Key insights
- Paint 3D is being removed from the Microsoft Store today
- You can still use Paint 3D once you have it installed
- Microsoft will likely phase out Paint 3D in the future
The list of features and pieces of software that Microsoft has discontinued this year is long. However, of all the features the company dropped this year, Paint 3D grabbed the most headlines as it is considered by many to be one of the most useful tools for Windows users. Before Microsoft's official announcement in August this year, we reported that Paint 3D would be removed from the Microsoft Store on November 4th. This essentially means that today is the last day to download and install the app from the Microsoft Store. But there's a catch.
How to use Paint 3D after November 4th
Paint 3D is leaving the Microsoft Store today, but the app isn't completely dead, at least for now. It will continue to work beyond November 4th if you have it installed on your PC. So if you love Paint 3D and prefer it to all other alternatives, this is your last chance to continue using the app in the future. However, please note that from now on you will no longer receive new features through updates.
Microsoft will likely phase out Paint 3D in the future
When Microsoft stops releasing updates to its apps and other pieces of software, it's usually a sign that the company plans to discontinue them in the future. Refusing to update the software is the very first step in preparing users to look elsewhere. Even if Paint 3D continues to work, its days are numbered. To view 3D content on your PC, Microsoft recommends the 3D Viewer app instead.
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It's time to say goodbye
We saw it coming a long time ago
It's no surprise to us that Microsoft is pulling the plug on the Paint 3D app in 2024. The software giant made its intention clear when it stopped including the app in new Windows 10 installations in 2021. The Paint 3D app was part of the company's plan to make 3D creations more accessible to Windows users. You could export these to mixed reality environments. But we all know the fate of Microsoft's HoloLens 2 headset. Despite the hype, 3D creations on Windows and Microsoft's mixed reality efforts never really took off as the company expected, leading to their demise.