How to Install or Uninstall Microsoft Paint (mspaint) in Windows 10


Microsoft Paint (formerly Paintbrush) is a simple raster graphics editor that has been included with all versions of Microsoft Windows. The program opens and saves files in Windows bitmap (BMP), JPEG, GIF, PNG, and single-page TIFF formats. The program can be in color mode or two-color black-and-white, but there is no grayscale mode.

In July 2017, Microsoft added Paint to the list of deprecated Windows features and announced that it would become a free standalone application in Microsoft Store, and also included a warning in the Paint application that it eventually won't be installed by default. However, Paint continued to be included with Windows 10 in later builds, and eventually an update removed the deprecation warning from the app.

Starting with Windows 10 build 18980, Microsoft converted MS Paint into an Option Feature for you to uninstall or reinstall to save disk space if needed.

See also: Open Microsoft Paint | Windows Support

This tutorial will show you how to install or uninstall the classic Microsoft Paint (mspaint) app for all users in Windows 10.

Paint is now also available as a Microsoft Store app.

Get Paint app in Microsoft Store



Contents

  • Option One: Install or Uninstall Microsoft Paint in Optional Features
  • Option Two: Install or Uninstall Microsoft Paint in Command Prompt



EXAMPLE: Microsoft Paint
Install or Uninstall Microsoft Paint (mspaint) in Windows 10-mspaint_paint.jpg






OPTION ONE

Install or Uninstall Microsoft Paint in Optional Features


1 Open Settings, and click/tap on the Apps icon.

2 Click/tap on Apps & features on the left side, and click/tap on the Optional features link on the right side. (see screenshot below)

Install or Uninstall Microsoft Paint (mspaint) in Windows 10-optional_features.jpg

3 Do step 4 (install) or step 5 (uninstall) below for what you would like to do.


 4. To Install Microsoft Paint

This is the default setting.

A) Click/tap on Add a feature. (see screenshot below)

Install or Uninstall Microsoft Paint (mspaint) in Windows 10-optional_features_add_a_feature.png

B) Scroll down, check Microsoft Paint, click/tap on Install, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below)

Install or Uninstall Microsoft Paint (mspaint) in Windows 10-optional_features_install_microsoft_paint-1.png


 5. To Uninstall Microsoft Paint

A) Scroll down, click/tap on Microsoft Paint under Installed features, click/tap on the Uninstall button, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshots below)

Install or Uninstall Microsoft Paint (mspaint) in Windows 10-optional_features_uninstall_microsoft_paint-1.png Install or Uninstall Microsoft Paint (mspaint) in Windows 10-optional_features_uninstall_microsoft_paint-2.png

6 You can now close Settings if you like.







OPTION TWO

Install or Uninstall Microsoft Paint in Command Prompt


You must be signed in as an administrator to do this option.


1 Open an elevated command prompt.

2 Do step 3 (install) or step 4 (uninstall) below for what you would like to do.


 3. To Install Microsoft Paint

This is the default setting.

A) Copy and paste the command below into the elevated command prompt, press Enter, and go to step 5 below.

DISM /Online /Add-Capability /CapabilityName:Microsoft.Windows.MSPaint~~~~0.0.1.0


 4. To Uninstall Microsoft Paint

A) Copy and paste the command below into the elevated command prompt, press Enter, and go to step 5 below.

DISM /Online /Remove-Capability /CapabilityName:Microsoft.Windows.MSPaint~~~~0.0.1.0

5 You can now close the elevated command prompt if you like.


That's it,
Shawn


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