Microsoft Paint not Working on Windows 11? Here’s the Fix!

Been around for several decades, MS Paint is our go-to image editing app on Windows. It is an easy-to-use, simple raster editor tool that comes pre-loaded on the Windows OS. And along with each Windows update, Microsoft introduces a revamped version of Paint that help us achieve simple image manipulation tasks with ease.

It offers you all the basic functionality to create graphic art, draw, color, and edit pictures in various formats, including BMP, JPG, GIF, TIFF, PNG, and so on. MS Paint is the perfect app for small editing jobs like cropping, coloring, adding text or shapes, etc. 

Paint-untitled

Since the inception of MS Paint, it has proved to be a handbook for learning image editing concepts. Even as beginners, we wouldn’t hesitate to brush our creativity on the Paint app using the fill color tools, magnifier, eraser, airbrush, and many other cool features. 

If Paint stops working on Windows 11, it can be disheartening as we are used to having this app on the Windows OS. Wondering how to fix this issue within no time? You’ve come to the right place. Yes, we love using the old-aged MS Paint app for creating and editing images. Hence, without any further ado, here are a few workarounds that you can try to fix the “MS Paint not working on Windows 11 issue. 

How to Fix Microsoft Paint not Working on Windows 11

Let’s get started. 

Also read: How To Make Background Transparent In Paint & Paint 3D?

Solution 1: Run the App as an Administrator

The MS Paint app has stayed immune to bugs, glitches, and errors. But if you cannot open the Paint app or if the app keeps crashing on your Windows PC, you can try running Paint with admin privileges. 

Tap on the search icon placed on the Taskbar, and type “Paint.” 

run-as-admin

Right-click on the Paint app’s icon and select “Run as Administrator.”  

Solution 2: Clear the Microsoft Store Cache

Press the Windows + R key combination to open the Run dialog box. Type “WSReset.exe” in the textbox and hit Enter. 

run

A command-line window will now appear on the screen, which indicates that the Microsoft Store Cache has been reset. 

Relaunch the Paint app and check if the issue was resolved. 

Also read: How to Fix If Windows 11’s Built-In Apps Fail to Operate After an Upgrade.

Solution 3: Run the Windows Store Troubleshooter

Windows OS comprises various troubleshooters you can use to resolve common errors and bugs. So, to fix the “MS Paint not working on Windows 11” issue, we will run the Windows Store Troubleshooter on your device. 

Launch the Settings app and switch to the “System” tab from the left menu pane. 

Scroll down and select “Troubleshoot.” Tap on “Other Troubleshooters.” 

troubleshoot

You will now see a list of available troubleshooters on the screen. Look for “Windows Store Apps” and then hit the “Run” button placed next to it. 

personalization

Follow the on-screen instructions to run the Windows Store troubleshooter on your device. Once the troubleshooter has done its job, reboot your device, relaunch Paint, and check if the issue persists. 

Solution 4: Update the Paint App

Launch the Microsoft Store app on your Windows 11 PC. Tap on the “Library” icon placed on the left menu pane. 

library

Hit the “Get Updates” button so Windows can automatically update all the outdated apps and programs. 

Solution 5: Run an SFC Scan

Launch Command Prompt in admin mode. Execute the following common to perform an SFC (System File Checker) scan on your device. SFC tool will help you scan and restore corrupt system files on your Windows PC. 

scan-now

sfc /scannow

Wait for the command to execute. Once it’s been executed, reboot your device and check if you’re still experiencing any issues launching the Paint app. 

Also read: 5 Best Free Microsoft Paint Alternatives 2022

Conclusion

Here are a few simple solutions to fix the “MS Paint not working on Windows 11” issue. You can use any of the above-listed workarounds to address this issue and resume the functionality of the Paint app on your device.

Please let us know your methods to get MS Paint back to life. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments box! Follow us on social media – FacebookInstagram and YouTube.

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