Microsoft to kill off its Paint 3D app soon: Here's what that means for current users

Microsoft is pulling the plug on Paint 3D. On November 4, the app will be kicked out of the Microsoft Store and will no longer be available for download. Those of you who already have the app in Windows 10 or 11 should be able to continue using it, but you won’t receive any more updates.

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Paint 3D’s impending demise was revealed through a banner that appears for some people in the app itself, as spotted in an X post by an account called @phantomofearth. I couldn’t find the banner in any of my regular Windows 10 or 11 instances, but I discovered it in a Windows 11 Insiders preview. Clicking the Learn More link in the banner takes you to a Microsoft page for deprecated features, though Paint 3D isn’t listed among future retirees. 

Launched in 2017 as part of an update to Windows 10, Paint 3D lets you create and design 3D shapes and images. The update was part of Microsoft’s effort to infuse Windows with 3D-oriented graphics. As such, the 3D flavor was designed to replace or supplement the regular Paint app.

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Now, Paint looks to be the survivor of the two. As a long-stay in Windows for creating and editing graphics, Paint has been receiving more advanced skills, at least in Windows 11. Using layers, you can design an image with multiple elements and generate your own images via an AI-powered Cocreator tool.

The banner in Paint 3D didn’t reveal why Microsoft is discontinuing the app. But it’s likely the usual reason — not enough users to justify its existence. The traditional Paint app also boasts a certain simplicity and ease of use that Paint 3D lacks.

Fans of Paint 3D will want to make sure you’ve downloaded the latest version of the app before November. After that, you’ll need to turn to Paint or another editor to create and refine any images you need.