Briefly: Windows 10 is a decent enough operating system these days (though many still prefer 7), but it’s far from perfect. One of the bigger frustrations users have with the operating system is the many little-used pre-installed bloatware programs like Paint 3D. Fortunately, Microsoft is starting the upcoming update of “Sun Valley” of Windows 10, will remove some of these unwanted programs – at least for new installations.
This means that post-Sun Valley, when you reinstall Windows 10 on your computer or install it on another device for the first time, will no longer see 3D Viewer and Paint 3D in the list of pre-installed programs.
It’s not hard to see why Microsoft chose these two programs in particular. The Windows 10 user base is incredibly diverse, and both of these programs are simply niche to address everyone – which should be the ideal pre-installed app. For example, we can all benefit from Windows 10’s calendar and calculator programs.
Paint 3D and 3D Viewer have already been removed from the pre-installed app list in the latest Windows 10 Insider builds (from version 21332), so it’s unlikely that the company will change its mind here.
To be clear, this does not mean that these programs will be completely shut down. As mentioned earlier, this change only applies to new installations; those who already have Paint 3D and 3D Viewer on their system will be able to keep it if they prefer. Furthermore, the programs will in future remain available from the Microsoft Store.
This is a small change, all things considered, but we’re still glad that Microsoft can streamline the new user experience slightly. Bloatware is bad enough when it comes from a computer manufacturer like Alienware or HP, but it’s even more frustrating when it’s both built into the operating system itself and completely useless to most customers.
Masthead Credit: Wachiwit