1. Run App as Administrator (For Paint App Only)

Permission issues on Windows can sometimes prevent you from launching certain apps or programs. Hence, to start off, you can try opening the Paint app with administrative privileges. Press the Windows key + S to open the search menu. Type paint in the box, right-click on the first result and select Run as administrator. 

2. Run the Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter

Windows 11 includes various troubleshooters that can help you deal with most system-level issues. You can run the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter and allow it to fix issues with Windows apps such as Paint and Paint 3D.

  1. Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app. In the System tab, select Troubleshoot.
  2. Go to Other troubleshooters.
  3. Scroll down to click the Run button next to Windows Store Apps. After running the troubleshooter, see if you can use Paint and Paint 3D now.

3. Delete Recently Installed Fonts

Although it may seem irrelevant, changing fonts on your Windows PC has also been known to cause problems with the Paint and Paint 3D apps. This is especially true if you’ve downloaded new fonts from unknown sources. You can uninstall any recently installed fonts from your system to see if that improves the situation. Here’s how.

  1. Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app. Navigate to the Personalization tab and select Fonts.
  2. Select the newly installed font you want to remove. 
  3. Click the Uninstall button. 
  4. Select Uninstall again to confirm. Repeat the above steps to uninstall all the recently installed fonts and try using Paint and Paint 3D again. 

4. Clear Microsoft Store Cache

Problems with the Microsoft store cache can also cause problems with built-in apps. Fortunately, you can delete the Windows Store cache fairly easily. To do so, press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box. Type wsreset.exe in the box and press Enter. A command prompt should appear for a few seconds and then disappear automatically. After that, try using the Paint and Paint 3D apps to see if the issue is still there. 

5. Run Microsoft Safety Scanner Tool

If the Paint or Paint 3D app is still not working right at this point, there’s a chance that your Windows 11 PC is affected by malware. You can use the Microsoft Safety Scanner tool to find and remove malware from your Windows computer. Download Microsoft Safety Scanner Tool on your PC and allow it to scan and fix your PC.  Besides, you should also consider running a full system scan with the built-in Windows Security app or a third-party antivirus program like Malwarebytes.  Following that, see if you can use the Paint and Paint 3D app on your PC.

6. Update the App

Microsoft regularly releases app updates to introduce new features, improvements, and bug fixes. Using an outdated version of the Paint or Paint 3D app can also cause issues. Hence, you should go ahead and update Paint and Paint 3D from the Microsoft Store before using them again. 

7. Repair or Reset the App

Repairing an app on Windows is an efficient way to resolve issues that are affecting its functioning. So, if nothing works, you should try repairing Paint or Paint 3D by following the steps below.

  1. Press Windows key + X to open the Power User menu and select Installed apps from the list.
  2. Scroll down to locate the Paint or Paint 3D app on the list. Click the meatballs menu (three-dot icon) next to it and select Advanced options.
  3. Lastly, click on the Repair button to being the restoration process.  If the issue persists even after repairing the app, then Microsoft recommends that you reset the app. This should clear all app data and restore the in-app settings to their default values. Following that, Paint or Paint 3D should work as before.

Paint Like a Professional

Whether you use Paint apps to edit images or to create art for yourself, frequent issues with the app can ruin your user experience. Going through the above solutions should help you fix the Paint and Paint 3D app not working issue on Windows 11.