
Microsoft Paint is a valuable tool for quick and easy image editing. It offers a straightforward interface with a range of AI-powered tools and features for anyone who needs to perform basic graphic editing tasks. While there are several ways to open Paint on Windows 11, creating a desktop shortcut can be challenging. The mspaint.exe file is located in the Program Files > WindowsApps folder, which is a hidden folder. To create a desktop shortcut, you need to set Windows Explorer to show hidden files and possibly take ownership of the WindowsApps folder. Once you locate the mspaint.exe file, you can right-click on it and choose Copy to -> Desktop (Create Shortcut). Alternatively, you can use the Task Manager or Command Prompt to quickly launch Paint without the need for desktop shortcuts.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Method 1 | Click on the Windows Start button. Type "Paint" in the search bar, then press Enter. |
| Method 2 | Open File Explorer and paste %windir%\explorer.exe shell:::{4234d49b-0245-4df3-b780-3893943456e1} into the address bar and hit enter. Right-click on the Paint icon and select "Create Shortcut". |
| Method 3 | Right-click on the desktop, select "New > Shortcut", type "mspaint.exe" and click "Next". Name the shortcut and click "Finish". |
| Method 4 | Use Command Prompt: Run as administrator, type "mspaint", and press Enter. |
| Method 5 | Use Task Manager: Click on the Taskbar, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc, select "More Details", select "Run new task", type "mspaint", and click "OK". |
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What You'll Learn

Create a shortcut via the Windows Start button
To create a shortcut for Paint on your desktop via the Windows Start button, follow these steps:
- Press the Windows key on your keyboard or click/tap on the Start button.
- Click or tap on "All Apps" to see the list of applications installed on your device.
- Scroll through the app list (sorted alphabetically) until you find "Paint."
- Right-click on the "Paint" icon and select "Pin to Taskbar."
- Now, left-click on the Search glass (or magnifying glass icon) and type "Run" or "Windows Explorer."
- Open the "Run" window by either pressing Win + R on your keyboard or clicking on it.
- In the Run window, enter the following path: %windir%\explorer.exe shell:::{4234d49b-0245-4df3-b780-3893943456e1}. Alternatively, you can paste this path into the address bar of Windows Explorer and hit Enter.
- A folder with various app icons, including Paint, will open.
- Right-click on the "Paint" icon and select "Create Shortcut."
- Choose "Copy to -> Desktop (Create Shortcut)."
By following these steps, you will have successfully created a shortcut for Paint on your desktop via the Windows Start button.
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Use the Command Prompt application
To add Paint to your desktop using the Command Prompt application, follow these steps:
- Start by opening the Command Prompt application on your computer. You can do this by searching for "Command Prompt" in the Start menu or taskbar search bar.
- Once the Command Prompt application is open, type "mspaint" into the command line and press Enter. This will launch the Microsoft Paint program.
- If you want to create a desktop shortcut for Paint, you can do so by right-clicking on your desktop, selecting "New" > "Shortcut," and then specifying "mspaint" as the target of the shortcut. You can then name the shortcut and use it to open Paint anytime you want.
- Alternatively, you can use the Run dialog box to quickly launch Paint. Right-click on the Start menu and select "Run," or use the keyboard shortcut Win + R to open the tool directly. Then, type "mspaint" in the Run dialog box and click OK.
- You can also use Windows PowerShell or Command Prompt (CMD) to launch Paint. Start by opening PowerShell or CMD, typing "mspaint," and pressing Enter. This will immediately launch the Paint program.
- If you're using Windows 10, you can also use the Search function to find and open Paint. Press the Windows key on your keyboard or click/tap on the Start button in the taskbar, then type "paint" and select it from the search results.
By following these steps, you can easily add Paint to your desktop and launch it using the Command Prompt application or other methods in Windows.
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Use the 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 use the Task Manager to open Paint, first, open the Task Manager window. You can do this by clicking on your Taskbar, pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc, or using one of the many other ways to open up the Task Manager window. From there, select "More Details" if it is not already displayed. Next, select "Run new task" at the top of the Task Manager window. Type "mspaint" into the search field and click "OK" to launch the application.
The Microsoft Paint application should now be open and ready to use! If you want to save time and make your workflow more efficient, you can create a shortcut for Microsoft Paint on your desktop.
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Find the mspaint.exe file
The mspaint.exe file is located in the Program Files > WindowsApps folder, which is a hidden folder. To see the folder, you need to set Windows Explorer to show hidden files. You can do this by opening Windows Explorer and entering shell:appsfolder in the address bar. Paint and your other apps should be listed, and you can create a shortcut by right-clicking on the app and selecting "create shortcut".
On Windows 11, the mspaint.exe file can be found at C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.Paint_11. On Windows 10, it is located at C:\Windows\System32\mspaint.exe.
If MS Paint is not on your PC, you can download an installer from a third-party site. However, it is important to check the software at VirusTotal before use or installation.
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Create a 'New Folder' on the desktop
Creating a new folder on your desktop is a great way to increase your desktop file organization and clean up digital clutter. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to create a new folder on your desktop:
For Windows Users:
- Open File Explorer: Press the Windows logo key + E simultaneously, find it from the Start menu, or click the File Explorer icon.
- Navigate to your desktop: If you are using Windows 8 or 8.1, swipe in from the right edge of the screen and tap Search. For Windows 10, click the Start menu and then select File Explorer.
- Create a new folder: Once you are in the desired location (in this case, your desktop), select "New" from the menu bar, and then choose "Folder."
- Name your folder: Type the name of your new folder and press Enter. Now you have a new folder on your desktop!
For Mac Users:
- Open a Finder window: Click on the Finder icon in your Dock to open a new window.
- Navigate to your desktop: If you want to create a folder on your desktop, simply click on the desktop in the Finder window.
- Create a new folder: Go to the File menu and select "New Folder," or use the keyboard shortcut Shift-Command-N.
- Name your folder: Type the name of your new folder and press Return. Congratulations, you've created a new folder on your Mac desktop!
Now that you have a new folder on your desktop, you can start organizing your files and keeping your desktop neat and tidy!
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Frequently asked questions
First, you need to set Windows Explorer to show hidden files as the mspaint.exe file is in the Program Files > WindowsApps folder, which is a hidden folder. Then, you can create a desktop shortcut by right-clicking on the mspaint.exe file and choosing "copy to -> desktop (create shortcut)".
Open file explorer and paste the following into the address bar and hit enter: %windir%\explorer.exe shell:::{4234d49b-0245-4df3-b780-3893943456e1}. A folder will open with lots of app icons, including Paint.
Yes, you can use the Command Prompt application in Windows 11 to open Microsoft Paint. Simply run Command Prompt as an administrator and type "mspaint" and press Enter.
Yes, you can easily access Paint through the Task Manager. Click on your Taskbar, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc, then select More Details if it is not already displayed. Select "Run new task" at the top of the Task Manager window, type "mspaint" into the search field and click OK.
Yes, right-click on your desktop and select New > Shortcut. Type "mspaint.exe" and click Next. You can then give your shortcut a name and click Finish.











































