Sommaire
- Quick answer: how do I use Paint on Windows 10?
- How to open Paint on Windows 10
- The Paint interface explained
- How to use Paint: step-by-step basics
- How to draw freehand
- How to draw shapes and straight lines
- How to add text
- How to fill an area with color
- How to pick an exact color
- How to erase
- How to select, crop, resize and rotate
- How to save your image
- Paint keyboard shortcuts for Windows 10
- Common tasks in Paint
- How to paste and edit a screenshot
- How to resize a photo to a smaller file
- How to cut out part of an image with a transparent selection
- How to change the canvas size
- Which file formats does Paint support?
- Troubleshooting Paint on Windows 10
- Paint vs Paint 3D: which should you use?
- Frequently asked questions
- Is Paint free on Windows 10?
- Where is Paint located in Windows 10?
- How do I make a background transparent in Paint?
- Does Paint have layers?
- How do I undo in Paint?
- How do I add a white border or make the canvas bigger?
- Can I still use Paint after Windows 10 end of support?
Quick answer: how do I use Paint on Windows 10?
To use Paint on Windows 10, click Start, type Paint, and press Enter. Pick a tool from the Home tab (Pencil, Brushes, Shapes, Text or Fill), choose a color in the Colors group, then click and drag on the white canvas. Save your image with Ctrl + S as a PNG or JPEG.
Microsoft Paint is free and preinstalled on Windows 10. It needs no account or internet connection. Note: Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025, but Paint still works normally on it.
How to open Paint on Windows 10
The fastest way to open Paint is the search box: press the Windows key, type paint, and press Enter. Four methods work:
- Search: press Windows key, type
paint, click Paint in the results. - Start menu: click Start > scroll to Windows Accessories > Paint.
- Run box: press Windows + R, type
mspaint, press Enter. - Open a picture in Paint: right-click any image file > Edit (or Open with > Paint).
Tip: right-click Paint in the Start menu and choose Pin to taskbar for one-click access.
The Paint interface explained
Paint has three main areas: the ribbon at the top (File, Home and View tabs), the canvas in the middle, and the status bar at the bottom showing cursor position, image size and zoom.
| Area / group | Where | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| File menu | Top-left blue tab | New, Open, Save, Save as, Print, Set as desktop background |
| Clipboard | Home tab | Cut, Copy, Paste, Paste from file |
| Image | Home tab | Select, Crop, Resize, Rotate/flip |
| Tools | Home tab | Pencil, Fill with color, Text, Eraser, Color picker, Magnifier |
| Brushes | Home tab | 9 brush styles: calligraphy, airbrush, oil, crayon, marker, watercolor and more |
| Shapes | Home tab | Lines, curves, rectangles, ovals, arrows, stars, callouts; Outline and Fill options |
| Size | Home tab | Line and brush thickness |
| Colors | Home tab | Color 1 (foreground), Color 2 (background), palette, Edit colors |
| View tab | Top ribbon | Zoom, Rulers, Gridlines, Status bar, Full screen |
| Status bar | Bottom | Cursor coordinates, selection size, image size in pixels, zoom slider |
How to use Paint: step-by-step basics
Every Paint task follows the same pattern: choose a tool, choose a color and size, then click or drag on the canvas. Press Ctrl + Z to undo any mistake.
How to draw freehand
- On the Home tab, click Pencil (1-pixel lines) or Brushes (softer strokes).
- Pick a thickness under Size.
- Click a color in the Colors palette.
- Drag on the canvas with the left mouse button to draw in Color 1. Drag with the right button to draw in Color 2.
How to draw shapes and straight lines
- In the Shapes group, click a shape (line, rectangle, oval, arrow, star).
- Drag on the canvas. Hold Shift while dragging for a perfect square, circle or straight 45°/90° line.
- Before clicking away, set Outline and Fill (Solid color, Crayon, Marker and others). Fill uses Color 2.
- Drag the corner handles to resize the shape. Once you click elsewhere, it becomes part of the image.
How to add text
- Click the A (Text) tool and click or drag a box on the canvas.
- The Text tab appears: choose font, size, bold/italic, and Transparent or Opaque background.
- Type your text. Drag the box edges to resize it.
- Click outside the box to finish. After that, text can no longer be edited, only erased or painted over.
How to fill an area with color
- Click the Fill with color tool (paint bucket).
- Choose a color, then click inside any closed area. Gaps in the outline let the color leak.
How to pick an exact color
- Use the Color picker (eyedropper) to copy a color from the image.
- Click Edit colors to enter exact RGB or HSL values.
How to erase
- Click the Eraser and drag. It paints with Color 2 (white by default).
- Hold Ctrl and press + or – on the number pad to change eraser size.
How to select, crop, resize and rotate
- Select: click Select > Rectangular selection or Free-form selection, then drag around the area. Move it by dragging; delete it with Delete.
- Crop: select an area, then click Crop (Ctrl + Shift + X) to keep only that part.
- Resize: click Resize (Ctrl + W), choose Percentage or Pixels, keep Maintain aspect ratio checked, click OK.
