Just a quick heads up: the next update, version 4.0.20, will start using and requiring the .NET Framework 4.7 (previously, .NET 4.6 was required). If you’re using a supported version of Windows then the Paint.NET updater will automatically install .NET 4.7.1 if you don’t yet have .NET 4.7 or .NET 4.7.1 installed already.

This does mean that the list of supported operating systems is changing slightly because of .NET 4.7’s updated system requirements as compared to .NET 4.6.

Windows 10 support will now require the “Anniversary Update” (1607) or newer. “RTM” (1507) and “November Update” (1511) will no longer be supported.

Windows 8.1 is still supported.

Windows 8 is no longer supported because .NET 4.7 won’t install on it. If you have Windows 8 and haven’t yet updated to 8.1, then 1) please just install the update already, and 2) why on Earth haven’t you already updated (it’s been more than 3 years!). You can also just keep using Paint.NET 4.0.19. But, seriously, just install the 8.1 update already. Even better, upgrade to Windows 10.

Windows 7 SP1 is still supported.

For more information on the .NET Framework’s system requirements with respect to supported Windows OS versions, check out Microsoft’s page on the subject.

I expect to publish 4.0.20 within the next few weeks. It will have, as usual, some important bug fixes. Oh, and Explorer thumbnail support for DDS and TGA files.

This is a hotfix that fixes a startup crash, and fixes Explorer thumbnails.

As usual, you can download the update directly from the website, or you can use the built-in updater via Settings –> Updates –> Check Now. You can also purchase it from the Windows Store , in which case updates will become completely automatic and you’ll never have to worry about it ever again  

This is the first time that folks will get the chance to have an update through the Windows Store (that is, to update from 4.0.18 to 4.0.19). Hopefully everything goes smoothly. I expect the Store version will be “behind” the Classic version by a day or so, pending Microsoft’s certification and server propagation.

Changes:

• Fixed missing thumbnails in Explorer for non-.PDN images (e.g. .PNG, .JPG), if Paint.NET was configured to open these types by default
• Fixed a crash at startup that affected some people with a redirected Documents folder (e.g. network share)

Here was the announcement for 4.0.18, which had more changes.

Enjoy! 🙂