How to fix Microsoft Paint on Windows 11 25H2 64 bit laptop

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How to fix Microsoft Paint on Windows 11 25H2 64 bit laptop

Sanjeewa Herath 0

Both the Snipping Tool and Paint were not working on a company laptop. The Snipping Tool issue was resolved by reinstalling the application. We followed the same procedure for Paint; however, the installation was unsuccessful, and we are still unable to install Paint.

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Answer 1

If the failed uninstall left the Microsoft.MSPaint package registered on the laptop, re-register that existing package and restart Windows before attempting another Store installation.

1. Re-register the existing Paint package

Because reinstalling Paint has already failed, use this only if IT permits PowerShell changes on the company-managed device:

Open Windows PowerShell as an administrator.
Check whether the Paint package still exists:

Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.MSPaint |
    Select-Object Name, PackageFullName, InstallLocation

If this returns Microsoft.MSPaint with a populated InstallLocation, run:

Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.MSPaint |
    ForEach-Object {
        Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode `
            -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"
    }

Restart Windows, search for Paint, and launch it.

This exact re-registration and restart sequence resolved a closely matching Windows 11 case in which Paint could neither be uninstalled nor reinstalled.^1^

If the first command returns nothing, do not run the registration command—the package files are no longer present. Continue below.

2. Repair the Microsoft Store installation path

Press Windows+R.
Enter wsreset.exe and select OK.
Wait for the blank Command Prompt window to close and Microsoft Store to open automatically.
In Microsoft Store → Library, select Get updates.
After Store updates finish, locate Paint in Library and select Install.

Microsoft documents wsreset.exe as the Store reset procedure and recommends updating Microsoft Store before reinstalling an app from its Library.^2^^3^

3. Capture the actual AppX installation error

If installation still fails, reproduce the failure once and immediately inspect:

Event Viewer → Applications and Services Logs → Microsoft → Windows → AppxDeployment-Server

Look for an Error matching the installation time. Copy the complete event text, Activity ID, and hexadecimal error code. The deployment log normally provides a more specific cause than the Store message.^4^

Alternatively, run:

Get-AppxLog |
    Where-Object LevelDisplayName -in 'Error','Warning' |
    Select-Object -Last 20 TimeCreated, Id, Message

Send the complete result to your IT administrator rather than acting on the code alone. For example, 0x80073CF3 can indicate a dependency, package conflict, or architecture validation failure; the AppXDeployment-Server event identifies which one applies.^5^

4. Company-managed laptop: deploy Paint through Intune

If Microsoft Store access or app installation is controlled by company policy, IT should deploy Paint rather than repeatedly installing it under the user account:

Intune admin center → Apps → All apps → Create.
Select Microsoft Store app (new).
Search for and select Microsoft Paint.
Choose the appropriate install behavior and assign it to the laptop’s user or device group.
Select Create, sync the device, and monitor the installation result.

Microsoft recommends not mixing user and system installation contexts. On a Microsoft Entra registered device, the installation behavior should be System.^6^

5. Conditional repair fallbacks

If other inbox or Store applications also fail, an administrator can repair Windows components:

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
sfc /scannow

Run DISM first, allow it to complete, and then let SFC reach 100%.^7^

If component repair succeeds but Paint still cannot be installed, use Settings → System → Recovery → Fix problems using Windows Update → Reinstall now. This reinstalls the current Windows version while preserving apps, files, and settings.^8^ On a work-managed PC, this option may be hidden by organizational management, in which case IT must perform or approve the repair.^9^

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