Microsoft may be axing the Paint 3D app later this year

When Microsoft introduced the world to Paint 3D in 2017 as part of the Windows 10 Creators Update, the tool looked revolutionary, at least compared to the standard Paint tool I grew up drawing houses, trees and cars on at school. With new 3D art capabilities and a much more modern design, Paint 3D was set to be the default illustration tool for Windows laptops and desktops.

Seven years later, Paint 3D is apparently officially axed by Microsoft. As per a leak by phantomofearth on X, the app is being pulled down from the Microsoft Store on November 4 later this year.

Paint 3D: A brief history

Microsoft used to ship Paint 3D with Microsoft Windows 10 and 11, something the brand has stopped doing as of late. Now, those who want Paint 3D can go to the Microsoft Store to download the app.

ALSO READ: New Bing widgets on iPhone: What are they and how to use them

While the app was made to replace the classic app, it seems many users were unwilling to switch from the simplicity offered by the classic Paint app. That is probably why Microsoft has also recently shifted its focus to the classic Paint app again, adding features like layer and transparency support and AI-powered background removal.

With millions of Windows users, the market for a popular tool like Microsoft Paint is huge. The new features, many of which came in 2023, served as more reasons for the succeeding Paint 3D to not exist.

What happens to Paint 3D after November 4?

Anyone who still wants Paint 3D on their Windows laptops can head over to the Paint 3D Microsoft Store page to download and keep the app – whether it is for usage or souvenir purposes is something we will let you decide.

Anyone already using Paint 3D beyond November 4 will be able to continue using the app. That said, with no updates moving forward, a lot of users (assuming they exist) may not want to stick to Paint 3D. Instead, they can turn to several alternatives like Blender, Autodesk 3Ds Max or Daz 3D to name a few.