Paint 3D Not Working: How to Fix Common Problems

If Paint 3D will not open, closes immediately after starting, or freezes while you work, you can usually fix it using built-in Windows tools. Here are the most effective fixes for Windows 11 and Windows 10, starting with the simplest solutions.

verified Windows 11 & 10
schedule 5 min read
security Safe fixes first
update Updated September 2026

stethoscope Quick Diagnostic Guide

If Paint 3D is not working properly on your PC, match your symptom below to the recommended fix:

Symptom Common Cause Suggested Fix Data Risk
Paint 3D not opening (clicking the icon does nothing) A frozen background process is still running Fix 1: End in Task Manager No data loss
Splash screen flashes and closes right away Damaged application files Fix 2: Repair in Settings Keeps your data
Paint 3D not responding or canvas freezes Corrupted temporary cache or app settings Fix 3: Reset the app Clears app cache
App will not launch or shows registration errors Broken Windows package registration Fix 4: Re-register with PowerShell No data loss
Paint 3D crashes when rotating 3D view or opening models Graphics card conflict or driver issue Fix 5: Change graphics settings No data loss
"3D Library" shows a network connection error Microsoft permanently shut down the Remix 3D service See 3D Library details Service closed

warning Important: Do Not Uninstall Paint 3D Yet

Microsoft officially retired Paint 3D on November 4, 2024, as detailed in Microsoft's Windows client deprecated features documentation, and removed it from Microsoft Store search results (read our full breakdown on why Microsoft retired Paint 3D and its history).

Older troubleshooting articles often suggest uninstalling and reinstalling from the Store. Do not do that. If you uninstall it now, a normal Store search will not find it, and regular download links will fail.

Try the repair and reset steps below first. If you have already uninstalled the app, check the reinstallation guide at the bottom of this page.

Fix 1

Fix 1: End Paint 3D in Task Manager

No data loss
visibility Symptom: Paint 3D is not opening when you click the shortcut in your Start menu or taskbar. You might see a brief loading spinner next to your cursor, but no window appears.
info Cause: This can happen when an earlier session gets stuck in memory instead of closing completely. Windows thinks the app is already running, so clicking the icon does not launch a new window.

Steps to follow:

  1. 1
    Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager (or right-click the Start button and select it from the menu).
  2. 2
    Make sure the Processes tab is selected on the left sidebar.
  3. 3
    In the search bar at the top, type paint 3d.
  4. 4
    Look for Paint 3D in the search results. It will often show a status of Suspended with a pause icon.
  5. 5

    Right-click Paint 3D and choose End task.

    Windows 11 Task Manager showing Paint 3D in Suspended status with the End task menu option
    Figure 1: Search for "paint 3d" in Task Manager, right-click the process, and select "End task".
  6. 6

    Close Task Manager and launch the app again from your Start menu. It should now open normally.

    Paint 3D workspace window displaying the ready-to-use canvas, brushes panel, and toolbars
    Figure 2: Paint 3D opening normally to the canvas after ending the stuck background process.
Fix 2

Fix 2: Repair Paint 3D in Windows Settings

Keeps your data
visibility Symptom: The app starts, shows the splash screen with the colorful logo for a second or two, and then suddenly closes back to the desktop with no error message.
info Cause: A common cause is corrupted or missing app files. Windows has a built-in repair tool that checks these files and replaces damaged ones without touching your projects or settings.

Steps to follow:

  1. 1
    Press Win + I to open Windows Settings.
  2. 2
    Click Apps, then click Installed apps (on Windows 10, click Apps & features).
  3. 3
    In the search box, type paint 3d.
  4. 4
    Click the three dots (...) next to Paint 3D (on Windows 10, click Paint 3D directly).
  5. 5

    Select Advanced options.

    Windows 11 Installed Apps search results showing Paint 3D with the three dots menu open
    Figure 3: In Settings > Apps > Installed apps, click the three dots next to Paint 3D and select "Advanced options".
  6. 6

    In the Advanced options window, make sure background app permissions are turned on.

    Paint 3D Advanced Options page displaying app specifications, version number, and background permissions
    Figure 4: The Advanced options page showing app details and background permissions.
  7. 7

    Scroll down to the Reset section and click Repair.

    Windows 11 Settings Advanced options screen highlighting the Repair button in progress
    Figure 5: Click "Repair" under the Reset section to let Windows check and fix app files.
  8. 8
    Wait a few seconds for the checkmark (✓) to appear next to the button. Once it finishes, try opening the app again.
Fix 3

Fix 3: Reset Paint 3D

Clears app cache (back up first)
visibility Symptom: The app opens, but Paint 3D is not responding when you click tools or draw. Brushes lag or freeze, the canvas locks up, or Paint 3D keeps crashing every time you try to save your work, even after trying Repair.
info Cause: This usually points to corrupted app preferences or damaged cache files in your user folder. Resetting the app wipes this data and gives you a fresh start.
save Important: Back Up In-App Projects Before Resetting

Resetting deletes local app data, including projects saved inside the app workspace. If you have work there, make a backup first. Press Win + R, paste the folder path below, press Enter, and copy the Projects folder somewhere safe like your Desktop:

%LocalAppData%\Packages\Microsoft.MSPaint_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\Projects

Steps to follow:

  1. 1
    Return to the Paint 3D Advanced options screen in Windows Settings (Settings > Apps > Installed apps > Paint 3D > Advanced options).
  2. 2
    Scroll down to the Reset section, right below the Repair button.
  3. 3
    Click the Reset button.
  4. 4

    Windows will warn you that app data will be deleted. Click Reset again to confirm.

