Paint is a versatile and user-friendly graphics editing app in Windows for you to create, edit and manipulate images and drawings. Paint is great for simple image cropping, resizing, drawing and adding basic shapes and text to images. It offers a straightforward interface with a range of AI-powered tools 1 and features for anyone who needs to perform basic graphic editing tasks. Its simplicity and ease of use make Paint a valuable tool for quick and easy image editing.

How do I open Paint in Windows 11?

You can open Paint in Windows 11 by following these steps: Click on the Windows Start button . Type " Paint " in the search bar, then press Enter . The Paint app should open.

What’s the difference between the Photos app and Paint?

The Photos app is primarily designed for viewing, organising and editing photos and images. It's more focused on managing your image library and making simple adjustments. The Photos app allows you to view and organise your photo collection, crop and rotate images, apply filters and basic enhancements, create simple video slideshows and share photos with ease. Paint is more suitable for creating simple drawings and performing basic image editing tasks. Paint provides tools for freehand drawing, inserting shapes, filling colours, cropping images and adding text. It's a more versatile tool for creating original artwork or making basic edits to images.

What are some new Paint features?

New Paint features are included in the latest Windows 11 update: AI-powered Image Creator 1 , Background Removal and a much-requested capability, Layers. These new Paint tools help you create digital images like a pro, spark creativity with AI-generated inspiration, and allow anyone, from novice to pro, to manipulate, manage, save and share image files in most file formats.

What are the drawing tools in Paint?

Paint includes these tools: Pencil: For freehand drawing. Brush: For painting with various brush styles and sizes. Fill with colour: To fill closed areas with a selected colour. Shapes: To draw shapes like lines, rectangles and circles. Text: To add text to your images. Eraser: To remove parts of your drawing or image. Selection tools: To select and manipulate specific areas. Zoom: To zoom in and out of your canvas.

Can I use Paint to edit photos or images?

Yes, you can use Paint to edit photos or images. Paint provides basic tools for cropping, resizing, drawing, adding text and making simple adjustments to images.

Is there a way to resize an image in Paint?

Yes, you can resize an image in Paint by selecting the "Resize" option from the "Home" tab. You can then specify the new dimensions for your image in pixels or as a percentage of the original size.

Can I save my work in different file formats with Paint?

Yes, you can save your work in various file formats, including PNG, JPEG, BMP and GIF, among others. Paint allows you to choose the format when you save your image.

How do I add text to an image in Paint?

To add text to an image in Paint, use the "Text" tool in the "Home" tab. Click on the canvas where you want to add text, and a text box will appear. Type your text in the box, customise the font, then select a size and colour using the options in the toolbar.

How can I crop an image in Paint?

You can crop an image in Paint by selecting the portion of the image you want to keep using the "Select" tool and then clicking the "Crop" button in the "Home" tab. This will remove the unselected portion of the image.

How much does Paint cost?

Paint is included in Windows. Image Creator is a new feature 1 included in the latest Windows 11 update, along with Background Removal and Layers. When you’re ready to try Image Creator, we’ll give you 50 credits to get you started (1 credit per use). 2

Paint makes it easier to create

Paint now comes with new AI-powered tools to help you edit images like a pro and create art like a visionary. Included in the latest version of Windows 11, Paint is your new creative partner.

Open Paint

Person holding a pen using the Paint app to create an image

Image Creator

Image Creator ^1 2 is your AI-powered partner, ready to inspire your next creation. Give it a prompt, pick a style, and see where it takes you.

Learn more

Prompt

Enter a text prompt to get AI-generated ideas.^1 2

Choose

Pick a style that suits your artistic vision.

Illustration of a pen scribbling on paper

Create

Follow inspiration to make your masterpiece.

Manipulate images

Crop, flip, rotate and resize easily with Paint.

Brushes

Choose from a variety of brush sizes and styles.

Drawing tools

Create with pencil, fill, colour picker, text, magnifier and more.

Background Removal

This powerful editing tool uses AI to help you isolate a subject and remove the background with just one click.

Open Paint

Edit

Fast and familiar editing tools.

Manipulate

Quickly crop and rotate images.

Copy and paste

Easily copy images to and from Paint.

Stylus pen

Use Microsoft Surface Pen or any stylus pen to create. ³

Line sizing

From fine lines to broad strokes, you control the look of your piece.

