How to disable AI features in the Paint app on Windows 11

Generative Fill in Paint is only available on Copilot+ PCs and requires Paint version 11.2410.28.0 or later. If your device doesn’t meet these requirements, configuration changes won’t have any effect on Paint. On supported hardware, you can disable AI features for a single PC or at scale with policy.

On Windows 11, you can disable some AI features in the Paint app, and in this guide, I’ll show you how.

In the Paint app, Microsoft has been proactively adding various improvements, including new AI features powered by Copilot, including Cocreator, Generative Fill, Image Creator, as well as the ability to remove the background and objects from an image. 

Also, if you have a Copilot+ PC, Paint can offer additional features such as Sticker generator, Object Select, and Restyle.

Although these may be useful tools, they’re not for everyone, especially for those users who want a version of the operating system without so many AI enhancements due to privacy and other concerns.

For context, Cocreator is an AI feature that turns your simple sketches into sophisticated artwork using a text prompt and your real-time drawing on the canvas. On the other hand, the Generative Fill tool provides seamless, context-aware editing by allowing you to introduce entirely new objects or scene elements into an existing image.

Finally, Image Creator serves as Paint’s primary text-to-image generation engine, capable of producing a completely new image from nothing but a user-provided text description.

If the AI features aren’t for you, the app doesn’t include the settings to turn them off, but you can still disable some of them through Group Policy and the Registry.

In this guide, I’ll outline the steps to disable the Cocreator, Generative Fill, and Image Creator features in Paint for Windows 11.

Check device support and plan the scope

Before changing settings, confirm the feature is actually present and decide whether to enforce the change locally or across your environment.

• Feature availability: Generative Fill requires a Copilot+ PC; Paint must be version 11.2410.28.0 or newer.
• Scope options: Configure per device via Local Group Policy or registry, or deploy centrally with domain GPO or MDM.
• Effect of disabling: Paint hides the Generative Fill UI and stops the AI process; existing images remain unaffected.
• Policy reference: WindowsAI policy settings are documented under the WindowsAI Policy CSP (see WindowsAI Policy CSP).

Disable Generative Fill in Paint (Local Group Policy Editor)

This method configures all users on a single PC running Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education. It uses the built-in Administrative Template for Paint.

Step 1: Open the Local Group Policy Editor. Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.

Step 2: Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Paint.

Step 3: Double‑click Disable generative fill.

Step 4: Select Enabled to turn the feature off for all users on the device, then click OK.

Step 5: Close and reopen Paint to apply the change. If needed, run gpupdate /force in an elevated PowerShell window to refresh policy.

Re‑enable later: Set the policy to Not Configured or Disabled, then reopen Paint.

Disable Generative Fill via registry (system‑wide)

This method sets a device-level policy using the registry. It affects all users on the machine. Back up the registry before making changes.

Step 1: Open the Registry Editor with elevated rights. Press Win + R, type regedit, then press Ctrl + Shift + Enter.

Step 2: Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Paint. Create the Paint key if it doesn’t exist.

Step 3: Create a DWORD (32-bit) Value named DisableGenerativeFill and set its value data to 1.

Step 4: Close the Registry Editor and restart Paint. If Paint was open, close and reopen it to apply the change.

Re‑enable later: Delete the DisableGenerativeFill value or set it to 0, then reopen Paint.

Disable Generative Fill via Command Prompt (automation)

Use these commands to script the same registry configuration across multiple PCs.

Step 1: Open an elevated Command Prompt. Press Win + R, type cmd, then press Ctrl + Shift + Enter.

Step 2: Run the command to disable Generative Fill for all users.

REG ADD "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Paint" /v DisableGenerativeFill /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

Step 3: Close and reopen Paint, or restart the device to ensure the setting applies.

Re‑enable later: Remove the value with:

REG DELETE "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Paint" /v DisableGenerativeFill /f

Disable Generative Fill via PowerShell (automation)

PowerShell provides a concise way to push the same change locally or with remote execution tools.

Step 1: Open PowerShell as administrator. Press Win + R, type PowerShell, then press Ctrl + Shift + Enter.

Step 2: Create the key and set the policy value to disable Generative Fill.

New-Item -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Paint" -Force
Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Paint" -Name "DisableGenerativeFill" -Value 1 -Type DWord

Step 3: Close and reopen Paint, or restart the device to apply the change.

Re‑enable later: Remove the setting with:

Remove-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Paint" -Name "DisableGenerativeFill" -Force

Disable Generative Fill across a domain (Group Policy Management)

For domain‑joined PCs, enforce a consistent configuration using Group Policy Management.

Step 1: Open Group Policy Management (gpmc.msc) on a management workstation with the required rights.

Step 2: Right‑click the target domain or OU and select Create a GPO in this domain, and Link it here…. Name it clearly (for example, “Paint — Disable Generative Fill”).

Step 3: Edit the new GPO and navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Paint.

Step 4: Open Disable generative fill, set it to Enabled, then click OK.

Step 5: On a target PC, run gpupdate /force in an elevated PowerShell window or wait for the next policy refresh cycle. Reopen Paint to validate.

Best practice: Test the GPO on a pilot OU before broad deployment.

Disable Paint’s Image Creator (optional)

If you also want to remove the Image Creator option in Paint, use a registry or MDM setting. Note that the Copilot button may remain visible even when Image Creator is disabled.

Step 1: Open the Registry Editor as administrator (regedit with elevation).

Step 2: Navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Paint

Step 3: Create a DWORD (32-bit) Value named DisableImageCreator and set it to 1. Close and reopen Paint.

Step 4: For Intune/MDM, configure a custom OMA‑URI setting to disable Image Creator:

OMA-URI: ./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/WindowsAI/AllowImageCreator
Data type: Integer
Value: 0

Re‑enable later: Delete DisableImageCreator or set it to 0, or set the OMA‑URI value to 1.

Validate results and deployment notes

• Apply cycle: Close and reopen Paint after each change. If Paint was already running, it won’t pick up new policy until restarted.
• Unsupported devices: On non‑Copilot+ PCs or older Paint builds, changing these settings has no effect.
• Rollout consistency: UI toggles may not appear on all devices. Use registry or policy enforcement for reliable outcomes.
• Testing: Validate locally before mass deployment to avoid unintended side effects.

Once configured, Generative Fill and optional Image Creator are removed from everyday use in Paint. Keep a small test set handy to verify settings after major Windows or app updates.