In summary: Windows 10 is a decent operating system today (although many still prefer 7), but it is far from perfect. One of the biggest frustrations of users with the operating system is the various pre-installed bloatware applications that few use, such as Paint 3D. Fortunately, with the next Windows 10 “Sun Valley” update, Microsoft will begin to remove some of these unwanted programs – for new installations, at least.
This means that after Sun Valley, whenever you reinstall Windows 10 on your computer or install it for the first time on a different device, you will no longer see 3D Viewer and Paint 3D in the list of pre-installed applications.
It is not difficult to see why Microsoft chose these two programs in particular. The Windows 10 user base is incredibly varied, and these two apps are simply too niche to please everyone – which should happen with the ideal pre-installed app. For example, we can all benefit from the Windows 10 Calendar and Calculator apps.
Paint 3D and 3D Viewer have already been removed from the list of pre-installed apps in the latest builds of Windows 10 Insider (starting with version 21332), so the company is unlikely to change its mind here.
To be clear, this does not mean that these applications are being closed entirely. As mentioned before, this change applies only to new installations; those who already have Paint 3D and 3D Viewer on their system will be able to keep them if they wish. In addition, applications will remain available on the Microsoft Store going forward.
This is a small change, considering all things, but we are still happy to see Microsoft simplify the new user experience a bit. Bloatware is bad enough when it comes from a PC builder like Alienware or HP, but it is even more frustrating when it is built into the operating system itself and completely useless to most customers.
Masthead credit: Wachiwit