Getting an error message when trying to Save in Paint

Welcome Brett Thornton,

I understand how frustrating it can be when Paint is showing an "Access was denied" error when attempting to save an image. 

Before proceeding, I would like to narrow down the issue:                   

• Does the issue occur when saving to other folders such as Desktop or Documents? 
• Did this start after a recent Windows update or any change to OneDrive, Windows Security, or folder permissions? 

In the meantime, you can try these steps below to troubleshoot the issue:  

Option 1: Test saving to a different location  

• In Paint, select File > Save As 
• Save the image to Desktop or Documents with a different file name 

Option 2: Check if the file is marked as read-only  

• Right-click the PNG file 
• Select Properties 
• Clear Read-only if it is enabled 
• Select Apply, then OK 

Option 3: Verify folder permissions  

• Navigate to the Screenshots folder 
• Right-click the folder and select Properties 
• Open the Security tab 
• Confirm that the current account has Full control or Modify permissions 

Option 4: Check Controlled Folder Access  

• Open Windows Security 
• Select Virus & threat protection 
• Select Ransomware protection 
• If Controlled folder access is enabled, allow Paint through the feature or temporarily disable it to test 

Option 5: Repair or reset Paint  

• Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps 
• Find Microsoft Paint 
• Select Advanced options 
• Try Repair first, then Reset if needed 

I hope the steps above help you deal with your issue. 

If the answer is helpful, please click "Yes". If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".   

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