Basics

7 reasons why Paint doesn’t work in Windows 10 (and how to fix it)

by Jonathan Dudamel
9 min read

A quick restart usually fixes it: end Paint in Task Manager or reboot Windows. If Paint still won’t open, the problem is most likely a corrupt application file, a driver or update conflict, or a settings/permissions issue. This article explains common causes and shows step‑by‑step fixes for Paint doesn’t work in Windows 10 so you can get editing again quickly.

In the sections below you’ll learn how to check for crashes, repair or restore Paint, update drivers and Windows, reset app data, fix file associations, and recover from system-level corruption.

Contents show

Key Takeaway

The fastest reliable fix is to restart Paint (or Windows), then run SFC and DISM to repair missing or corrupt system files; if that doesn’t help, update graphics drivers and reinstall or reset Paint from Settings > Apps or using PowerShell.

Quick Fix Guide

Quick Fix Guide

Reason for the Problem Quick Solution
Paint is frozen or crashed End task in Task Manager or reboot Windows.
Corrupted or missing Paint files Run sfc /scannow and DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth.
App settings/cache broken (Store/optional version) Reset or reinstall Paint via Settings > Apps > Apps & features or Optional features.
Recent Windows update or compatibility issue Check Windows Update and uninstall the recent update if needed.
Outdated or faulty graphics driver Update or roll back the display driver in Device Manager.
Wrong file associations Set .png/.jpg defaults to Paint under Settings > Apps > Default apps.
User profile, permissions, or antivirus blocking Test in a new user account or disable antivirus/temporal policy and run as administrator.

Detailed Fixes for “tu mets ici le problème du 7 reasons why Paint doesn’t work in Windows 10 (and how to fix it)”.

1) Paint is frozen or crashed

Why this causes problems

  • Paint can hang due to temporary resource issues, bad input, or an internal crash. When it hangs it may appear not to open or to be unresponsive.
See also  12 reasons why Photos app doesn’t work in Windows 10 (and how to fix it)

Step-by-step solution

  1. Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager.
  2. Look for Microsoft Paint or mspaint.exe under Processes.
  3. Select it and click End task.
  4. Try to reopen Paint from Start or by pressing Win+R, typing mspaint, and pressing Enter.
  5. If it still won’t start, save work and reboot Windows: Start > Power > Restart.

Notes/tips

  • If the app always hangs with a certain file, the file may be corrupt—try opening a different image.

2) Corrupted or missing Paint files (mspaint.exe)

Why this causes problems

  • Paint is a system program (mspaint.exe) and if system files are corrupt or missing, Paint may not start or may crash.

Step-by-step solution

  1. Open Start, type cmd, right‑click Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.
  2. Run the System File Checker: sfc /scannow and wait for it to finish (can take 10–30 minutes).
  3. If SFC reports it fixed files, reboot and try Paint. If SFC reports issues it couldn’t fix, run:
    • DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
  4. After DISM completes, run sfc /scannow again.
  5. Verify mspaint.exe exists: open File Explorer and check C:\Windows\System32\mspaint.exe.
    • If the file is missing after SFC/DISM, restore from a system backup or use system restore: Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Open System Restore.

Notes/tips

  • Running SFC/DISM is safe and often restores missing system files.
  • If you have a Windows 10 ISO, you can use it as a source for repair in DISM with /Source options.

3) App settings or cache corruption (Store/Optional feature version)

Why this causes problems

  • Some Windows versions expose Paint as an app with settings and cache; corrupted data can prevent launch or break functionality.

Step-by-step solution

  1. Open Start > Settings > Apps > Apps & features.
  2. In the list, find Microsoft Paint (or Paint), click it, then click Advanced options (if present).
  3. Click Reset. Confirm and test Paint.
  4. If no reset option or reset failed, uninstall and reinstall:
    • Click Uninstall from Apps & features, then reinstall from Optional features or the Microsoft Store.
    • Optional features path: Settings > Apps > Optional features > Add a feature, search Paint and install (if your build lists it).
  5. If the app isn’t listed, re-register app packages using PowerShell (run as admin):
    • Open Start, type PowerShell, right‑click Windows PowerShell and choose Run as administrator.
    • Run: Get-AppxPackage Paint -AllUsers | Foreach { Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml” }
    • Note: this re-registers Store-style packages—if your Paint is Win32 (mspaint.exe) this step may not apply.

Notes/tips

  • The exact Settings paths depend on Windows 10 build. If you don’t see Paint in Apps & features, proceed with SFC/DISM (previous section).

4) Windows Update or compatibility issues

Why this causes problems

  • A recent Windows update can introduce bugs or compatibility changes that affect Paint; conversely, an outdated OS can cause incompatibility with drivers or newer features.
See also  12 reasons why Mobile Hotspot doesn’t work in Windows 10 (and how to fix it)

Step-by-step solution

  1. Open Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and click Check for updates. Install pending updates and reboot.
  2. If Paint stopped working after a specific update:
    • Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > View update history > Uninstall updates.
    • Select the recent update and choose Uninstall. Reboot and test Paint.
  3. If an update fixed another problem but not Paint, use System Restore to revert to a point before the update: Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Open System Restore.

Notes/tips

  • Keep Windows updated—many app crashes are fixed in cumulative updates.

