Microsoft Paint 3D ends Officially

As announced in the summer, Paint 3D is disappearing from the Microsoft Store. Users can still use the app, but have to forego updates. This also marks the end of Microsoft’s ambitions in consumer mixed reality.

The end of a (short) era

Microsoft is pulling the plug: Today, November 4th, 2024, Paint 3D will be removed from the Redmond company’s store. The 3D graphics software that was once praised as the successor to the classic Paint is disappearing from the scene – at least officially. However, there is a glimmer of hope for users who use the app.

Paint 3D was introduced to great expectations in 2017 as part of the Windows 10 Creators Update. The software was intended to make 3D creations more accessible to Windows users and was part of Microsoft’s mixed reality efforts and headsets such as HoloLens and partner glasses. However, despite innovative features, the application never managed to attract consumers’ attention.

How MSPowerUser reported, disappearing from the store does not mean the immediate end of the application. Users who already have Paint 3D installed can continue to use the software. However, no new features or updates will be provided anymore. In the future, Microsoft recommends using the classic Paint app or Images for photos and the 3D Viewer app for three-dimensional content.

Last chance to install

For those who have not yet installed Paint 3D but would like to try or use the app in the future, today is the last opportunity to download the app from the Download Microsoft Store. After November 4th, this will officially no longer be possible. Alternatively, more experienced users can obtain the installation file from third-party websites, although this should always be treated with some caution.

The discontinuation of Paint 3D comes as no surprise. As early as 2021, Microsoft began no longer including the app by default in new installations of Windows 10. This was a clear sign that the software’s days were numbered.