Microsoft appears to have backtracked on removing MS Paint from Windows. Microsoft Paint was meant to have been removed from Windows 10 and released as a free app, but not only is it still part of Windows, it looks safer now than it has for years.

Is Microsoft Paint Here to Stay?

In July 2017, Microsoft marked MS Paint for death. It was listed as one of the features due to be removed or deprecated in Windows 10. This meant Microsoft Paint was "not in active development and might be removed in future releases".

Microsoft then clarified its position, stating that "MS Paint is here to stay, it will just have a new home soon, in the Windows Store where it will be available for free." And Windows 10 users have been preparing for the day Paint is stripped from Windows 10 ever since.

MS Paint Remains Part of Windows 10 for Now

Almost two years on, and Microsoft Paint is still part of the core Windows 10 package. And now it appears that Paint is here to stay for the foreseeable future. As first spotted by The Verge, Microsoft's Brandon LeBlanc took to Twitter to assure users.

Microsoft has removed the product alert warning users that Paint will be removed from Windows 10. So it seems MS Paint isn't going anywhere anytime soon. As for how long it will remain part of Windows 10, LeBlanc would only promise it's in the May 2019 Update.

A Temporary Reprieve for Microsoft Paint

Microsoft originally planned to ditch Paint in favor of Paint 3D, which can do everything Paint can, and a whole lot more besides. However, for reasons as yet unclear, it seems Paint has been given a reprieve, albeit probably only a temporary one.

Given the temporary nature of Paint's reprieve, it's probably still worth checking out these free Microsoft Paint alternatives to see if any make the grade. Or you could try getting to grips with Paint 3D, which is definitely here to stay.

Image Credit: Marco Verch/Flickr