Microsoft Paint for Mac: How to Get It

Microsoft Paint is not available for macOS, but you can run the original Windows app on a Mac using a virtual machine or compatibility layer, or use a native Mac app that closely mirrors its features. This article explains your options, how to set them up, and which free Mac apps come closest to the classic Paint experience.

Why Paint Is Windows-Only

Microsoft Paint (officially “Paint” in Windows 11, formerly “MS Paint”) has been bundled with Windows since 1985. It is a simple raster graphics editor designed for quick sketches, cropping, resizing, and basic color fills. Microsoft has never released a macOS version, and there is no official Mac port. The app relies on Windows system libraries, so it cannot run natively on macOS without translation software.

Option 1: Run the Real Paint on a Mac

If you specifically want the original Microsoft Paint interface, you have two practical routes:

• Virtual machine (VM) – Install a Windows virtual machine using software like Parallels Desktop, VMware Fusion, or the free, open-source UTM. You then install Windows (any version from 7 to 11) inside the VM and run Paint normally. This gives you the exact app, but requires a Windows license and a few gigabytes of disk space.
• Wine / CrossOver – Wine is a compatibility layer that lets Windows programs run on macOS without a full Windows installation. CrossOver is a paid, user-friendly version of Wine. Paint is a lightweight program, so it often works well under Wine, but results can vary depending on your Mac’s processor (Intel vs. Apple Silicon) and the macOS version.

For most people, a virtual machine is the more reliable choice because it runs Paint inside a real Windows environment, so every feature works exactly as intended.

Option 2: Use a Native Mac Paint Clone

If you don’t want the overhead of Windows, several free Mac apps replicate Paint’s core tools: brush, pencil, eraser, shapes, text, fill, and color picker. These are native macOS apps, so they feel snappier and integrate with Mac features like trackpad gestures and Retina displays.

• Paintbrush – A long-standing free app that looks and behaves like classic MS Paint. It supports BMP, PNG, JPEG, and GIF. It hasn’t been updated in years, but it still works on current macOS versions for basic tasks.
• Krita – A powerful, free drawing program. It’s overkill for simple doodles but includes every Paint tool plus layers, filters, and pressure sensitivity. Good if you plan to grow beyond Paint’s limits.
• GIMP – Free and feature-rich, but its interface is more complex. You can set up a single-window mode and use the pencil and bucket tools to mimic Paint.
• Preview – The built-in Mac app can crop, resize, add text, and draw simple shapes with the markup toolbar. It’s not a full Paint replacement, but it covers the most common uses.

How to Choose the Right Option

Your choice depends on how often you need Paint and how faithful you want the experience to be.

• If you need Paint for a specific old file or a one-off task, try Preview or Paintbrush first – they’re free and instant.
• If you want the exact Paint interface and have a Windows license, use a VM.
• If you want to avoid Windows entirely and do more serious digital art, learn Krita or GIMP.

Common Problems and Fixes

People trying to run Paint on a Mac often hit a few snags:

• “Paint won’t open” under Wine – This usually happens on Apple Silicon Macs because Wine needs the Rosetta 2 translation layer. Install Rosetta 2 via Terminal (softwareupdate --install-rosetta) and try again.
• VM is too slow – Allocate at least 4 GB of RAM and 2 CPU cores to the VM. Paint itself is light, so the slowness comes from the VM overhead, not the app.
• Paintbrush crashes on macOS Sonoma or later – The app is old and may not be notarized. Right-click the app icon and select “Open” to bypass the first-launch warning. If it still crashes, use a different app.
• Can’t save as .bmp in Preview – Preview doesn’t export BMP. Use Paintbrush or convert the file online.

Comparison: Paint vs. Mac Alternatives

Here’s a quick feature comparison to help you decide:

• Interface – Paint and Paintbrush are nearly identical: toolbar on the left, color palette at the bottom. Krita and GIMP have more complex layouts.
• File formats – Paint saves PNG, JPEG, BMP, and GIF. Paintbrush matches that. Preview handles the same plus PDF, TIFF, and HEIC.
• Layers – Paint has no layers. Krita and GIMP do. Paintbrush doesn’t.
• Transparency – Paint supports transparent backgrounds in PNG. Paintbrush does too. Preview does not.
• Cost – Paint is free with Windows. Paintbrush, Krita, GIMP, and Preview are free. A VM requires a Windows license (paid).

Costs and Safety Considerations

Running a VM is the only option that carries a cost: a Windows license (unless you use a trial or already own one) and possibly VM software. UTM is free, while Parallels and VMware are paid but offer free trials. Wine and CrossOver – CrossOver is paid, Wine is free. All the native Mac apps listed are free.

Safety-wise, downloading Paint from any third-party website is risky. There is no official Mac version, so any site offering “Microsoft Paint for Mac” as a direct download is likely bundling adware or malware. Stick to the Mac App Store (for Paintbrush, Krita, GIMP) or the official project websites. When using Wine, only run Paint from a legitimate Windows installation or the Microsoft Store – don’t download a standalone “Paint.exe” from random sites.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Microsoft Paint free on Mac? No, Microsoft doesn’t offer Paint for Mac. The native alternatives (Paintbrush, Krita, GIMP) are free, but running the actual Paint app requires a Windows license inside a VM, which costs money unless you already have one.

Can I use the Windows Paint app on Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3) Macs? Yes, but only through a virtual machine or Wine with Rosetta 2. UTM and Parallels support Apple Silicon, and Windows 11 ARM runs Paint fine. Wine also works if you install Rosetta 2.

What is the closest free alternative to MS Paint on Mac? Paintbrush is the closest in look and feel. It has the same toolbar layout, basic shapes, and color picker. For a more modern but still simple option, try the built-in Preview app’s markup tools.

Can I open .bmp files on a Mac? Yes. Preview opens BMP files natively, and Paintbrush can open and save them. If you need to edit a BMP, Paintbrush is the easiest tool.

Does macOS have a built-in paint app? Not a dedicated one. Preview has a markup toolbar with drawing tools, but it’s not a full paint program. The closest built-in feature is the “Screenshot” tool’s markup mode, which lets you annotate images.

Will Microsoft ever release Paint for Mac? There’s no public indication that Microsoft plans to. The company has kept Paint Windows-only for decades, and its focus is on cloud and Office apps for Mac, not legacy utilities.

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