What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
ThatPainter is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn More
Microsoft Paint on Windows combines a general-purpose canvas with newer AI-assisted tools, but AI access depends on the feature, device, account, and current rollout. It can be useful for quick image edits, drawing, and AI-assisted creation; the cited documentation does not establish a complete traditional-tool inventory or independent performance comparisons.
This review focuses on what Microsoft documents about Paint’s AI features and their requirements. Check your installed Microsoft Store version and Microsoft’s current support guidance, since availability and terms can change.
#1 Best Overall
![Corel Painter Essentials 8 | Beginner Digital Painting Software | Amazon Exclusive Brush Pack Bundle [PC Download]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51mk6f4dIaL._SL160_.jpg)
- Paint or sketch using over 170 brushes including realistic pencils, acrylics, watercolors and unique digital brushes like particles and patterns
- Rapidly turn photos into stunning art using powerful AI presets, auto-painting, tracing, and creative effects
- Easily create in an uncomplicated interface with document control, unlimited layers, adjustment and symmetry tools, built-in layouts, help tutorials, and workflow tips
- Conveniently select colors with the color wheel, sets, and harmonies or blend your own with the mixer palette
- Experience incredible speed and performance, and tablet compatibility with stylus pressure control
What counts as the modern Paint app?
This review covers Microsoft Paint for Windows, not Paint 3D or third-party applications. Microsoft’s guidance describes a general-purpose canvas with AI-assisted features including Cocreator, generative fill, sticker generation, and object selection. The controls available can vary by device and app build.
Availability and requirements
Microsoft’s support guidance says the documented Copilot+ Paint AI features require a Copilot+ PC and the latest Paint version available in the Microsoft Store. Generative fill has a more specific requirement: the cited instructions call for a Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PC. Check Microsoft’s current guidance and the controls in your installed app before relying on a particular feature.
These AI requirements do not mean that ordinary canvas work requires a Copilot+ PC. The sources reviewed do not provide a comprehensive inventory of traditional Paint tools or a full list of supported file formats, so check the app itself for those details.
Using Cocreator
Microsoft describes Cocreator as a workflow that combines a text prompt with a drawing on the canvas. It includes a creativity control and style choices. Microsoft says it is optimized for English prompts; other languages may produce degraded results. A mouse or stylus can be used to draw, so a compatible stylus is optional rather than required.
Rank #2
![Corel Painter Essentials 8 | Beginner Digital Painting Software | Drawing & Photo Art [PC Key Card]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51oZRiJjuiL._SL160_.jpg)
- Paint or sketch with over 170 brushes including realistic pencils, acrylic, watercolors and unique digital brushes like particles and patterns
- Rapidly turn photos into stunning art using powerful AI presets, Auto-Painting, tracking, and creative effects
- Easily create in an uncomplicated interface with document control, unlimited layers, adjustment and symmetry tools, built-in layouts, help tutorials, and workflow tips
- Conveniently select colors with the color wheel, sets, and harmonies or blend your own with the mixer palette
- Experience incredible speed and performance, tablet compatibility with stylus pressure control, and Apple Sidecar and M1 support
- Open Paint and choose Cocreator if it is available in your app.
- Enter a descriptive prompt.
- Draw on the canvas with a mouse or stylus.
- Adjust the creativity control and choose a style.
- Review the generated result and decide whether to use it.
Microsoft characterizes Cocreator generation as running on the device’s NPU, while requiring a Microsoft account and internet connection for cloud safety services. This is a hybrid workflow, not a fully offline feature.
Generative fill, stickers, and object selection
Microsoft’s support guidance also documents generative fill, sticker generation, and object selection. Eligibility depends on the feature and device. In particular, the cited generative-fill instructions require a Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PC. Do not assume that a feature shown in guidance is available on every Windows PC or Paint installation.
Object selection can identify and isolate canvas elements, while generative fill and sticker generation provide AI-assisted ways to work with content. Treat generated or selected results as something to review, not as guaranteed precise or production-ready output.
Image Creator and credits
Microsoft’s Image Creator help page describes a gradual rollout of the Image Creator name and a cloud-based generation service. It requires Microsoft account sign-in. Microsoft says each generated set costs one credit and that Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscribers receive 60 monthly AI credits. These product terms can change, so check the current Image Creator help page before relying on the allowance.
Rank #3
![Corel Painter 2023 Education | Professional Painting Software for Digital Art, Illustration, Photo Art & Fine Art [PC/Mac Key Card]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51WmC2+cMiL._SL160_.jpg)
- Academic Eligibility: accredited schools, faculties, full or part-time students, non-profit charitable and religious organizations; not for commercial use. See full list under Product Description.
- Sketch, paint, and illustrate on a blank canvas or create unparalleled photo-art with 1000+ realistic brushes, superior blending, and an array of versatile art tools
- We’ve got your canvas covered with every brush and media type possible, including new Fluid brushes, Thick Paint, watercolors, pastels, oils, acrylics, airbrushes, and exclusive digital effects like Particles, F-X, Pattern Pens, and Image Hoses
- Craft your masterpiece with complete brush customization, canvas control, intuitive color mixing, composition tools, improved selection tools, easy content import, and preservation of files from Photoshop
- Enjoy a natural painting experience with compatibility for a variety of drawing tablets and stylus support for pressure, tilt, bearing, and rotation
Microsoft’s guidance also describes content filtering and C2PA content credentials for generated images. These are Microsoft’s documented service details, not an independent assessment of output quality or legal suitability.
