October DealsAmazon USOctober deal check: compare before you payAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsSlow PC?RecommendedPC slow today? Run a repair scan before it gets worseResolve common Windows issues and optimize system performance.Scan NowOctober DealsAmazon USDeal season is back - check today's better picksAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.See Picks×
Skip to content
ThatPainter
Computer Tutorials

How to Open and Use Paint in Windows 11 and Windows 10: Quick Guide

Find Paint with Windows search or install it from the Microsoft Store if it is missing. Open images in Paint, or capture a screenshot in Snipping Tool and choose Edit with Paint; advanced features depend on your app version and hardware.

By ThatPainter Team 3 min read
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

ThatPainter is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn More

To open Paint in Windows 11 or Windows 10, select Start or taskbar search, type Paint, and open the app from the results. If Paint is not installed, get it from the Microsoft Store. Paint is useful for basic drawing and image edits; available controls and advanced features depend on your app version and PC.

Open Paint

  1. Select Start or the taskbar search field.
  2. Type Paint.
  3. Open Paint from the search results.
  4. If Paint is not listed, install it from the Microsoft Store, then check that the app is up to date before using newer features.

Open a picture in Paint

In Paint, use its open workflow to find and open your picture. You can also open an image from Windows. If double-clicking the file opens a different app, Windows’ default app setting for that file type may be responsible.

  1. Open Paint and choose its open command.
  2. Browse to the image, select it, and open it.
  3. Alternatively, open the image from Windows using Paint as the app, if available.

Capture a screenshot and edit it in Paint

Snipping Tool can capture the whole screen, a window, or a selected rectangular or freeform area, then send the capture to Paint.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
#1 Best Overall
Sale
Drawing Tablet XPPen StarG640 Digital Graphic Tablet 6x4 Inch Art Tablet with Battery-Free Stylus Pen Tablet for Mac, Windows and Chromebook (Drawing/E-Learning/Remote-Working)
  • Battery-Free Pen: StarG640 drawing tablet is the perfect replacement for a traditional mouse! The XPPen advanced Battery-free PN01 stylus does not require charging, allowing for constant uninterrupted Draw and Play, making lines flow quicker and smoother, enhancing overall performance
  • Ideal for Online Education: XPPen G640 graphics tablet is designed for digital drawing, painting, sketching, E-signatures, online teaching, remote work, photo editing, it's compatible with Microsoft Office apps like Word, PowerPoint, OneNote, Zoom, Xsplit etc. Works perfect than a mouse, visually present your handwritten notes, signatures precisely
  • Compact and Portable: The G640 art tablet is only 2 mm thick, it's as slim as all primary level graphic tablets, allowing you to carry it with you on the go
  • Chromebook Supported: XPPen G640 digital drawing tablet is ready to work seamlessly with Chromebook devices now, so you can create information-rich content and collaborate with teachers and classmates on Google Jamboard’s whiteboard; Take notes quickly and conveniently with Google Keep, and effortlessly sketch diagrams with the Google Canvas
  • Multipurpose Use: Designed for playing OSU! Game, digital drawing, painting, sketch, sign documents digitally, this writing tablet also compatible with Microsoft Office programs like Word, PowerPoint, OneNote and more. Create mind-maps, draw diagrams or take notes as replacement for mouse
  1. Open Snipping Tool and capture the screen area you need.
  2. With the capture open, choose Edit > Edit with Paint.
  3. Make your edits, then save the result.

See Microsoft’s Snipping Tool screenshot instructions.

Make basic edits

For a simple edit, choose the relevant tool in Paint, make the change on the canvas, then save your work. The interface and location of controls can vary between app versions, so follow the labels shown in your installation.

