Microsoft is pulling the plug on its Paint 3D app, leaving many users disappointed.
According to the British Express, the tech giant has confirmed that the app will no longer receive updates after November 4, 2024.
Shortly after, it will be removed from the Microsoft Store and will no longer be available for future downloads on both Windows 10 and Windows 11.
A Brief History of Paint 3D
Introduced in 2017, Paint 3D was designed to replace the classic Microsoft Paint, which had been a staple on Windows machines for years.
The app was part of Microsoft's vision for a more modern, 3D-focused creative tool that aligned with its Universal Windows Platform (UWP) strategy.
This initiative aimed to create apps that could work seamlessly across Windows 10, Windows 10 Mobile, and even Xbox consoles.
However, Paint 3D never gained the popularity Microsoft had hoped for.
After its release, the app saw minimal updates, with the last one in 2019.
Meanwhile, the original Microsoft Paint continued to evolve, gaining new features and remaining a popular tool, especially with its inclusion in Windows 11.
In contrast, Paint 3D was no longer pre-installed on modern PCs, signaling its gradual decline.
User Reactions
The news of Paint 3D's discontinuation has sparked a mix of nostalgia and frustration among its loyal users.
Many took to social media to express their disappointment.
One user shared on X, "Paint 3D will be missed. I use it almost every day."
Another user praised the app for being better than the classic MS Paint, particularly because it lacked AI features and didn’t require a Microsoft account, saying, "This is just good, and it must live on."
Others have pointed out specific functionalities they hope to see integrated into the classic Paint app.
"It would be great if some of the features from Paint 3D were integrated into Paint. Cropping an image in Paint 3D is so much better than in Paint, as is resizing the canvas and the image," one user suggested.
As of this year, nearly 70 percent of Windows devices worldwide are running on Windows 10 or older operating systems.
