Paint comes with Windows 11, so there is nothing to download. Sometimes it goes missing or won't launch, though. Below you'll find the quickest ways to open it, then the steps to bring it back with Microsoft's own tools when it's gone or broken.
Search for Paint from the Start menu
The search box in Start is the fastest way to reach the app, and it also tells you whether Paint is installed at all.
- Select Start on the taskbar.
- Type paint.
- Select Paint in the results to open it.
Tell whether Paint is missing
If Paint shows up in that search, the app is on your PC, and a launch problem points to a damaged install rather than a missing one. If the results show nothing that matches, or only a different app, Paint has been removed and needs to be installed again from the Microsoft Store.
Repair or reset Paint when it won't open
When Paint is listed but crashes or never appears, ask Windows to fix the installed copy first. Try Repair first and keep Reset for when that isn't enough.
- Go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps > Paint.
- Find its Repair and Reset options.
- Select Repair, wait for it to finish and try Paint again.
- If it still fails, return to the same place and select Reset.
Start Paint from the Run box
If you're used to typing a command, press Win+R, enter mspaint.exe and select OK. On Windows 11 the Run box depends on two app aliases, mspaint.exe and pbrush.exe, under Settings > Apps > Advanced app settings > App execution aliases.
- Open Settings > Apps > Advanced app settings > App execution aliases.
- Check that both entries for Paint are on, then try again.
Reinstall Paint from the Microsoft Store
Paint is a Store app, so the Store is the supported place to get it back. The Store page shows the button that fits your case.
- Open Microsoft Store, search for Paint and select it.
- Select Install, or Reinstall if that is the button shown.
- Start Paint from the Start menu when it's done.
Reset the Paint package with PowerShell
Another fix people use is a command that resets the Paint package. Select Start, type PowerShell, and choose to run it as administrator. Paste the line below, press Enter, then restart the PC and open Paint.
Get-AppxPackage *Microsoft.Paint* | Reset-AppxPackage
Clear the Store cache when Paint won't reinstall
Sometimes the Store itself is what keeps Paint from coming back. Clearing its cache and updating your library gives the install a fresh start.
- Press Win+R, type wsreset.exe and select OK.
- Wait. The blank window closes by itself and the Store opens.
- In Microsoft Store, open Library and select Get updates.
- When the updates finish, go back to Library, choose Paint and select Install.
Make pictures open in Paint by default
If double-clicking an image opens a different viewer, you can point that file type at Paint instead.
- Right-click a picture file, such as a JPG.
- Select Open with > Choose another app.
- Pick Paint from the list and select Always.
Draw in your browser while the app is down
If you need to draw while Paint is unavailable, the Paint on this site runs in the browser with nothing to install.