Rank #2
HUION PW100 Battery-Free Stylus
  • Battery-free Stylus - Only COMPATIBLE to Huion Inspiroy H640P/H950P/H1060P/H610Pro V2/HS610/HS64/H420X/H580X/H610X; Never worry about pen-charging, and eco-friendly of use; Without operating battery, the pen is only 16g in weight, and its front end is made of wearable silicone for soothing feel.
  • NOT COMPATIBLE with iPad, other Graphics Tablet or Huion Graphics Monitor GT Series; Huion provides one year warranty.
  • Two Customizable Pen Buttons - Set the function to your reference like eraser, fasten your working efficiency; Palm rejection design of dual keys on both sides of the pen helps reduce touch frequency and realize most effective creation.
  • Long-lasting Lifespan - First of Huion's products features battery-free stylus, say goodbye to charging cables; Don't need to worry about the potential battery leakage and run-out.
  • 8192 Levels of Pen Pressure Sensitivity - Enjoy the accuracy and precision when drawing; Having 233 PPS report rate, 5080LPI resolution, you can paint or draw or sketch smoothly on your Huion Inspiroy series Tablets.
  • Draw on the canvas using a drawing tool and a selected color.
  • Use the available selection, crop, resize, or shape tools for common image edits.
  • Add text or annotations with the available text and drawing tools.
  • Save a copy if you want to preserve the original image.

A mouse is suitable for ordinary Paint use. A tablet pen is optional and may be useful for drawing if your PC supports pen input; a stylus is not required.

Advanced features and requirements

Do not assume that every Paint installation has the same advanced or AI features. Microsoft’s Copilot+ Paint guidance applies to users with a Copilot+ PC and the latest Paint app. Requirements can vary by capability; the documented generative-fill workflow requires a Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PC. The AI features described in that guidance also require signing in with a Microsoft account and internet access for cloud safety services.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Rank #3
Sale
HUION Slim Pen PW550S 9.5mm Diameter for Huion Inspiroy 2/Giano/Keydial/Dial 2, K12/K13/K16(2021)/K22/K24 Series, Kamvas Pro 13 (2.5K)/ Pro 16 (2.5K), Kamvas Pro 16 (4K) Series, Kamvas Pro 24 (4K)
  • [Compatible models] Only COMPATIBLE with Inspiroy 2, Kamvas 12, Kamvas 13, Kamvas 16(2021), kamvas 22, kamvas 22 Plus, Kamvas 24, Kamvas 24 Plus. Kamvas Pro 13 (2.5K),Kamvas Pro 16 (2.5K), Kamvas Pro 16 (4K), Kamvas Pro 16 (4K) Plus,Kamvas Pro 24 (4K), Inspiroy Dial 2/Keydial/Giano; NOT COMPATIBLE with iPad, other Graphics Tablet. (NOT COMPATIBLE with Kamvas 13(Gen3)).
  • [PenTech 3.0+] PenTech 3.0+ technology providing better pressure sensitivity and allowing you to control the thickness of drawing lines. With the tilt function, the strokes will appear more closely to how they would be by using a real pen.
  • [Slim Pen Body] The 9.5mm diameter of the pen body makes PW550S more pencil-like and good for reducing hand fatigue. It’s highly recommended to traditional artists and people who have intensive workloads.
  • [Upgraded Pen Nib] Featuring a smaller pen head, PW550S enables users to get a better view without obstruction when drawing. Also, PW550S supports felt nib replacement.
  • [Long-lasting lifespan] Battery-free stylus, say goodbye to charging cables; Don't need to worry about the potential battery leakage and run-out.

Check Microsoft’s Copilot+ Paint feature guidance for the current requirements before expecting a particular feature to be available.

Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find Paint in Windows?

Select Start or the taskbar search field, type Paint, and open it from the results. If it is not installed, get it from the Microsoft Store.

