Fix MS Paint not working on Windows

The Paint app may have trouble opening or running properly at some times. This guide also lists fixes for MS Paint not working on Windows.

1. Clean boot Windows PC

If Microsoft Paint does not open, even when running with admin rights, there may be a background program that is interfering with the application. A clean boot, as shown here, will resolve these software conflicts to give you a fresh start.

Open System Configuration from Windows search (requires admin rights). You can also open it by typing msconfig.exe in the Run menu, you can open Run with Win + R.

Go to the Services tab and select the Hide all Microsoft services menu. This will bring all non-Microsoft services into the window. Click Disable all, followed by Apply > OK.

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2. Check for the latest Windows updates

Outdated MS Paint applications often crash easily. It's very easy to update Paint from the Microsoft Store to get it working properly.

However, another reason is that Microsoft may cause some runtime errors in various applications, including Paint, during cumulative or optional updates. These issues persist until the next update, which usually provides a fix. The solution is to check for updates in Windows Update settings.

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3. Delete the SID entry for Paint

If your MS Paint is not working properly then its SID entries may be corrupted and you need to delete them. When you reinstall the app, those SID entries get a fresh start.

Open Windows Register Editor, enter regedit.exe in Run (Win + R). Next, navigate to the following path:

ComputerHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionAppxAppxAllUserStore

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When you open the AppxAllUserStore key, various SID entries can be identified through prefixes, such as 'S-1-S'. Expand the subkeys to search for any SID entries related to MS Paint.

Once you have located the SID entry for Paint, right-click it and select Delete to delete it and close the Register Editor. Uninstall, then reinstall the program from Control Panel. The corrupted SID configuration will be deleted automatically.

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Note: Before trying the next method, open Paint from App Settings in Windows Search. Try a combination of reset, repair and uninstall.

4. Delete and reinstall Paint using PowerShell

You may have tried uninstalling and reinstalling MS Paint to get it working again but without success. PowerShell can overwrite any programs or background processes that interfere with your application because it is more powerful than traditional uninstallation processes. There are two ways to use PowerShell to uninstall/reinstall MS Paint.

Method 1: Use Get-AppxPackage

Open PowerShell with admin rights and enter the following command.

Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.MSPaint | Remove-AppxPackage

Reinstall the package as shown here.

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

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Method 2: Using Get-WmiObject and MyApp

This is the traditional way to uninstall applications in PowerShell. It is more suitable for older Windows 10 systems.

Enter the following into the PowerShell screen with all your applications in Administrator mode.

Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_Product | Select-Object -Property Name

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Name the Microsoft Paint application, as may be indicated on the PowerShell screen.

$MyApp = Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_Product | Where-Object{$_.Name -eq "Mspaint"}

Once the application is successfully invoked, uninstall it using the command below:

$MyApp.Uninstall()

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The application can be reinstalled using the Get-Package cmdlet.

Get-Package -Provider Programs -IncludeWindowsInstaller -Name "/Name convention of your Paint application/"

5. Re-initialize Paint

After reinstallation, you can sometimes restart the Paint application in PowerShell. Enter the following command in PowerShell in Administrator mode

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

The screen will automatically update when MS Paint restarts, this will ensure it opens without any problems.

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6. Delete Microsoft Store cache

Paint, being a Microsoft Store app, is prone to cache buildup. This can cause it to stop working suddenly. Clearing the cache from time to time is necessary to free up the app.

Use Run command, Win + R and type wsrest.exe. This will initially launch the Microsoft Store app. It will also automatically clear any caches.

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Note: If Microsoft Store is down for any reason, it may also cause connected apps like Paint to stop working.

7. Disable any local group policies that prevent Paint from working

If MS Paint does not work or cannot open, you will encounter different types of system errors, such as 'Windows cannot find C:WindowsSystem32Mspaint.exe' or 'This operation has been canceled due to restrictions in effect on this computer'.

There may be a local group policy that restricts you from accessing the application. You can contact the system administrator in the network share or in case you are the PC owner, open the Local Group Policy Editor using gpedit.msc in Run.

Navigate to Local Computer Policy -> User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> System. Double-click Don't run specified Windows applications.

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If group policy is enabled in the new window, click List of disallowed applications. This will open a new pop-up window where you can check if there are any system restrictions on MS Paint.

To undo these restrictions, change the setting to Disabled, then click Apply > OK. Close the program.

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8. Delete recently installed fonts

If you have installed any new fonts, chances are they may interfere with the MS Paint app in the background, causing crashes and making the app impossible to open. To avoid this, you may have to delete recently installed fonts. Go to Windows Settings using Win + I, followed by Personalization -> Fonts. Uninstall any recent fonts!

One small reason why MS Paint doesn't work on Windows is because the .NET framework is not working properly, you can fix this with DISM and other security commands.

David Pac

Update 27 February 2024