Common Install / Uninstall / Crash Problems and Solutions!

[BoltBait]

Before posting about your specific problem, please read and follow these instructions.  You might be able to solve your own problem!

 

Before you begin, you MUST be running the latest version of paint.net.  If you are trying to run an older version, I'm sorry, but we simply can not help you.

 

Problems during Download

1. Be sure you've downloaded the proper file from the official site.
   Go HERE and click the download link in the upper right corner of the page.
2. Unzip the file to your desktop.  Don't use Alzip as it is old and broken. Use WinZip, 7-zip, WinRAR, or even the functionality that's built-in to Windows itself (Right-click, Extract to...).
3. If the installer offers to install search bars, popup blockers, or other third-party software, cancel the install and go back to item 1 above.  You have downloaded paint.net from an unofficial site.  The official paint.net installer includes paint.net ONLY and no other bundled programs.

 

Problems during Install / Uninstall

4. First, download THIS tool and run it.  It will detect and fix many problems that prevent you from installing or uninstalling programs.
5. Finally, follow steps 1-3 of the "Problems during Download" section above to install paint.net.
6. If during this install you receive a 1603 error, run THIS diagnostic tool.  Post the contents of the error log to a new thread in the Troubleshooting & Bug Reports forum.  Someone will be around shortly to help you.
7. If during install you receive an "UnauthorizedAccessException" to your "AppData" path, disable the "Controlled folder access" option of Windows Defender.  It's a stupid feature that breaks a ton of legitimate applications. How to fix this issue.

 

Problems when Running paint.net

8. Running paint.net is very slow (more than 10 seconds to startup):
   - You may have too many plugins or custom shapes installed.  Clear out the ones you don't actually need.
   - If you just upgraded your OS, the ngen cache may have been emptied.  Try reinstalling paint.net to fix this (or just wait a day or two and it should solve itself).
   - Upgrading from an HDD to an SSD helps a lot with this, especially if it's only the 1st start after reboot that is very slow.
9. If paint.net crashes, take your crash log file over here to diagnose the problem: https://forums.getpaint.net/topic/112453-scan-your-crashlog-for-common-solutions/.
10. paint.net does not play well with Mirillis Action!, Window Blinds, EVGA PrecisionX, Powerstrip, MSI Gaming APP, Webroot, ATI Hydravision, Discord Overlay, MacType, Fraps, Asus ROG Sonic Studio, Stardock Object Desktop Manager, and Dolphin SuperNova.  Disable any of these you're using and try paint.net again.
11. If you get the error "The program can't start because api-ms-win-core-timezone-l1-1-0.dll is missing", download THIS (Visual C++ Redistributable) and install it.
12. Make sure your video card drivers are up-to-date.
13. Try turning off Hardware Acceleration from the Settings dialog.
    If you can't even start Paint.NET, you can bypass the Settings dialog:
    - Run regedit
    - Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Paint.NET
    - Change key "UI/EnableHardwareAcceleration" from "true" to "false" (if the key isn't here, just add it as a new "String value")
14. If paint.net is still crashing, click the "show details" button and copy the entire error message to the clipboard, go here https://forums.getpaint.net/topic/112453-scan-your-crashlog-for-common-solutions/ to diagnose the problem.

 

Problems with a Specific Plugin

15. First make sure you are using the latest version of that plugin.
16. If that doesn't fix the problem, post your issue in that plugin's thread in the plugin forum.
17. If you are having trouble installing a plugin, read THIS.
18. If after reading that you are still having trouble installing a plugin, post HERE and someone will help you.