What is Paint.NET?
Read more
Overview
How do I clean Paint.NET?
Paint.NET may store excess, temporary data on your computer that can take up valuable space.
It may also store private data such as passwords or browsing history in the registry or on the file system.
The easiest way to erase this data is by downloading AppCleaner, it is 100% free and about 1MB in size.
A portable version is also available.
Clean Paint.NET
with AppCleaner
If you want to clean Paint.NET manually, you can follow the steps outlined below.
There is one location in the file system where Paint.NET stores data that can be cleaned.
Additionally, Paint.NET stores private data in seventeen registry keys.
Registry
Warning: Be very careful when editing the registry manually. If you modify the registry incorrectly, your system might no longer function properly.
To clean the registry from data stored by Paint.NET, you can use the Microsoft Registry Editor (regedit.exe) which is installed by default on all Windows operating systems.
First of all, open regedit.exe by carrying out these steps:
-
Hit the Windows key , usually located in the lower left of your keyboard between the
Ctrl and Alt keys.
- Windows XP/Vista/7: Click Run...
- Type regedit.exe
- Hit Enter
Now use regedit.exe to delete the registry keys:
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Expand HKEY_CURRENT_USER from the root of the tree in the left pane.
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Expand Software.
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Click Paint.NET.
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Right-click LastFileDialogDirectory in the right pane.
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Choose Delete from the context menu.
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Click Yes.
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Expand HKEY_CURRENT_USER from the root of the tree in the left pane.
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Expand Software.
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Click Paint.NET.
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Right-click File/MostRecent/Path0 in the right pane.
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Choose Delete from the context menu.
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Click Yes.
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Expand HKEY_CURRENT_USER from the root of the tree in the left pane.
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Expand Software.
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Click Paint.NET.
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Right-click File/MostRecent/Path1 in the right pane.
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Choose Delete from the context menu.
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Click Yes.
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Expand HKEY_CURRENT_USER from the root of the tree in the left pane.
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Expand Software.
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Click Paint.NET.
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Right-click File/MostRecent/Path2 in the right pane.
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Choose Delete from the context menu.
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Click Yes.
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Expand HKEY_CURRENT_USER from the root of the tree in the left pane.
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Expand Software.
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Click Paint.NET.
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Right-click File/MostRecent/Path3 in the right pane.
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Choose Delete from the context menu.
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Click Yes.
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Expand HKEY_CURRENT_USER from the root of the tree in the left pane.
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Expand Software.
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Click Paint.NET.
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Right-click File/MostRecent/Path4 in the right pane.
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Choose Delete from the context menu.
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Click Yes.
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Expand HKEY_CURRENT_USER from the root of the tree in the left pane.
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Expand Software.
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Click Paint.NET.
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Right-click File/MostRecent/Path5 in the right pane.
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Choose Delete from the context menu.
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Click Yes.
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Expand HKEY_CURRENT_USER from the root of the tree in the left pane.
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Expand Software.
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Click Paint.NET.
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Right-click File/MostRecent/Path6 in the right pane.
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Choose Delete from the context menu.
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Click Yes.
-
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Expand HKEY_CURRENT_USER from the root of the tree in the left pane.
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Expand Software.
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Click Paint.NET.
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Right-click File/MostRecent/Path7 in the right pane.
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Choose Delete from the context menu.
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Click Yes.
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Expand HKEY_CURRENT_USER from the root of the tree in the left pane.
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Expand Software.
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Click Paint.NET.
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Right-click File/MostRecent/Thumbnail0 in the right pane.
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Choose Delete from the context menu.
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Click Yes.
-
-
Expand HKEY_CURRENT_USER from the root of the tree in the left pane.
-
Expand Software.
-
Click Paint.NET.
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Right-click File/MostRecent/Thumbnail1 in the right pane.
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Choose Delete from the context menu.
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Click Yes.
-
-
Expand HKEY_CURRENT_USER from the root of the tree in the left pane.
-
Expand Software.
-
Click Paint.NET.
-
Right-click File/MostRecent/Thumbnail2 in the right pane.
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Choose Delete from the context menu.
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Click Yes.
-
-
Expand HKEY_CURRENT_USER from the root of the tree in the left pane.
-
Expand Software.
-
Click Paint.NET.
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Right-click File/MostRecent/Thumbnail3 in the right pane.
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Choose Delete from the context menu.
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Click Yes.
-
-
Expand HKEY_CURRENT_USER from the root of the tree in the left pane.
-
Expand Software.
-
Click Paint.NET.
-
Right-click File/MostRecent/Thumbnail4 in the right pane.
-
Choose Delete from the context menu.
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Click Yes.
-
-
Expand HKEY_CURRENT_USER from the root of the tree in the left pane.
-
Expand Software.
-
Click Paint.NET.
-
Right-click File/MostRecent/Thumbnail5 in the right pane.
-
Choose Delete from the context menu.
-
Click Yes.
-
-
Expand HKEY_CURRENT_USER from the root of the tree in the left pane.
-
Expand Software.
-
Click Paint.NET.
-
Right-click File/MostRecent/Thumbnail6 in the right pane.
-
Choose Delete from the context menu.
-
Click Yes.
-
-
Expand HKEY_CURRENT_USER from the root of the tree in the left pane.
-
Expand Software.
-
Click Paint.NET.
-
Right-click File/MostRecent/Thumbnail7 in the right pane.
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Choose Delete from the context menu.
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Click Yes.
Files
Warning: Proceed very carefully when deleting files. Always revise the files you are about to remove. Removing important files can damage your system.
To clean your file system from files stored by Paint.NET and to gain free disk space, examine the following file system location.
First of all, open a command prompt window:
-
Hit the Windows key , usually located in the lower left of your keyboard between the
Ctrl and Alt keys.
- Windows XP/Vista/7: Click Run...
- Type cmd
- Hit Enter
Now list all the files stored by Paint.NET that can be cleaned:
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Type dir /s %LOCALAPPDATA%\Paint.NET\*
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Windows XP: Type dir /s %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data\Paint.NET\*
Once you have identified the files stored by Paint.NET that you want to clean, delete them using the del command or Windows Explorer.