Microsoft has begun testing a dark mode in its Paint app for Windows 11. Microsoft teased the addition of a dark mode almost two years ago. It is now being tested by Windows Insiders in Canary and Dev Channels.
Paint, like most Windows 11 apps that support dark modes will switch automatically based on the theme of your computer. You can also manually activate the dark mode by going to the new Paint settings page.
Dave Grochocki is the principal program leader for the built-in Windows applications. He explains that “we are also rolling out improved zoom controls to give you more control over your view of content on the canvases.” You can zoom in or out using a custom value. There’s also a button to fit the screen that adjusts the zoom according to the size of Paint and your resolution.
Paint also has improved accessibility shortcuts and updated dialogs to match Windows 11. There’s no option for layers in Paint, which means it’s the same basic image editor that Windows has had for decades. Microsoft had planned to remove Paint in Windows 10 before decided to keep it. Microsoft instead deemphasized 3D Paint, a modernized app that was meant to replace the Windows Paint app.
Microsoft is currently testing the updated Paint version with Windows Insiders, so it will be available to all Windows 11 users within a few months.
