft-paint)· End-user Paint help
- [Foxhole process map ](https://foxhole.feex.it/)· First-party samples on Windows PCs. Not a lab benchmark.

## Was this article useful?

A yes or no is enough. Pick a reason if you want, or add a short note.

Quick facts

The short identity of this page. Specs, sources, and the full story stay in the article.

- **Developer**: Microsoft Corporation

  **Category**: Raster editor

  **Process**: [mspaint.exe](https://feex.it/wiki/process/mspaint.exe)

  **License**: Included with Windows

  **First released**: 1985

  **Official site**: [support.microsoft.com/paint](https://support.microsoft.com/windows/paint)

  **Mapped by Feex**: Seen on Windows PCs in Foxhole

Feex Reviewed: Last verified August 2026

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Source: [Canonical Feex Wiki page](https://feex.it/wiki/software/microsoft-paint/)

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