To get Paint 3D back after a Windows update removed it, open the Microsoft Store, navigate to Library, and reinstall it from your previously owned apps list. If it does not appear there, you can recover it using the winget command-line tool, a System Restore point, or by sideloading the MSIX package from a backup.

Windows feature updates (particularly major version upgrades like 23H2 to 24H2) have been known to remove Paint 3D without warning. Microsoft officially discontinued Paint 3D in November 2024, which means future Windows updates will no longer reinstall it automatically.

Why Windows Updates Remove Paint 3D

Microsoft classifies Paint 3D as a “provisioned app” in Windows 10 and a deprecated app in Windows 11. During major feature updates, Windows rebuilds the app list from its provisioning manifest. If Paint 3D is no longer on that manifest, the update process removes it even if you were actively using it.

This behavior is distinct from a corrupted installation. Your Paint 3D project files (.3mf) remain untouched in their saved locations. Only the application itself gets removed. Your Paints3D.net project files will still open once you reinstall the app.

Step 1: Check the Microsoft Store Library

The fastest recovery path uses the Microsoft Store’s record of your previously installed apps.

  1. Open the Microsoft Store from the Start menu or taskbar.
  2. Click the Library icon in the bottom-left corner.
  3. Look for Paint 3D in the list of apps. You can scroll or use the search/filter options within the Library view.
  4. If Paint 3D appears with an Install button, click it to download and reinstall.
  5. Wait for installation to complete, then verify it works by opening the app from the Start menu.

This method works for most users who had Paint 3D installed before the update. If you do not see it in the Library, your Microsoft account may not have a record of the installation, or Microsoft may have fully delisted the app from your region.

Step 2: Reinstall via Winget

The Windows Package Manager (winget) accesses app packages through an alternative channel that sometimes works when the Store GUI does not show the app.

  1. Right-click the Start button and select Terminal (Admin).
  2. Run the command: winget install "Microsoft.Paint3D"
  3. If the package is found, winget downloads and installs Paint 3D automatically.
  4. If you see “No package found matching input criteria,” proceed to Step 3.

Winget availability for Paint 3D depends on whether Microsoft has removed the package from the winget source repositories. After the November 2024 discontinuation, this method may stop working over time.

Step 3: Use System Restore

If you have a System Restore point from before the Windows update ran, you can roll back to recover Paint 3D along with your other system settings.

  1. Press Windows + S and type Create a restore point. Open the result.
  2. In the System Properties window, click System Restore.
  3. Select a restore point dated before the update that removed Paint 3D.
  4. Click Next, review the affected programs list (Paint 3D should appear under “Programs to be restored”), then click Finish.
  5. Your computer restarts and rolls back to the selected restore point. Paint 3D should reappear in the Start menu after the process completes.

System Restore does not affect personal files but may undo other app installations and Windows updates applied after the restore point date. Review the “affected programs” list carefully before proceeding.

Step 4: Sideload from a Backup or Archive

If you backed up the Paint 3D MSIX package before the update, or can obtain a Microsoft-signed copy from a trusted archive, sideloading provides the most reliable recovery path.

  1. Locate your backup .msix or .msixbundle file for Paint 3D.
  2. Right-click the file, select Properties > Digital Signatures, and confirm the signer is “Microsoft Corporation.”
  3. Double-click the file. The Windows App Installer opens.
  4. Click Install. Paint 3D installs and appears in the Start menu.

For detailed instructions on installing Paint 3D on Windows 11 through each of these methods, see the dedicated installation guide. If you run into errors during any step, the troubleshooting page covers common installation failures and fixes.

Preventing Future Removal

Windows does not offer a built-in setting to protect specific apps from being removed during updates. However, you can take these preventive steps:

  • Export the MSIX package: Use PowerShell to back up the installed package. Run Get-AppxPackage *Paint3D* | ForEach-Object { Copy-Item $_.InstallLocation -Destination "C:\BackupApps\Paint3D" -Recurse }
  • Pause feature updates: Go to Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options and pause updates before major releases to buy time for backup.
  • Create a restore point manually: Before any major update, create a manual System Restore point as a rollback safety net.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Windows Update delete my Paint 3D project files?

No. Windows updates remove the Paint 3D application but leave your saved project files (.3mf, .fbx, .png) untouched. These files remain in their original folders. Once you reinstall Paint 3D, you can open them normally through File, then Open.

Can I stop Windows from removing Paint 3D in future updates?

There is no official toggle to exempt specific apps from removal during feature updates. The best preventive measure is exporting a backup of the Paint 3D MSIX package before updates, pausing feature updates until you have a backup ready, and creating System Restore points regularly.

Why does Paint 3D disappear after every major Windows update?

Microsoft categorizes Paint 3D as a deprecated provisioned app. During major feature updates, Windows rebuilds its app manifest and excludes deprecated entries. Since Paint 3D was officially discontinued in November 2024, each subsequent feature update treats it as a removable component rather than a core system app.