How to open Microsoft Paint in Windows 11

Whether you’re a professional graphic designer or just want to create a quick sketch, Microsoft Paint is an easy-to-use tool to get the job done. In this article, we will show you how to find and open Microsoft Paint in Windows 11.


Windows search makes it easy and effective to open Microsoft Paint in Windows 11. You can easily find and access the program by typing it in the search box. To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Press Victory + Q to open the search tool.
  2. Search for “Paint” in the search box and you will see all results related to Microsoft Paint.

  3. Clicking the Paint icon launches the program immediately.

2. How to open Microsoft Paint with a Run command

The Run dialog box is another great way to quickly launch applications in Windows 11. It allows you to access almost any program or feature without having to navigate through different menu options. If you want to open Microsoft Paint in Windows 11, follow these steps:

  1. Right-click Start and select To run from the menu list. You can also use victory + R to open the tool directly.
  2. In the Run dialog box, type “MSPaint” and click on it OK.
    Open Paint with the Run command.

  3. This will launch Microsoft Paint within seconds.

Alternatively, you can also browse the list of apps under All Apps if you know where they are in your operating system folder structure. To do this in Windows 11, just follow these instructions:

  1. Click on that begin icon at the bottom left of your desktop.
  2. After that, click All apps at the top right of the screen. There should be a list of all the applications installed on your device.
  3. Once you find Colorclick on it to start using the program.
    Open Paint from the Start menu

If you’re having trouble finding it, try typing “Paint” into the Start menu search bar; This should narrow the results.

4. How to open Microsoft Paint from File Explorer

Microsoft Windows Explorer is the default file management application. It provides access to your computer’s files, folders and drives so you can manage them and run applications. To open Microsoft Paint with File Explorer, follow these steps:

  1. Right-click Start and select file manager from the power user menu. You can also press victory + E on your keyboard to open the tool directly.
  2. Type in the address bar of File Explorer mspaintand press Input.

After Microsoft Paint opens, you’re ready to start working.

5. How to open Microsoft Paint from Command Prompt

Additionally, you can use Command Prompt application in Windows 11 to open Microsoft Paint. You can quickly start programs by typing a command instead of navigating through the Start menu or desktop icons. To open Microsoft Paint from Command Prompt, you need to follow these steps:

  1. Run Command Prompt as Administrator (see How to Run Command Prompt as Administrator for instructions).
  2. Enter at the command prompt mspaint and press Input.
    Open Paint from Command Prompt

The Microsoft Paint program will launch immediately and be ready to use.

Check out our beginner’s guide to Command Prompt if you really want to use this handy tool.

6. How to open Microsoft Paint via Windows PowerShell

PowerShell is a command-line shell and associated scripting language that automates tasks and manages configurations. This tool allows you to access Windows applications on your device.

Follow the steps below to open the Microsoft Paint application:

  1. Right-click Start and select To run from the menu list.
  2. In the Run dialog box, type the following PowerShell and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter. This will open Windows PowerShell as an administrator.
  3. In the PowerShell window, type the following mspaint and press the Input Key.
    Open Paint from Windows PowerShell

The Microsoft Paint application will appear on your screen.

7. How to open Microsoft Paint from Task Manager

The task manager provides you with detailed information about currently running applications, processes and background services. It also provides options for managing and controlling them.

This application gives you easy access to programs like Microsoft Paint without having to search through menus or launch them from a desktop shortcut. To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Click on your taskbar, press Ctrl + Shift + Escor use one of the many other ways to open the Task Manager window.
  2. Choose from there More details if it is not already shown.
  3. Choose Run new task at the top of the Task Manager window.
  4. Type mspaint into the search field.
    Open Paint with Task Manager

  5. click OK to start the application.

The Microsoft Paint application should now be open and ready to use!

8. To open Microsoft Paint from a desktop shortcut

If you want to save time and make your workflow more efficient, you can create a shortcut for Microsoft Paint on your desktop. The program starts with one click, so you don’t have to scroll through menus or enter commands.

Here’s how you can use this tool to open the Paint application:

  1. Right-click on your desktop area and select New > Shortcut.
  2. In the window, type “Create Shortcut”. mspaint.exe and click Next.
    Open Paint with desktop shortcut

  3. You can then give your shortcut a name (like Paint).
  4. To save the changes, click Finished.

You can also create a desktop shortcut using Windows File Explorer. Here’s how:

  • Open File Explorer and then navigate to the location where Microsoft Paint is installed.
  • Right-click the program’s icon and select it Show more options > Create shortcut from the menu that appears.
  • click Yes to confirm it.

A desktop shortcut will appear on your computer. Double-clicking on it opens the Paint application

9. How to open Microsoft Paint via keyboard shortcut

If you prefer to use keyboard shortcuts, you can create a keyboard shortcut to open Microsoft Paint in Windows 11. The steps are as follows:

Create a desktop shortcut as described above.

  1. Right-click the shortcut icon and select it Characteristics.
  2. For a shortcut, enter any letter or number in the shortcut Area.
  3. To save your selection, click Apply > OK.
    Create a keyboard shortcut from Paint

Press Ctrl + Alt and then enter the desired letter or number as a shortcut. For example if you select 8ththen you can press Ctrl + Alt + 8 on your keyboard to open Microsoft Paint.

Just access Microsoft Paint

Microsoft Paint is one of the most popular photo editing applications available on Windows 11. If you’re having trouble opening this tool, hopefully one of the methods we’ve covered made it easier to open Paint.

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