Colours

Create a new colour or use hexadecimal, RGB or HSV colour codes.

Layers

Layers gives you more control over how you draw, edit and organise your work to help you add depth and detail to your digital images.

Open Paint

Control

Edit single layers without affecting others.

Manage

Merge and reorder layers to manage your creation.

Compose

Easily create intricate compositions and designs.

Arrow pointing to the right illustrating import or export

Import/export

Add images from other sources and send them in most file formats.

User-friendly

Artists of any level can easily use Paint.

Viewing options

Be precise with rulers and graphs or resize as a thumbnail.

Paint: Refreshed for Windows 11

Get the latest version of Windows 11 to use these powerful new tools in Paint.

Two people sitting in front of a laptop with the Paint app open

Frequently asked questions

Paint is a versatile and user-friendly graphics editing app in Windows for you to create, edit and manipulate images and drawings. Paint is great for simple image cropping, resizing, drawing and adding basic shapes and text to images. It offers a straightforward interface with a range of AI-powered tools ¹ and features for anyone who needs to perform basic graphic editing tasks. Its simplicity and ease of use make Paint a valuable tool for quick and easy image editing.
You can open Paint in Windows 11 by following these steps:
- Click on the Windows Start button.
- Type "Paint" in the search bar, then press Enter.
- The Paint app should open.
The Photos app is primarily designed for viewing, organising and editing photos and images. It's more focused on managing your image library and making simple adjustments. The Photos app allows you to view and organise your photo collection, crop and rotate images, apply filters and basic enhancements, create simple video slideshows and share photos with ease.

Paint is more suitable for creating simple drawings and performing basic image editing tasks. Paint provides tools for freehand drawing, inserting shapes, filling colours, cropping images and adding text. It's a more versatile tool for creating original artwork or making basic edits to images.
New Paint features are included in the latest Windows 11 update: AI-powered Image Creator ¹ , Background Removal and a much-requested capability, Layers. These new Paint tools help you create digital images like a pro, spark creativity with AI-generated inspiration, and allow anyone, from novice to pro, to manipulate, manage, save and share image files in most file formats.
Paint includes these tools:
- Pencil: For freehand drawing.
- Brush: For painting with various brush styles and sizes.
- Fill with colour: To fill closed areas with a selected colour.
- Shapes: To draw shapes like lines, rectangles and circles.
- Text: To add text to your images.
- Eraser: To remove parts of your drawing or image.
- Selection tools: To select and manipulate specific areas.
- Zoom: To zoom in and out of your canvas.
Yes, you can use Paint to edit photos or images. Paint provides basic tools for cropping, resizing, drawing, adding text and making simple adjustments to images.
Yes, you can resize an image in Paint by selecting the "Resize" option from the "Home" tab. You can then specify the new dimensions for your image in pixels or as a percentage of the original size.
Yes, you can save your work in various file formats, including PNG, JPEG, BMP and GIF, among others. Paint allows you to choose the format when you save your image.
To add text to an image in Paint, use the "Text" tool in the "Home" tab. Click on the canvas where you want to add text, and a text box will appear. Type your text in the box, customise the font, then select a size and colour using the options in the toolbar.
You can crop an image in Paint by selecting the portion of the image you want to keep using the "Select" tool and then clicking the "Crop" button in the "Home" tab. This will remove the unselected portion of the image.
Paint is included in Windows. Image Creator is a new feature ¹ included in the latest Windows 11 update, along with Background Removal and Layers. When you’re ready to try Image Creator, we’ll give you 50 credits to get you started (1 credit per use). ²

Looking for more?

Get help with your transition to Windows 11, and make the most of your Windows experience.

Upgrade to Windows 11

Ready to make the switch? See if your Windows PC is eligible by selecting the Start button, then going to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.

See system requirements

Become an insider

Learn more

Screens simulated. Subject to change. Feature availability and roll-out timing may vary.
[1] Requires Microsoft account. Timing of feature delivery varies by device. Feature availability may vary by market. Available at launch in the United States, Canada, Germany, France, Australia, United Kingdom and Italy. English inputs only for now.
[2] 50 credits available for initial use of Image Creator. One credit applied per use. Credit system subject to change once preview is complete.
[3] Hardware dependent. Requires Windows PC with touchscreen capability.

Paint makes it easier to create