On this page
Close Paint 3D completely with Terminate in its app settings, restart the PC, and try again. If that fails, use Repair, which keeps your data. Only use Reset after copying your Projects folder, because Reset deletes every Paint 3D project. For a specific error message, find it in the table below.
Most guides for Paint 3D not working jump straight to Reset. That is the one step that can wipe your work. Here are the fixes in the order we would do them ourselves, from harmless to drastic.
Step 1: Close it completely
A clean restart of the app clears anything left running from the last session.
- Press the
Windowskey and typePaint 3D. - Click App settings.
- Click Terminate. Microsoft's description: it will "immediately terminate this app and its related processes."
- Open Paint 3D again.
Step 2: Restart the PC and update Windows
Restart, then open Settings, Windows Update, and install anything waiting. Paint 3D gets no updates of its own, but Windows and your graphics driver still do.
Step 3: Repair the app
Repair is safe. Microsoft's own wording on the button's page: "The app's data won't be affected."
- Open the Paint 3D App settings page as in Step 1.
- Under Reset, click Repair.
- Wait until it finishes, then open Paint 3D.
Step 4: Back up, then Reset
Only if Repair did not help. Reset is the button right below it, and Microsoft is clear about it: "The app's data will be deleted." Your Paint 3D projects are part of that data.
- Close Paint 3D.
- Press
Windows+R, paste this, and pressEnter:
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\Microsoft.MSPaint_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState
- Copy the
Projectsfolder to your desktop. - Now click Reset on the app settings page.
Our guide to recovering Paint 3D projects explains that folder in full.
Step 5: Make sure you have the final build
Open Paint 3D, click Menu, then Settings, and look under About. The final build shows 6.2410.13017.0.
If you see a lower number, you have an older build. Install the final one from our Paint 3D download page. It is the last build Microsoft released.
Step 6: Reinstall
The last resort. Back up the Projects folder as in Step 4, then uninstall and install again. Our guide to uninstalling Paint 3D covers the first part. Our guide on how to install Paint 3D covers the second.
Error messages and what they mean
These are the exact messages Paint 3D shows. Find yours in the list.
| Message | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| "Paint 3D can't read this file. It may be invalid, or in a format we don't currently support." | The file is damaged or not a type Paint 3D opens | Check the file opens elsewhere. Paint 3D opens common image types and 3MF, FBX, OBJ, STL, PLY and GLB |
| "That file is open in another program. Close it, then try again." | Another app has the file locked | Close the other app, then try again |
| "This file can't be saved at the moment. It might be open somewhere else or it may be locked." | The save target is in use or protected | Close other apps using it, or save under a new name or in another folder |
| "Failed to save the project. Please try again." | A project save did not finish | Try again. If it repeats, save a copy as an image or 3D model so nothing is lost, then restart the app |
| "Sorry, this session is open in another instance of Paint 3D." | A second Paint 3D window has the same work open | Close the other Paint 3D window |
| "Oops! Paint 3D is busy right now. Wait a little bit and try again." | The app is still working on your last action | Wait a few seconds, then repeat the action |
| "There was a problem communicating with the 3D content service. Check your internet connection and try again later." | The 3D library cannot reach Microsoft's online service | Check your connection. Everything outside the 3D library still works |
| "We couldn't place this model. Try again later." | A library model did not load onto the canvas | Try again, or pick another model |
| "Sorry, we couldn't load your recent projects." | The project list could not be read | See our guide to recovering projects before you do anything else |
| "Couldn't import model" | A 3D file could not be brought in | Check it is a 3MF, FBX, OBJ, STL, PLY or GLB file and that it opens in another 3D app |
Common problems by symptom
Paint 3D will not open, or closes right away
Work through Steps 1 to 6 above in order, and stop as soon as it opens.
Paint 3D is slow or laggy
Open Menu, then Settings, and check Adjust display quality. Normal is the recommended setting. If you raised it, move it back.
The smooth texture option is grayed out
Smooth texturing only works with display quality set to High or Ultra. Raise it in Menu, Settings, then try again.
The 3D library is empty or will not load
The library needs the internet. If you are online and it still fails, wait and try later. The service is Microsoft's, and we cannot check it from our side. Our guide to the Paint 3D 3D library has more.
My picture saved with a white background
Transparency needs the right canvas setting and PNG. Our guide to a transparent background in Paint 3D covers the usual causes.
I cannot find my saved project
Projects never go to Documents. See our guide on where Paint 3D files are stored.
Paint 3D is missing from the right-click menu
On Windows 11 there is no "Edit with Paint 3D" entry any more. Use Open with instead. After we installed the final build, Paint 3D appeared there.
If it is missing from Open with too, open the picture from inside Paint 3D with Menu, Open, Browse files.
It will not install
That is covered step by step, with every install error code, in the install guide linked in Step 6.
It will not run in Windows Mixed Reality
That is expected. The app itself says it is not supported there.
When nothing works
Paint 3D gets no more updates, so some problems will never be fixed. If it keeps failing, classic Paint handles most flat picture jobs now, and free 3D tools cover the rest. See our list of Paint 3D alternatives.
FAQ
Why is Paint 3D not opening on Windows 11?
Start with Terminate, a restart, then Repair. None of those three touch your projects.
Does Reset delete my Paint 3D projects?
Yes. Microsoft's wording is "The app's data will be deleted," and projects are app data. Back up the Projects folder first.
Is Repair safe?
Yes. Microsoft says the app's data won't be affected.
Why does Paint 3D keep crashing?
There is no single cause. Work through the steps in order. If it still crashes on the final build after a Reset, there is nothing more to fix on the app's side, because it gets no more updates.
Spotted something that does not match your screen? Email [email protected].
