Whether you are a professional graphic designer or just want to create a quick sketch, Microsoft Paint is an easy-to-use tool that can help you get the job done. In this article, we'll 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 locate and access the program by typing in the search box. To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Press Win + Q to open the Search tool.
  2. Search for "Paint" in the search box, and you will see all the results that relate to Microsoft Paint.
    Open Paint Using Windows Search
  3. Clicking on the Paint icon will launch the program immediately.

2. How to Open Microsoft Paint Using 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 on Start and select Run from the menu list. You can also use Win + R to open the tool directly.
  2. Type "MSPaint" in the Run dialogue box and click OK.
    Open Paint Using Run Command
  3. This will launch Microsoft Paint within seconds.

3. How to Open Microsoft Paint From Start Menu

Alternatively, you could also look through the list of apps under All Apps if you know where it is located in your OS folder structure. To do this in Windows 11, simply follow these instructions:

  1. Click on the Start icon on your desktop's bottom left.
  2. After that, click All Apps on the top right side of the screen. There should be a list of all applications installed on your device.
  3. Once you find Paint, click it to begin using the program.
    Open Paint From Start Menu

If you're having trouble finding it, try typing "Paint" into the Start menu search bar; this should narrow down 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, enabling you to manage them and run applications. To open Microsoft Paint with File Explorer, follow these steps:

  1. Right-click on Start and select File Explorer from the power user menu. You can also press Win + E on your keyboard to open the tool directly.
  2. In the File Explorer address bar, type mspaint, and press Enter.

Now that Microsoft Paint is open, you can start working.

5. How to Open Microsoft Paint Through Command Prompt

Additionally, you can use the Command Prompt application in Windows 11 to open Microsoft Paint. It allows you to launch programs quickly by typing in a command rather than navigating through the Start menu or desktop icons. To open Microsoft Paint using Command Prompt, you need to take the following steps:

  1. Run Command Prompt as an administrator (see how to run Command Prompt as an administrator for instructions).
  2. In the Command Prompt, type mspaint and press Enter.
    Open Paint Using Command Prompt

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

Check out our beginner's guide to the Command Prompt if you really want to make use of 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. You can use this tool to access Windows applications on your device.

To open the Microsoft Paint application, follow the steps below:

  1. Right-click on Start and select Run from the menu list.
  2. In the Run dialog box, type PowerShell and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter. This will open Windows PowerShell as an administrator.
  3. Once you're in the PowerShell window, type mspaint and press the Enter key.
    Open Paint Via Windows PowerShell

The Microsoft Paint application will appear on your screen.

7. How to Open Microsoft Paint Through Task Manager

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

With the help of this application, you can easily access 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 + Esc, or use one of the many other ways to open up the Task Manager window.
  2. From there, select More Details if it is not already displayed.
  3. Select Run new task at the top of the Task Manager window.
  4. Type mspaint into the search field.
    Open Paint Using Task Manager
  5. Click OK to launch the application.

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

8. How to Open Microsoft Paint Using 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 a click, so you don't have to scroll through menus or type 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 "Create Shortcut" window, type 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 Finish.

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

  • Open File Explorer, then navigate to the location where Microsoft Paint is installed.
  • Right-click on the program’s icon and select 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 it will open the Paint application

9. How to Open Microsoft Paint via a Shortcut Key

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

Create a desktop shortcut as explained above.

  1. Right-click on the shortcut icon and select Properties.
  2. As a shortcut, type any letter or number in the Shortcut field.
  3. To save your selections, click Apply > OK.
    Create Shortcut key of Paint

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

Get Access to Microsoft Paint Easily

Microsoft Paint is one of the most popular image editing applications available on Windows 11. If you are having trouble opening this tool, hopefully once of the methods we covered has made it easier to get Paint open.