How to Install Paint.NET Plugins

Your step-by-step guide to Paint.NET happiness!

Most Paint.NET plugins are distributed as DLL files located inside of a ZIP file. These instructions will lead you step-by-step through the install process. Before you begin, please close Paint.NET if it is open.

After finding a plugin on the web that you wish to install, click the link to the ZIP file to start the download process. For example, to install the BoltBait Plugin Pack, click the following link: BoltBaitPack611DLLs.zip then, follow the instructions below to install these plugins to your computer.

Step 1: Once the download starts, you will be prompted with the following message:

Click the save button to save the ZIP file to your computer.

Note: If you are using Chrome instead of Internet Explorer, after clicking the download link, your screen will look like this:

If so, click the file name as shown above and skip to step 4 below.

Step 2: When prompted for the "Save as" file name, click the "Desktop" button on the left, then the "Save" button as shown here:

Step 3: When the download is complete, click the "Open" button:

This will open a window showing the DLL file (or files) that you downloaded.

Step 4: When the file list window opens, press Ctrl-A to select all of the files in that window:

Right-click the mouse on one of the selected files and choose "Copy" from the context menu that appears.

Step 5: Next, find your Paint.NET icon (either on your desktop or start menu), right-click on it and choose "Properties" from the menu that appears:

Step 6: When the "Properties" window opens, click the "Find Target" (XP) or the "Open File Location" (Win7) button:

This will open a Windows Explorer window to your Paint.NET directory.

Step 7: In the Paint.NET directory, double-click on the "Effects" folder.

Step 8: In the Effects folder, right-click the mouse and choose "Paste":

If you have followed the instructions carefully, you should see the following message during the copy process:

When the copy is finished, restart Paint.NET and look in the Effects menu for your new effects. Please note, you may need to look around for your effect. Many effects load to submenus in the Effect menu. Other effects load themselves in the Adjustments menu.

If the effects do not show up, you may need to "unlock" the DLL files.

To unlock the dll files, right-click on a DLL and choose "Properties" from the menu. On the "General" tab, look for an "Unlock" button. If there, click it and click the "Apply" button.

Repeat this for all DLL files in your Effects folder.

Saying "Thanks!"

If this page helped you install plugins and you'd like to say "Thanks" for helping. You can buy me a cup of coffee by filling out this form:

I'm glad I was able to help.

News

CodeLab 6.13 Released
(November 17, 2024)
This latest release of CodeLab for Paint.NET includes the ability to write GPU accelerated plugins.
More...

Double-Six Dominoes 3.1
(May 10, 2021)
This long-awaited refresh of the most popular dominoes game on Download.com is now available!
More...

HTML Editor 1.5 Released
(March 31, 2016)
This latest release is a complete rewrite adding a wysiwyg editor mode and a much improved UI.
More...