Privacy and safety
Microsoft says Copilot+ Paint generation uses the device NPU, while cloud services provide safety filtering. According to Microsoft’s support guidance, the company collects device and user identifiers plus prompts for abuse prevention and monitoring, and does not store input or generated images for the described Copilot+ features. This is Microsoft’s disclosure, not an independently audited privacy finding.
Image Creator is described as a cloud service. Avoid submitting confidential or sensitive material unless you have reviewed the applicable service terms and your organization’s rules. Microsoft’s Paint Copilot+ feature guidance is a useful starting point for checking current requirements and privacy details.
What the research does and does not establish
The documentation reviewed supports the named AI features, their stated workflows and conditions, Microsoft’s privacy disclosures, and the Image Creator credit terms described above. It does not establish a complete list of traditional editing tools or file formats, comparative performance results, or an independent evaluation of usability. Check the current app and support pages for details that matter to your workflow.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Rank #4
![Corel Painter | 1 Month Subscription | Professional Painting Software for Digital Art, Illustration, Photo Art & Fine Art [PC/Mac Download]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51746OoPnNL._SL160_.jpg)
- Sketch, paint, and illustrate on a blank canvas or create unparalleled photo-art with 1000+ realistic brushes, superior blending, and an array of versatile art tools
- Discover the affordable, flexible way to stay up-to-date, while enjoying exclusive content, additional brushes, enhancements, and support for the latest technologies
- We’ve got your canvas covered with every brush and media type possible, including new Fluid brushes, Thick Paint, watercolors, pastels, oils, acrylics, airbrushes, and exclusive digital effects like Particles, F-X, Pattern Pens, and Image Hoses
- Craft your masterpiece with complete brush customization, canvas control, intuitive color mixing, composition tools, improved selection tools, easy content import, and preservation of files from Photoshop
- Enjoy a natural painting experience with compatibility for a variety of drawing tablets and stylus support for pressure, tilt, bearing, and rotation
Microsoft’s August 2026 servicing information lists Image Transform version 1.2608.951.0 (KB5124882) for Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2 on Copilot+ PCs. Microsoft describes it as supporting local image transformation, including removing selected foreground objects and generating background content. This is component servicing context, not a Paint app version number or evidence that the component is available on every Windows device.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Who might find Paint useful?
Paint may suit Windows users looking for a general-purpose canvas for quick image edits, drawing, or AI-assisted creation. Whether a particular AI feature is useful depends on its availability on your device, your account and connectivity, and whether its results meet your needs.
Frequently asked questions
Does Paint need a Copilot+ PC?
Microsoft says the documented Copilot+ Paint AI features require a Copilot+ PC and an updated Paint app. That requirement is for those AI features; it should not be generalized to ordinary canvas work.
Does generative fill work on every Copilot+ PC?
The cited Microsoft instructions specify a Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PC for generative fill. Check current eligibility guidance, since requirements and rollout can change.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Best Value
![Corel PaintShop Pro 2023 Ultimate | Powerful Photo Editing & Graphic Design Software + Creative Suite | Amazon Exclusive ParticleShop + 5 Brush Starter Pack [PC Download]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51nxJm9NxdL._SL160_.jpg)
- Subscription-free photo editing and design software PLUS the ultimate creative suite including MultiCam Capture 2.0 Lite, 50 free modern fonts, Painter Essentials 8, PhotoMirage Express, Highlight Reel, Sea-to-Sky Workspace, and the Corel Creative Collection
- Use full-featured editing tools to correct and adjust photos, remove objects and flaws, and change backgrounds, plus enjoy AI-powered tools, edit RAW images with new AfterShot Lab, create HDR photos, batch process, and more
- Get creative with graphic design features like layers and masks, powerful selection, intuitive text, brushes, drawing and painting tools, hundreds of creative filters, effects, built-in templates, and the enhanced Frame Tool
- Choose from multiple customizable workspaces to edit photos with efficiency, plus take your underwater and drone photography to new heights with the Ultimate-exclusive Sea-to-Sky Workspace
- Import/export a variety of file formats, including Adobe PSD, get support for 64-bit third-party plug-ins and graphics tablets, and find learning resources in-product
How do I generate AI art in Paint?
For Cocreator, Microsoft describes entering a prompt, drawing on the canvas, adjusting creativity, and choosing a style. The workflow requires a Microsoft account and internet access for cloud safety services, even though Microsoft says generation uses the device NPU.
Does Paint require a stylus?
No. Microsoft’s Cocreator instructions describe drawing with either a mouse or a stylus. A stylus is an optional accessory, and compatibility depends on the device.
How many Image Creator credits do Microsoft 365 subscribers get?
Microsoft’s Image Creator help page lists 60 monthly AI credits for Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscribers, with one credit used per generated set. Check the current help page because these terms can change.
Verdict
Modern Paint combines a general-purpose Windows canvas with a growing set of AI features. Its AI-assisted workflows are conditional: device eligibility varies, generative fill has a specific Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PC requirement in the cited guidance, and cloud-connected services require sign-in or internet access. Check Microsoft’s latest instructions and your installed app before choosing Paint for a particular task.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsQuick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