5) Outdated or faulty graphics driver

Why this causes problems

  • Paint uses basic graphics functionality; a bad GPU driver can cause crashes, freezes, or rendering problems.

Step-by-step solution

  1. Open Device Manager: press Win+X and choose Device Manager.
  2. Expand Display adapters, right‑click your GPU and select Update driver.
  3. Choose Search automatically for updated driver software. If none found, download the driver from your GPU vendor (Intel, NVIDIA, AMD).
  4. If problems started after a recent driver update, roll back:
    • Right‑click the GPU > Properties > Driver tab > Roll Back Driver (if available).
  5. To test if driver is culprit, boot into Safe Mode (minimal drivers) and try Paint:
    • Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Advanced startup > Restart now > Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart > Press 4 for Safe Mode.

Notes/tips

  • If updating drivers manually, pick the model-specific driver for your device, not a generic download.

6) File associations or wrong app opens images

Why this causes problems

  • Double-clicking an image might open a different app (Photos or another editor) that is failing, making it appear Paint is the issue.

Step-by-step solution

  1. Open Settings > Apps > Default apps.
  2. Scroll and click Choose default apps by file type.
  3. For each image extension (.png, .jpg, .bmp), click the current default and choose Paint (or mspaint.exe) from the list.
  4. Alternatively, right‑click an image file, choose Open with > Choose another app, pick Paint, check Always use this app to open .xxx files, and click OK.

Notes/tips

  • If Paint isn’t shown as an option, select More apps then Look for another app on this PC and navigate to C:\Windows\System32\mspaint.exe.

7) User profile, permissions, group policy, or antivirus blocking

Why this causes problems

  • Corrupt user profiles, missing permissions, restrictive group policies, or overzealous antivirus can prevent Paint from launching or saving files.

Step-by-step solution

  1. Try running Paint as administrator: press Win, type mspaint, right‑click and select Run as administrator.
  2. Create a new local user to test if the issue is profile-specific:
    • Settings > Accounts > Family & other users > Add someone else to this PC > I don’t have this person’s sign-in information > Add a user without a Microsoft account.
    • Sign in to the new account and test Paint.
  3. Check antivirus logs or temporarily disable real‑time protection:
    • Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Manage settings and toggle Real‑time protection off (temporarily).
  4. Check Group Policy (Pro/Enterprise):
    • Press Win+R, type gpedit.msc, press Enter.
    • Browse to User Configuration > Administrative Templates and look for policies that could disable desktop apps; consult your IT admin before changing policies.
See also  13 reasons why Mouse driver doesn’t work in Windows 10 (and how to fix it)

Notes/tips

  • Re-enable antivirus after testing. If a managed device (work PC), contact IT—policies may intentionally restrict apps.

Ajoute une section que tu vois necessaire pour pour completer l’article.

When to collect logs and seek support

If the above steps don’t resolve the issue, collect diagnostic information before contacting Microsoft support or an IT technician.

What to collect

  • The exact error message (take a screenshot).
  • Event Viewer entries: open Event Viewer (press Win, type Event Viewer), go to Windows Logs > Application, find Error or Warning entries that match the time you tried to start Paint. Right‑click an event and choose Save Selected Event.
  • Results of SFC/DISM: copy the command output or save the log files:
    • SFC logs to C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CBS.log.
    • DISM logs to C:\Windows\Logs\DISM\.
  • Steps to reproduce: what you clicked and which file you tried to open.

How to get help

  • Use Get Help app on Windows 10 or contact Microsoft Support with the collected logs.
  • For managed devices, provide logs to your IT team.

Notes/tips

  • Creating a restore point before making major changes saves time if you need to roll back.

FAQ

How can I prevent Paint from failing in the future?

Keep Windows and drivers updated, avoid abrupt shutdowns while saving, and use stable copies of images—regularly create system restore points before risky updates.

Can I reinstall Paint without reinstalling Windows?

Yes—use SFC/DISM to restore system files, reinstall via Settings > Apps > Optional features (if available), or re-register app packages using PowerShell as described above.

Is Paint 3D a good replacement if classic Paint fails?

Paint 3D is a modern editor included in Windows 10 and can handle basic tasks; install it from the Microsoft Store if you need a temporary or permanent alternative to classic Paint.

What if Paint works for one user but not another?

This usually means a user‑profile setting, permission, or corrupted per‑user app data. Create a new account and migrate files, or reset the app for the affected user.

Should I report a Paint bug to Microsoft?

Yes—if you can reproduce the issue consistently and have logs (Event Viewer, SFC/DISM output), file feedback via the Feedback Hub app: Start > Feedback Hub > Report a problem.

Conclusion

Most problems where Paint doesn’t work in Windows 10 are fixed by a simple restart, running SFC/DISM, updating drivers, or resetting/reinstalling the app. If the issue persists, collect logs and contact support with the details.

About the author

Jonathan Dudamel

Jonathan Dudamel

I'm Jonathan Dudamel, an experienced IT specialist and network engineer passionate about all things Windows. I have deep expertise in Microsoft project management, virtualization (VMware ESXi and Hyper-V), and Microsoft’s hybrid platform. I'm also skilled with Microsoft O365, Azure ADDS, and Windows Server environments from 2003 through 2022.

My strengths include Microsoft network infrastructure, VMware platforms, CMMS, ERP systems, and server administration (2016/2022).

View all posts

You may also like