Dark Mode Is (Finally) Coming to Microsoft Paint on Windows 11

Microsoft is officially testing a dark mode for Paint in Windows 11, nearly two years after the tech giant first teased it as part of a redesign for the app as a whole.

It’s currently being tested in the Canary and Dev Channels for Windows Insiders, but once it rolls out for everyone later this year, users will be able to manually enable the dark mode in Paint’s new settings page. If your system theme is already dark, Paint will automatically switch over. 

The new Paint also includes a fit-to-screen option to match your window size, as well as improved accessibility shortcuts. Microsoft additionally updated the “Image Properties” dialogs to match the style of the new Windows 11 design and fit in with the new Paint app backdrop.

As The Verge reports(Opens in a new window), Paint’s dark mode brings it in line with other built-in Windows apps that already have the feature.

New zoom controls in Paint.
(Credit: Microsoft)

“We are also rolling out improvements to the zoom controls as well to give you more flexibility and control over the view of your content on the canvas,” says(Opens in a new window) Dave Grochoki, principal program lead for built-in Windows apps. The move means users will be able to set a custom zoom value and zoom in and out via a zoom slider.  

In another boon for creatives, Microsoft is adding a preview version of Designer to Microsoft Teams on Windows 11. The feature, powered by generative AI technology, allows users to create personalized designs by describing a design idea in words or uploading an image. Microsoft also rolled out its Discord-like communities feature on Teams for Windows 11.