Rejoice - Paint has a new look for Windows 11
A new look 37 years in the making
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
In a post onUnsplash,Microsofthas unveiled a new Fluent Design focus for the Paint app, matching it with the new look ofWindows 11.
Even if you use a PC once a week, there’s still a good chance that you’ve used the Paint app in one way or another throughout the years. Regardless of new features and applications that have come and gone in Windows, Paint has always been the one constant that’s been in every release since its debut in November of 1985 with Windows 1.
With Microsoft pushing a new look forWindows 11to make it much more modern, this is now being applied to Paint, making sure that it’s also touch-friendly for fingers and drawing accessories.
What does it look like?
The new Paint app gives the impression that it’s touch-focused this time, with an aim for content creators to use the app as aPhotoshop-lite alternative. The user interface looks more refined this time, getting rid of the aging Ribbon interface that’s been prevalent across previous versions of Paint and the Office suite for some time.
In a small but nice touch, the file size is also displayed toward the bottom of the app, letting you know if the size is still low enough to be uploaded to a certain site with certain file size limitations for example.
With Windows 11 reaching Beta status on the Insider channels, it looks like it’s only a matter of time before we see this new look of Paint appear in the preview builds for users very soon.
Analysis: Something old, something new
Paint has been around since Windows 1, so to see any update to the app in 2021 is very significant. Whether you remember using it during your school years or as a way of practicing your creative craft for a future career, Paint has always been around.
Get the best Black Friday deals direct to your inbox, plus news, reviews, and more.
Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable Black Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content.
Windows 11 looks as though it’s Microsoft’s opportunity to look at every aspect of theoperating systemto see just what could be updated and refined, to justify the version numbering from 10 to 11. Paint will be a big justification for this to many users - it’s that important.
Paint has always been a simple but reliable app, and with the omission of the Ribbon interface finally disappearing in the app, it could make it even more accessible to new users who just want to draw a new Simpsons meme or a family portrait with even more ease, once Windows 11 arrives later this year.
ViaWindows Latest
Daryl had been freelancing for 3 years before joining TechRadar, now reporting on everything software-related. In his spare time, he’s written a book, ‘The Making of Tomb Raider’. His second book, ‘50 Years of Boss Fights’, came out in 2024, with a third book coming in 2025. He also has a newsletter called ‘Springboard’. He’s usually found playing games old and new on his Steam Deck, Nintendo Switch, and MacBook Pro. If you have a story about an updated app, one that’s about to launch, or just anything Software-related, drop him a line.
Alt + Tab trouble: Windows 11’s 24H2 update turns time-saving shortcut into ten-second headache
Windows 11’s Paint and Notepad apps are getting smart new AI features – though one of the best will be for Copilot+ PCs only
I’ve been covering Apple Watch deals for years – This is the one model most people should buy on Black Friday