Rank #4
Drawing Tablet XPPen G430S OSU, Graphic Drawing Tablet with 8192 Levels Pressure Battery-Free Stylus, 4 x 3 inch Ultrathin, for OSU Game, Online Teaching Compatible with Window/Mac Black
  • Ultra thin tablet: Active Area 4 x 3 inches. Fully utilizing our 8192 levels of pen pressure sensitivity―Providing you with groundbreaking control and fluidity to expand your creative output. Please note: The 4 x 3 inches is very small, please confirm that it will meet your needs before you purchase it
  • OSU game: Designed for OSU! gameplay, drawing, painting, sketching, E-signatures etc. No need to install drivers for OSU! It's also designed for both right and left hand users
  • Accurate Pen Performance: StarG430S computer graphics tablet is the perfect replacement for a traditional mouse! The XPPen advanced Battery-free PN01 stylus does not require charging, allowing for constant uninterrupted Draw and Play, making lines flow quicker and smoother, enhancing overall performance
  • Compact and Portable: The G430S art tablet is only 2 mm thick, it’s as slim as all primary level graphic tablets,Ultra-thin and portable, allowing you hold it in one hand and carry it on the go. This graphic drawing tablet supports Mac. However, since the product interface is micro USB to USB-A, if your computer is a Mac and does not have a USB-A port, you will need to purchase an OTG transfer adapter to ensure compatibility with your Mac. So please confirm your computer port before you purchase it
  • PLEASE NOTE: The XPPen StarG 430 is compatible with the Windows system 11/10/8/7(32/64 bit), and the Mac OS X version 10.10 or later, but it is incompatible with iOS and iPad OS. If your computer is a Mac, you need to grant permission to the Mac preferences first. Please go to our official website, and according to the guide: XPPen>Support>FAQ, find out the Star G430 and click, then click the question according to your Mac system. There are detailed guidelines for installing the driver so your tablet will work correctly. It's possible incompatible with the customer's own EMR system or other signature system. Please feel free to contact us to confirm the compatibility before your purchase

How do I open a picture with Paint?

Open the picture from Paint’s open workflow, or use Windows to open the file with Paint. If the file opens in a different app, check the default app assigned to that file type.

Can I edit a screenshot in Paint?

Yes. Capture it with Snipping Tool, then choose Edit > Edit with Paint while the capture is open.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Best Value
Sale
XPPen Deco 01 V3 10x6 Drawing Tablet, 16K Battery-Free Stylus, 8 Keys
  • Word-first 16K Pressure Levels: The upgraded stylus features 16,384 levels of pressure sensitivity and supports up to 60 degrees of tilt, delivering smoother lines and shading for a natural drawing experience. With no battery or charging needed, it operates like a real pen, making it easy for beginners to create effortlessly. This functionality helps novice artists develop their skills and explore their creativity without the intimidation of complex tools
  • Designed for Beginners: This drawing pad desinged with 8 customizable shortcuts for both right and left-hand users, express keys create a highly ergonomic and convenient work platform
  • Perfectly Adapted for Android: The XPPen Deco 01 V3 art tablet supports connections with Android devices running version 10.0 and above. It is recommended to download the XPPen Tools Android application, which adapts to your smartphone's screen aspect ratio, ensuring accurate mapping. It also supports mapping on Android screens with different aspect ratios in portrait mode
  • Large Drawing Space, Bigger Bold Inspiration: This expansive drawing pad has10 x 6.25-inch helps you break through the limit between shortcut keys and drawing area
  • Easy Connectivity for Beginners: The Deco 01 V3 offers USB-C to USB-C connectivity, plus adapters for USB C. This ensures easy connection to various devices, allowing beginner artists to set up quickly and focus on their creativity without compatibility concerns. Whether using a laptop, tablet, or desktop, the Deco 01 V3 provides a seamless experience, making it an ideal choice for those just starting their digital art journey

Do I need a stylus to use Paint?

No. A mouse works for ordinary input. A compatible pen is optional and may be useful for drawing on pen-enabled hardware.

Are Copilot+ Paint features available on every Windows PC?

No. The features have app-version and PC requirements, and specific tools may have additional conditions. Check Microsoft’s guidance for the feature you want.

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.

More from the Paint Desk

Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?Free driver scan
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They SpreadFree repair scan

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.