    Windows 11 Settings displaying the confirmation popover warning that resetting will delete app data
    Figure 6: Windows prompts for confirmation before clearing app cache and resetting settings.
  5. 5
    Wait a few seconds for the checkmark (✓) to appear next to the button.
  6. 6
    Open the app again. It will load with default settings, just like a fresh install.
Fix 4

Fix 4: Re-register Paint 3D Using PowerShell

No data loss
visibility Symptom: Repair and Reset did not help, or Windows displays an error saying "This app cannot be opened" when you click the shortcut.
info Cause: The registration link between Windows and the app files can become damaged. Re-registering reconnects the app with Windows so the system knows how to launch it properly. It does not delete your files.

Steps to follow:

  1. 1
    Right-click the Start button on your taskbar and select Terminal (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin).
  2. 2
    Click Yes when prompted by User Account Control (UAC).
  3. 3
    Copy and paste the following PowerShell command into the terminal, then press Enter:
    Administrator: Windows PowerShell
    Get-AppxPackage -allusers Microsoft.MSPaint | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}

    This command uses the standard Microsoft Appx package registration cmdlet to reconnect corrupted manifest files without altering your personal files.

  4. 4
    A blue progress banner will appear briefly across the window while Windows registers the app.
  5. 5
    Once the command finishes and you see a regular command prompt again, close PowerShell and try opening Paint 3D.
Fix 5

Fix 5: Resolve Paint 3D Crashes in 3D View or Graphics Settings

No data loss
visibility Symptom: The app opens normally, but Paint 3D crashes as soon as you draw a 3D doodle, insert a 3D shape, rotate the canvas in 3D view, or import a .glb model.
info Cause: This often happens on systems with two graphics processors, like laptops with both integrated graphics and a dedicated NVIDIA or AMD card. When Windows switches between graphics processors to render 3D scenes, driver timeouts can crash the app. If you are experiencing rendering freezes or crashes, check our verified Paint 3D System Requirements to confirm your GPU and DirectX level are supported.

Steps to follow:

  1. 1
    Open Settings (Win + I) and navigate to System > Display > Graphics.
  2. 2
    Under "Custom options for apps", set the dropdown to Microsoft Store app.
  3. 3
    Select Paint 3D from the list.
  4. 4
    Click Options under the Paint 3D entry.
  5. 5
    Choose High performance to assign the app to your dedicated graphics card. If your dedicated card is already having driver issues, choose Power saving instead to use integrated graphics.
  6. 6
    Click Save and reopen Paint 3D to test it.
  7. 7
    If adjusting Windows GPU preference does not resolve the crash, ensure your graphics adapter has the latest drivers installed directly from NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel.
Reinstallation

What to Do If You Already Uninstalled the App

Older articles often tell users to uninstall Paint 3D and reinstall it from the Microsoft Store.

Why that no longer works: Microsoft retired Paint 3D on November 4, 2024, and removed it from Store search. If you search for it today, the Store only shows alternative 3D viewers or classic Paint.

If the app is already gone from your PC, you have two practical options to get it back:

Paint3D.io official homepage showing the authentic download options and verified package trust badges
Figure 7: If you need to reinstall, the app package and PowerShell install commands are available on the home page.

How to Get Paint 3D Back:

cloud_download Option A: Check Your Store Library

If you installed Paint 3D in the past with your Microsoft account, it should still be in your purchase history. Open the Microsoft Store, click Library in the bottom-left corner, click Apps, filter by Not installed, and look for Paint 3D. If it appears, click the cloud download icon.

terminal Option B: Direct Package via Paint3D.io

If the app is not in your library history, you can download the original installer package from our download section and install it using PowerShell:

Add-AppxPackage -Path ".\2024.2410.13017.0.AppxBundle"
quiz Frequently Asked Questions

Common Questions

Microsoft shut down the online catalog (Remix 3D) behind the 3D Library button in December 2021. Because the service is gone, repairing or reinstalling the app will not make it work.

You can still add 3D objects to your projects manually. See our 3D Modeling and File Import Guide to learn how to download .glb, .obj, or .3mf models from 3D repositories and drag them directly onto your canvas.

No. Any drawings or 3D models you exported to folders like Pictures or Documents (such as .png, .jpg, or .glb files) are safe. Resetting only clears the app's internal cache, settings, and unsaved work stored inside the app itself.

The actual fixes work the same way on both versions. The only difference is how you navigate to the app in Settings:

  • Windows 11: Settings > Apps > Installed apps > three dots next to Paint 3D > Advanced options
  • Windows 10: Settings > Apps > Apps & features > click Paint 3D > Advanced options

If Paint 3D keeps crashing repeatedly, the cause is usually corrupted temporary app cache or a conflict with your graphics card drivers. Back up your projects folder and follow the Reset steps in Fix 3, or configure Paint 3D to run on your integrated GPU in Windows Graphics settings (Fix 5).

There is no direct replacement from Microsoft. Instead, they updated classic Paint with layers and transparency for 2D work, and kept 3D Viewer for viewing existing 3D files. For creating new 3D projects, keeping Paint 3D installed offline remains the best solution for casual 3D design and stickers.

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