Shortcut to Open Files in Paint.NET

This article explains the primary keyboard shortcut used to access the Open File dialog in Paint.NET, how to execute the command quickly, and alternative methods for opening images within the software. Using shortcuts improves your editing workflow and allows you to load project assets without navigating through menus.

The keyboard shortcut to open the "Open File" dialog in Paint.NET is Ctrl + O.

How to Use the Shortcut

1. Launch Paint.NET on your computer.
2. Press and hold the Ctrl key on your keyboard.
3. While holding Ctrl, press the O key.
4. The standard Windows File Explorer dialog will appear. Browse to your desired folder, select your image or project file (such as .pdn, .png, .jpg, etc.), and click Open (or press Enter).

Alternative Ways to Open Files in Paint.NET

If you prefer not to use keyboard shortcuts, you can open files using these built-in methods:

• File Menu: Click on File in the top menu bar and select Open... from the dropdown list.
• Drag and Drop: Locate an image file in Windows File Explorer, click and drag it directly into the Paint.NET workspace, and release it. When prompted, choose whether to open the image as a new document or add it as a new layer.
• Open Recent: Navigate to File > Open Recent to quickly load images you have worked on recently without searching through your directories.