How to Enable Classic Paint on Windows 11/10 Creators Update

This guide will tell you how to Enable Classic Paint on Windows 11/10 Creators Update. Microsoft said that, as of the Creator’s Update Preview version 14971, the Paint 3D preview software is now incorporated into Windows. That’s awesome. But what’s more fascinating is that in the Creators Update, when you run mspaint.exe, it opens the new or UWP Paint 3D program.

Many people don’t like this change because the former version of mspaint.exe loaded faster, was easier to use with a mouse and keyboard, and made it simple to paste a picture, trim it, and save it. You can get the old MS Paint software back on Windows 11/10, if you want to. You can also go to the official Microsoft support site to know more information.

With the Anniversary Update, the old Sticky Notes program has been replaced by a new Sticky Notes app that offers more features. The Photos app has already taken the place of the old Windows Photos Viewer. File Explorer, which is more up-to-date, is also in the works.

Ways to Enable Classic Paint on Windows 11/10 Creators Update

Modify the Registry

• Press Windows key, type regedit, and press Enter.
• Navigate to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\ Windows\CurrentVersion\Applets\Paint\Settings key.
• If Settings key does not exist, right-click on Paint key and select New > Key. Name it as Settings.
• Then right-click on the newly created Settings key and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value. Name it as DisableModernPaintBootstrap.
• Now double-click on the DisableModernPaintBootstrap key and change its value from 0 to 1.
• Close Registry Editor and restart your PC.

Uninstall 3D Paint

To turn on standard Paint, go to Settings and delete 3D Paint. After that, traditional Paint should start working again on its own. To check, press the Windows key and type “Paint” or look for “Paint” in the list of apps. If it isn’t present, you can reinstall 3D Paint or use Method 2 to try to turn on classic Paint again.

• Press Windows key + I and select System.
• Open Apps & Features and locate 3D Paint.
• Click on it and select Uninstall.
• Then select Uninstall again to confirm the changes.

Get the classic Paint program in Windows

We don’t know when Microsoft will take Classic Paint out of Windows 11/10 for good, but we know that Paint will be taken out of Windows 11/10 at some time. If Windows 11/10 doesn’t come with Classic Paint, you can’t use Method 1 or Method 2 to turn on Paint. Instead, this is how you can get the old Paint software on Windows.

• First download the installer of the classic Paint program from this link. Thanks to our friend from WinAero for porting the Paint program.
• Run the installer and install a Paint program like any other program. When you run the Classic Paint for Windows 11/10 installer, Windows SmartScreen may warn you not to run the program.
• Then click on More information link and then click run to nowhere button.
• Use Start / Search on the taskbar to start the classic Paint program.