Click Next on the welcome screen, then click Next again to confirm the default installation location (e.g., C:\Program Files\Classic Paint ). Optionally, select "Create Desktop Icon" and "Install for All Users". Click Install .

If you have been searching for how to , you have come to the right place. This article will walk you through every possible method—from quick registry tweaks to manual installations—to bring back the legendary, lightweight, and reliable "old Paint" to your Windows 10 desktop.

However, starting with Windows 10 Fall Creators Update, Microsoft began shifting focus toward Paint 3D, a more modern app with 3D modeling capabilities. In some versions, the classic Paint app was no longer installed by default. In Windows 11, Microsoft introduced a completely revamped Paint app with a new interface, dark mode support, layers, background removal, and even AI-powered features like Image Creator and Generative Erase. While these additions are innovative, many users prefer the clean, fast-loading, and distraction-free environment that Classic Paint offers—and they want it back on their Windows 10 machines.

While Microsoft continues to update Windows, the original software holds distinct advantages for power users and retro enthusiasts alike:

You'll find the Classic Paint shortcut on your Desktop and in the Start Menu. The installer also adds an "Edit with Classic Paint" entry to the context menu when you right‑click an image file.

Here are the three best ways to get it back.

Critics argue that clinging to classic Paint stifles innovation and prevents users from learning more capable tools. They claim that free alternatives like GIMP or the built-in Snip & Sketch tool are superior. However, this argument fails to account for the principle of least astonishment. Users should not need to watch a tutorial to draw a straight line. Furthermore, classic Paint and Paint 3D can coexist peacefully; installing one does not uninstall the other. Thus, the user is empowered to choose the right tool for the right job, rather than being forced into a one-size-fits-all solution.

Method 2: Manually Extracting Paint from an Older Windows PC

Create a new folder on your Windows 10 PC (e.g., C:\ClassicPaint ).

Here is the story of how you can reclaim the classic Microsoft Paint experience on your Windows 10 machine. The Search for Simplicity

Get-WindowsCapability -Online | Where-Object $_.Name -like "*Paint*"

You must copy two distinct items from the old computer's C:\Windows\System32 directory: mspaint.exe

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