- Rotate/flip: click Rotate > right 90°, left 90°, 180°, flip vertical or flip horizontal.
How to save your image
- Click File > Save as (F12).
- Pick a format: PNG for drawings and screenshots, JPEG for photos.
- Name the file, choose a folder, click Save.
Paint keyboard shortcuts for Windows 10
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + N | New image |
| Ctrl + O | Open an image |
| Ctrl + S | Save |
| F12 | Save as |
| Ctrl + P | |
| Ctrl + Z | Undo |
| Ctrl + Y | Redo |
| Ctrl + A | Select all |
| Ctrl + C / Ctrl + X / Ctrl + V | Copy / Cut / Paste |
| Ctrl + Shift + X | Crop to selection |
| Ctrl + W | Resize and skew |
| Ctrl + E | Image properties (canvas size, units) |
| Ctrl + Shift + I | Invert selection colors |
| Ctrl + B / I / U | Bold / Italic / Underline (Text tool) |
| Ctrl + Page Up / Page Down | Zoom in / out |
| Ctrl + R | Show or hide rulers |
| Ctrl + G | Show or hide gridlines |
| F11 | Full-screen view |
| Ctrl + + / Ctrl + – | Bigger / smaller brush, line or eraser |
| Shift + drag | Straight lines, perfect squares and circles |
Common tasks in Paint
How to paste and edit a screenshot
- Press PrtScn (whole screen), Alt + PrtScn (active window) or Windows + Shift + S (choose an area).
- Open Paint and press Ctrl + V.
- Crop, add arrows or text, then save as PNG.
How to resize a photo to a smaller file
- Open the photo in Paint (right-click > Edit).
- Press Ctrl + W, choose Pixels, keep Maintain aspect ratio checked.
- Enter a new width (for example 1200), click OK.
- File > Save as > JPEG picture under a new name so the original stays intact.
How to cut out part of an image with a transparent selection
- Click Select > tick Transparent selection.
- Select and move the object: pixels matching Color 2 (usually white) become see-through over the image.
- Classic Paint cannot save a transparent background. For a transparent PNG, use Paint 3D (Magic select) instead.
How to change the canvas size
- Drag the small white handles on the canvas edges, or press Ctrl + E and enter width and height in pixels.
Which file formats does Paint support?
| Format | Best for |
|---|---|
| PNG | Screenshots, drawings, text; lossless quality |
| JPEG | Photos; smallest files |
| BMP | Uncompressed bitmaps; very large files |
| GIF | Simple graphics (still image only, 256 colors) |
| TIFF | Printing and archiving |
| HEIC | Opens iPhone photos if the HEIF extension is installed |
Troubleshooting Paint on Windows 10
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Paint is missing from Start | Go to Settings > Apps > Optional features > Add a feature > Microsoft Paint > Install |
| Fill color leaks everywhere | The outline has a gap; zoom in (Ctrl + Page Up) and close it with the Pencil |
| Can’t edit text after typing | Text is fixed once you click away; press Ctrl + Z right away, then retype |
| Image looks blurry after resize | Enlarging adds blur; resize from the original and only shrink |
| Toolbar/ribbon disappeared | Double-click any tab name, or press Ctrl + F1 |
| Paint won’t open | Press Windows + R, type mspaint; if it fails, reinstall it from Optional features |
Paint vs Paint 3D: which should you use?
Use classic Paint for quick edits, screenshots and simple drawings; use Paint 3D for 3D models, stickers and transparent backgrounds. Both come with most Windows 10 versions.
| Feature | Paint | Paint 3D |
|---|---|---|
| Speed and simplicity | Fastest, minimal | Slower, more menus |
| Crop, resize, rotate | Yes | Yes |
| Transparent PNG export | No | Yes |
| Remove background (Magic select) | No | Yes |
| 3D shapes and stickers | No | Yes |
| Layers | No | No (objects only) |
Frequently asked questions
Is Paint free on Windows 10?
Yes. Microsoft Paint comes preinstalled and free on every edition of Windows 10. If it was removed, reinstall it from Settings > Apps > Optional features.
Where is Paint located in Windows 10?
Paint is in Start > Windows Accessories > Paint. The program file is C:\Windows\System32\mspaint.exe.
How do I make a background transparent in Paint?
Classic Paint cannot save transparent backgrounds. Open the image in Paint 3D, use Magic select to cut out the object, then save as PNG with Transparency enabled.
Does Paint have layers?
No. Classic Paint on Windows 10 has no layers; anything you place merges into the image when you click away. Layers were added only to the newer Paint app on Windows 11.
How do I undo in Paint?
Press Ctrl + Z, or click the curved-arrow Undo button at the top-left. Paint keeps about 50 undo steps until you close the file.
How do I add a white border or make the canvas bigger?
Press Ctrl + E, increase Width and Height, and click OK. The new area fills with white.
Can I still use Paint after Windows 10 end of support?
Yes. Support ended on October 14, 2025, but Paint keeps working. Your PC simply no longer receives free security updates.
