Microsoft Paint is saved after discontinuation announcement

Yesterday, the world got the crushing news that classic Microsoft program MS Paint was going to be discontinued. The outcry after the announcement was swift—and genuine. Millions of people took to social media to share their thoughts about what the 32-year-old computer program meant to them over the years. And in a perfect example of the true power of the internet (and of public opinion), Microsoft announced today that Paint would continue to exist—albeit in a slightly different arena.

The original announcement stated that Paint, along with Outlook Express, the Reader app and Reader list, would be among the programs that would no longer be supported or updated after Windows 10’s fall update. Today’s announcement included the information that Paint would remain available in the Windows store, but it would not be updated. Microsoft’s more modern program, Paint 3D, will remain available and continue to get new feature updates.

Your Drawing Tool: Paint done in Paint
Flickr | tyger_lyllie

For many people, Paint was the very first graphics program they used, either at home or in school. I know I created many a Paint masterpiece during my childhood in the 90s, as did many of my friends. Back then, you used the programs that came free on your computer. . .and Paint was the only way to play with color, photo and graphics without shelling out for PhotoShop or another fancy program.

Turns out no one knew how popular—or meaningful—Paint really was to users around the world! That is, until yesterday. Here are just of few of the Tweets bemoaning the discontinuation of Paint:

Megan Saunders, general manager of the 3D for Everyone Initiative at Microsoft, wrote a blog post that outlined Microsoft’s decision to keep Paint and make it available on the Windows store.

“Today, we’ve seen an incredible outpouring of support and nostalgia around MS Paint. If there’s anything we learned, it’s that after 32 years, MS Paint has a lot of fans. It’s been amazing to see so much love for our trusty old app,” she wrote. “MS Paint is here to stay, it will just have a new home soon, in the Windows Store where it will be available for free.”

And the children of the 80s and 90s rejoiced, all over the world! (And of course, they took to social media to express their joy.)