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Microsoft Paint is one of the original Windows tools, since it was included in the first version of the operating system in 1985. Many people hold nostalgic memories for it—the program often served as a fun distraction from school or work, and its simple tools meant that anyone could pick it up and start drawing.
Though in 2017 it looked like the beloved image editing tool would be replaced by Paint 3D, classic Paint reigned supreme. After some years of neglect, Microsoft redesigned Paint for Windows 11. While Microsoft Paint pales in comparison to free third-party alternatives, it still provides an accessible canvas for all ages and abilities.
If you use Microsoft Paint on Windows 10 or Windows 11, you should make use of its keyboard shortcuts. These will help you navigate the program quickly, giving you the room to focus on creating your masterpiece. To help you out, we’ve rounded up all of Microsoft Paint’s keyboard shortcuts.
Microsoft Paint Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows 10 and 11
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + A | Select the entire canvas |
| Ctrl + B | Bold, when text is selected |
| Ctrl + C | Copy the selection to the clipboard |
| Ctrl + E | Open the Image Properties window |
| Ctrl + G | Show/hide grid lines |
| Ctrl + I | Italicize, when text is selected |
| Ctrl + N | Create a new file |
| Ctrl + O | Open an existing file |
| Ctrl + P | |
| Ctrl + R | Show/hide ruler |
| Ctrl + S | Save |
| Ctrl + U | Underline, when text is selected |
| Ctrl + V | Paste from the clipboard |
| Ctrl + W | Open the Resize and Skew window |
| Ctrl + X | Cut |
| Ctrl + Y | Redo |
| Ctrl + Z | Undo |
| Up arrow | Move the selection up |
| Down arrow | Move the selection down |
| Left arrow | Move the selection left |
| Right arrow | Move the selection right |
| Ctrl + Numpad plus (+) | Increase the width of the active tool |
| Ctrl + Numpad minus (-) | Decrease the width of the active tool |
| Ctrl + Page up | Zoom in |
| Ctrl + Page down | Zoom out |
| Shift + F10 | Show the context menu |
| F11 | View in full screen |
| F12 | Save as new file |
| Alt + F4 | Close Paint |
Microsoft Paint is fantastic for quick doodles and edits, but it’s not so useful when it comes to more advanced image editing. If you think it’s time to graduate from Microsoft Paint, don’t worry about shelling out for a Photoshop license—there are plenty of free Microsoft Paint alternatives.
Happy learning!