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Microsoft stopped developing Paint 3D, removed it from the Microsoft Store and ended its updates. It had already been left out of new Windows 11 installs, and its community model site had closed years before. The app itself was never switched off. Copies already installed keep working, and the final build still installs and runs today.
Paint 3D started out as the future of Paint. It ended up as an app Microsoft told people to replace. Here is what happened to Paint 3D, step by step, and where that leaves you now.
A big launch
Microsoft unveiled Paint 3D at a Surface event, as part of a major Windows 10 update called the Creators Update. It shipped with that update.
The pitch was simple. Anyone could make 3D art without learning a complex 3D program. You could draw a flat shape and puff it into 3D, drop in ready-made models, cover them in textures, and mix it all with photos.
It was meant to replace Paint
For a short time, Paint 3D was set up as the successor to classic Paint. People complained. They missed Paint's simple layout and the features Paint 3D did not have.
Microsoft changed course. Both apps would stay side by side. That decision matters today, because the app that was supposed to disappear is the one that survived.
The community site closes
Paint 3D had a companion website called Remix 3D. There, people shared models and downloaded other people's work. Microsoft closed it.
The built-in 3D library inside Paint 3D did not go with it. It still loads ready-made models from Microsoft's online service. Our guide to the Paint 3D 3D library shows what is in it now.
Windows 11 leaves it out
When Windows 11 arrived, Paint 3D was no longer included in new installs. People with a fresh PC simply did not have it.
The right-click menu changed too. There is no "Edit with Paint 3D" entry any more, only Edit with Photos, Edit with Paint and Edit with Clipchamp. Old guides that still tell you to use that entry are out of date.
Paint catches up
While Paint 3D stood still, Microsoft kept building classic Paint. It gained layers, transparent PNG files and a one-click Remove background button. On our test PC it also shows a Copilot button and a Generative erase option.
Most of the reasons people once kept Paint 3D for flat pictures now exist in Paint itself. Our comparison of Paint vs Paint 3D goes through them one by one.
Microsoft pulls it from the Store
Then came the official end. Microsoft announced that Paint 3D would be removed from the Microsoft Store and would get no future updates. On the stated day, it was removed.
The final build even says so itself. It shows a banner when you start a new picture.
Microsoft pointed people to three apps instead. Paint and Photos for 2D work, and 3D Viewer for 3D content.
The 3D replacement goes too
There was a twist. 3D Viewer, the app Microsoft named as the home for 3D content, was itself removed from the Microsoft Store later on.
So the official 3D replacement for Paint 3D is gone as well. For simple, free 3D work on Windows, Paint 3D is still one of the easiest options, even with no updates. Our list of Paint 3D alternatives covers apps that are still maintained.
Why was Paint 3D removed?
Microsoft's notice said what would happen, not why. It gave no detailed reason, so we will not invent one.
What the timeline does show is a steady shift. The community site closed. The app left new installs. Microsoft put its effort into Paint and Photos. The Store removal was the last step of a long wind-down, not a sudden decision.
Where things stand today
- It still works. Installed copies keep running. We use it on Windows 11 for every guide on this site.
- You can still install it. The final build, 6.2410.13017.0, installs with App Installer. Get it from our Paint 3D download page.
- The 3D library still works, as long as you are online.
- It will not get fixes. Any bug in the final build is there for good.
- It is not in the Store. Searching for it there will not find it.
Should you still use it?
For 3D, yes, if it does what you need. Nothing replaced it directly, and it is free.
For flat photo edits, classic Paint is now the better choice. It is already on your PC and still gets updates.
If Paint 3D gives you trouble, our guide to Paint 3D not working has fixes that keep your projects safe.
FAQ
Is Paint 3D discontinued?
Yes. Microsoft ended development and updates and removed it from the Microsoft Store. The app still works where it is installed.
Is Paint 3D gone from Windows 11?
It is not included in new installs. You can still add it yourself with the final build.
Can I get Paint 3D back?
Yes. Download the final build and install it with App Installer. Our guide on how to install Paint 3D shows each step.
Will Paint 3D stop working?
Microsoft said it would stop updates, not that it would switch the app off. Installed copies keep working. We cannot promise what future Windows updates will do, and we will update this page if that changes.
What did Microsoft replace Paint 3D with?
Paint and Photos for 2D work, and 3D Viewer for 3D. 3D Viewer has since left the Store too.
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