Back in July, Microsoft published its biannual list of features that will be deprecated or removed in the next feature update to Windows 10. On the deprecated list was Paint, the beloved app that has been a staple of Windows since the beginning.
Of course, deprecated means that the app will still be available, but it won"t be supported with new features, and may eventually be removed. Still, there was a backlash, and Microsoft later confirmed that while Paint will be removed at some point, it will continue to be available via the Microsoft Store, then called the Windows Store.
Earlier this week, Microsoft released Windows 10 Insider Preview build 17063 to the Fast ring, and the savvy users at GizCentral (via MSPU) have spotted a message within Paint that says, "This version of Paint will soon be replaced with Paint 3D. Classic Paint will then become available in the Store." You won"t be alerted to this when you launch the app; instead, you"ll need to click the "Product alert" button in the top-right corner.
It"s unclear if that means that it will be removed in the next feature update to Windows 10, which is slated to arrive in the spring, or if it"s a warning that will arrive in the next update, with the app likely being removed in the update after that. We"ve reached out to Microsoft for comment.