Microsoft Paint could be killed off after three decades

Microsoft has announced plans to kill off its long-running Paint drawing tool after more than 30 years in use.
The end of Microsoft Paint?The end of Microsoft Paint?
The end of Microsoft Paint?

The basic drawing tool has been a part of the tech giant's Windows software since 1985, but has now been added to a list of programs Microsoft is no longer actively developing and could be removed in future updates.

In an announcement on the company's support website, Microsoft Paint has been added to a list of "deprecated" programs ahead of the roll out of the next major Windows update in the autumn, known as the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update.

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"This list is intended to help customers consider these removals and deprecations for their own planning," Microsoft said of its planned removals.

"The list is subject to change and may not include every deprecated feature or functionality."

The 3D Builder app and the Outlook Express email client are also on the list of programs to be cut.

Microsoft Paint has appeared in every version of Microsoft Windows since Windows 1.0 launched in the mid-1980s and despite limited functionality remained a popular tool for quick image editing and creation processes.

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In the tech giant's most recent upgrade, the Windows 10 Creators Update which was released in April, the firm introduced Paint 3D, a new upgraded image creation tool that enables users to build 3D images and designs for the first time.

It appeared alongside the traditional Paint software and is likely seen as a long-term replacement for the original program.