Alex Ruben
How To Restore Default Settings in Microsoft Paint on Windows 11
If Microsoft Paint is acting funny—glitches, weird layout issues, tools not responding like they should—it might be time to just wipe those settings clean and start fresh. Sometimes, strange bugs creep in after updates or customizations, and a reset can fix it all, quick and painless. Whether you’re using the classic MS Paint or the newer version from the Microsoft Store, this guide covers how to do a full reset. Expect the app to behave like you just installed it, with default settings restored. Just a heads up—sometimes it’s a bit of a dance with permissions and registry editing, so don’t be surprised if something doesn’t go perfectly the first time.
How to Reset Microsoft Paint in Windows 11
Method 1: Resetting via Registry Editor
This way is more thorough and likely to fix stubborn glitches if the app’s settings got corrupted or stuck. It’s also kind of weird because you’re diving into the registry, which Windows makes intentionally intimidating. But if you’re careful and follow the steps, it’s pretty straightforward. Be warned: messing up the registry can cause headaches, so it’s smart to back things up first—especially the registry keys you’ll be deleting. On some setups, the registry edits might not stick until you reboot, or they might need multiple tries. Still, it’s the most direct way to go back to defaults.
- First, make sure Microsoft Paint is completely closed. No left-open windows—otherwise, Windows might not let you delete settings.
- Press Windows key + R, then type
regeditand hit Enter. If prompted by User Account Control, click Yes. This opens the Registry Editor. - Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER → Software → Microsoft → Windows → CurrentVersion → Applets.
- Within that, look for a folder named “Paint.” If you see it, right-click and select Delete. Confirm the prompt. If you don’t see it, then the app might not have local settings stored or it’s handled differently.
- Close the registry editor and restart your PC. When you open Paint again, it should generate a fresh set of settings.
This definitely helps because it forces Windows to recreate the app’s config files from scratch, fixing any weird config issues. On some machines, this step might seem like it does nothing at first, but a reboot often helps. If things are still wonky afterward, another run or a reinstallation might be needed.
Method 2: Reset through Windows Settings
If you don’t want to mess with the registry or just prefer a safer, GUI-based approach, this is the way. It’s quicker, but not as deep—sometimes not enough if the settings are seriously corrupted. Still, it’s worth trying before diving into registry edits.
- Click the Start button, then search for “Microsoft Paint”.
- Right-click on the app listing and select App Settings.
- Scroll down to find the options to Reset. Click that, then confirm. Windows wipes the app’s stored settings and data, basically resetting it to factory defaults.
- Open Paint again and see if things are better. If not, the registry method might still be needed.
This option works well if the app just started misbehaving after a recent update or settings tweak, but won’t fix underlying corruption deep in system files.
Extra Tips & Common Snags
Keep in mind, always back up your registry before editing—Windows doesn’t really warn you when you delete keys. Also, you need admin privileges to do these edits, so run regedit as administrator if prompted. If the reset doesn’t help, maybe reinstall Paint from the Microsoft Store—sometimes app files get broken or out of sync, and reinstalling fixes a lot of issues.
Interestingly, because Windows likes to be difficult, sometimes the app just refuses to reset properly until you do a restart or even a full system refresh. Not sure why it works that way, but it does.
Wrap-up
Resetting Microsoft Paint isn’t always as simple as clicking a button, but following these steps should clear out most bugs or weird behaviors. It’s a handy trick when the app is frozen or layout glitches show up after big Windows updates. Just keep in mind that some settings might stay cached in other spots, but for the most part, this gets you a clean slate.
Summary
- Close Paint before resetting.
- Use regedit to delete the “Paint” registry key if needed.
- Try the app’s Reset option via Settings as a quick fix.
- Reboot after changes for best results.
- Reinstall from Microsoft Store if issues persist.
Final thoughts
Hopefully, this gets your Paint back to normal quick and easy. Sometimes it’s a bit of trial and error, but these methods cover most situations. If it’s still glitching after all that, then maybe Windows needs more than a reset—like a full system scan or even a reinstall. Fingers crossed this helps anyone tired of the layout or tool issues.