Microsoft Rescues MS Paint

Yesterday, we brought you the sad news that Microsoft had pulled its support for MS Paint after 32 years. Microsoft listed Paint as “deprecated” in its Windows 10 Fall Creators Update. Effectively, that marked the art software as no longer supported by updates and at risk of being removed from the OS entirely. In response, the internet shed a collective tear. Twitter users commiserated by sharing MS Paint-drawn obituaries. However, Microsoft took note of the reaction to Paint’s demise and decided to deliver the bereaved some good news. As a result, Microsoft announced today that MS Paint is set to become a free app on the Windows Store.

MS Paint Saved

Microsoft wrote:

“Today, we’ve seen an incredible outpouring of support and nostalgia around MS Paint. If there’s anything we learned, it’s that after 32 years, MS Paint has a lot of fans. It’s been amazing to see so much love for our trusty old app. Amidst today’s commentary around MS Paint we wanted to take this opportunity to set the record straight, clear up some confusion and share some good news:

MS Paint is here to stay, it will just have a new home soon, in the Windows Store where it will be available for free.”

MS Paint and Paint 3D

While the Redmond company is saving the old MS Paint, it is still pushing its three-dimensional cousin, Paint 3D:

“Paint 3D – the new app for creativity, also available for free with the Windows 10 Creators Update, will continue to get new feature updates. In addition to the new 3D capabilities, many of the MS Paint features people know and love like photo editing, line and curve tools, and 2D creation are in Paint 3D.

So, thanks for all the MS Paint love, keep the feedback coming via the Paint 3D app, and keep creating!”