Solved Ms Paint in context menu

DMD · Oct 1, 2023

Good morning
I am asking if there is a better way to add Paint in the context menu.
I copied the .ico image to the path "%windir%\SysWOW64"

Then I created the .reg file

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell\Paint]
@="Paint"
"icon"="%windir%\\SysWOW64\\Microsoft_Paint.ico"
"Position"="Bottom"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell\Paint\command]
@="C:\\Program Files\\WindowsApps\\Microsoft.Paint_11.2304.17.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe\\PaintApp\\mspaint.exe"

The doubt is if the version of Paint is updated, the reg command no longer works as the version name changes.
That is why I ask if there is a better way.
Thank you.

garlin · Oct 1, 2023

Most UWP apps have a default AppID, which is meant to be called from Explorer. You're not supposed to invoke the EXE file directly in the UWP programming model, but use the provided AppID.

Always search for the correct alias, instead of assuming they all follow the same pattern.

Code:

powershell "Get-StartApps | where { $_.Name -like \"*Paint*\" }"

Name  AppID
----  -----
Paint Microsoft.Paint_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App

The correct way to launch Paint from the command line is:
explorer shell:appsFolder\Microsoft.Paint_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App

UWP app icons present a different set of problems:
- They're hidden in a protected "\Program Files\WindowsApps" folder under a version-numbered App folder
- App icons are in PNG format

Search for the file PaintAppList.scale-100.ico in one of Paint's folders and copy to your own path (where you have read permission). Then convert PNG to ICO using one of those online sites.

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell\Paint]
@="Paint"
"icon"="C:\\Users\\GARLIN\\Downloads\\PaintAppList.scale-100.ico"
"Position"="Bottom"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell\Paint\command]
@="explorer shell:appsFolder\\Microsoft.Paint_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App"

DMD · Oct 1, 2023

You are Great!!!
Thank you very much.
Just asking if they update the version will the link still work?

garlin · Oct 1, 2023

AppID is generic across all versions of the same app. That's why it has no version in the path.

DMD · Oct 7, 2023

Good evening.
I ask if it is possible to enable in the context menu "Edit with Paint" when opening an image.
Thank you

DMD · Nov 3, 2023

Good morning.
I managed to find the registo key to enable "Edit with Paint" when an image is selected with the right mouse button.
The icon I attached I copied it to the root "%windir%\SysWOW64"

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations\image\shell\Open With Paint]
@="&Edit with Paint"
"icon"="%windir%\\SysWOW64\\Microsoft_Paint.ico"


[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations\image\shell\Open With Paint\command]
@="mspaint.exe \"%1\""

I must admit that I am having a very strange situation.
The command, worked fine for a long time, but when I updated Paint via Microsoft Store, the command to call the registry key "@="mspaint.exe \"%1\"" no longer works.
If I am not mistaken, the command should launch the executable "mspaint.exe" which is located in the path.
"C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.Paint_11.2309.28.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe\PaintApp"
In fact launching this executable does not start..

I tried replacing the registry key call command with.
"@="explorer shell:appsFolder\Microsoft.Paint_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App"
When I select an image and run the command, Paint opens not with the selected image but with the default interface.
Any ideas?
Thank you very much.

garlin · Nov 5, 2023

Your reg file in post #6 is working for me.

Check if mspaint is correctly registered as a symlink in your AppDataLocal.

Code:

> where mspaint
C:\Users\GARLIN\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps\mspaint.exe

> powershell "get-item C:\Users\GARLIN\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps\mspaint.exe | select Attributes"
           Attributes
           ----------
Archive, ReparsePoint

antspants · Nov 5, 2023

Where can one find a list of AppID's for windows 11 UWP apps? I am having trouble finding anything.

EDIT: Never mind, I am blind.

garlin said:
Always search for the correct alias, instead of assuming they all follow the same pattern.

Code:

powershell "Get-StartApps | where { $_.Name -like \"*Paint*\" }" Name AppID ---- ----- Paint Microsoft.Paint_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App

DMD · Nov 5, 2023

garlin said:
Your reg file in post #6 is working for me.

Check if mspaint is correctly registered as a symlink in your AppDataLocal.

Code:

> where mspaint C:\Users\GARLIN\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps\mspaint.exe > powershell "get-item C:\Users\GARLIN\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps\mspaint.exe | select Attributes" Attributes ---------- Archive, ReparsePoint

I ran the powershell command, it goes verify seems ok to me

Code:

PS C:\Windows\system32> powershell "get-item C:\Users\MIMMO\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps\mspaint.exe | select Attributes"

           Attributes
           ----------
Archive, ReparsePoint

In the meantime, I tried doing some research on the web and experimented with a modified registry key.
This solution also seems to work with the updated version of Paint.

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations\image\shell\Edit]
"AppUserModelID"="Microsoft.Paint_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App"
"ContractId"="Windows.File"
"Default.orig"="@{Microsoft.Paint_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App-resource://Microsoft.Paint/Resources/ShellContextMenuEdit}"
"DesiredInitialViewState"=dword:00000000
"DesktopAppXActivateOptions"=dword:00000020
"icon"="%windir%\\SysWOW64\\Microsoft_Paint.ico"
"PackageId"="Microsoft.Paint_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App"
"PackageRelativeExecutable"="PaintApp\\mspaint.exe"
"Parameters"="\"%1\""
@="Edit with Paint"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations\image\shell\Edit\command]
"DelegateExecute"="{BFEC0C93-0B7D-4F2C-B09C-AFFFC4BDAE78}"
@="\"C:\\Program Files\\WindowsApps\\Microsoft.Paint_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App\\PaintApp\\mspaint.exe\" \"%1\""