I read all the information and knew the program would use their Ashampoo Connect App interface. A while back, I tried Ashampoo Burning Studio 2024 one of Ashampoo’s programs that also requires the Ashampoo Connect App, but the Ashampoo Connect App did not go beyond the first screen. I found that the Burning Studio did get installed at:
C:\Program Files\Ashampoo\Ashampoo Connect\products
I can still start it without the Connect App.
For the Ashampoo Easy Paint program, I ran the downloaded file at 7:00 p.m. Almost immediately, the Ashampoo Connect App screen displayed a message stating, “Ashampoo Connect is being updated.” It will continue in a few moments.
It has been over 20 hours since 7:00 pm, but the same message remains. The upper-right common Minimize, Maximize, and Close buttons do nothing. The only way to stop it is by using Task Manager.
I decided to uninstall the Ashampoo Connect App. Not surprisingly, in Ashampoo’s Uninstall program, the user cannot select the app to uninstall. I found that if I go to the Ashampoo Connect App installed folder, there is an uninstall program. It worked.
Next, I restarted the Ashampoo Easy Paint program install. This time, the Connect App was installed. It shows the Ashampoo programs I have installed and are ready to Launch, but Ashampoo Easy Paint was not listed. I did clip on the option to install it when the Connect App first took me to the Ashampoo website. I clicked on the Terms of Use link and the Privacy link. After they were displayed, clicking the option to install Ashampoo Easy Paint seemed to do nothing but return me to the Ashampoo Connect App. The Easy Paint program was not displayed along with the other programs already installed.
I tried starting the downloaded Easy Paint file again. Almost instantly, the Easy Paint program showed up, and checking the Ashampoo Connect App, the Ashampoo Easy Paint program was included. I expected the program would be installed in a folder under:
C:\Program Files\Ashampoo\Ashampoo App\products … the same as was used for Burning Studio 2024 but it was installed under:
C:\Program Files\Ashampoo\Ashampoo Connect\products
Ashampoo apparently has changed the default location where they install programs that require the Ashampoo Connect App.
For those that don’t like the Ashampoo Connect App, Ashampoo programs that are installed through the Ashampoo Connect App can be started on their own, so after installing those programs, the Ashampoo Connect App can be uninstalled (if desired) and the programs will still work just fine. The programs are listed in the Start Menu under the Ashampoo group.
The Ashampoo Connect App has some unusual issues that could be improved upon. It is useful in showing all Ashampoo programs installed on your system, those that can be updated, and other Ashampoo programs you can purchase. The idea is clearly to get the user to think “Ashampoo” for all your computing needs.
The Ashampoo Connect App lists programs that can be “updated” and does not exclude the programs that cannot be updated per the terms when installed (from SoS or other giveaway sites).
If the Ashampoo Connect App cannot work reliably and give the user some advantages, then the programs that require it to be installed cannot be installed. It is sad to see that because I have quite a few Ashampoo programs. I can do without the Connect App, and install programs from all developers, the same as I have for years.
As for the Ashampoo Easy Paint program, it is a very basic program. It is worth exploring. It could be useful if you do not have any alternative.