How to fix problems opening and viewing photos in Windows 11

Are you having trouble opening and viewing photos in Windows 11? Here we'll see how to identify the most common causes, from incompatible formats to crashes in the Photos app. We'll also give you Practical solutions to regain access to your imagesYou'll learn how to repair the app, install codecs, use alternative viewers, and keep your system ready to view any file. Let's get started.

How to fix problems opening and viewing photos in Windows 11

To troubleshoot problems opening and viewing photos in Windows 11, First you need to identify where the fault is coming fromThe issue might be with the file, the format, or the Microsoft Photos app. Once you've identified the root cause, you can try solutions like repairing the app, installing codecs, or using different viewers.

This is how you can make an initial diagnosis

To make an initial diagnosis When you have problems opening and viewing photos in Windows 11, do the following:

• Check the file statusTry opening the photo in another viewer or device. If that doesn't work either, it might be corrupted. There are no problems with the Photos app.
• Check format compatibilityWindows Photos only supports the following formats: JPEG, PNG, GIF, BMP. Therefore, It doesn't always open HEIC format photos correctly., RAW or others without additional codecs.
• Restart your computerSometimes, a simple computer restart is enough to resolve temporary problems.

Recommended solutions when there are problems opening and viewing photos in Windows 11

Once you've identified why you're having trouble opening and viewing photos in Windows 11, it's time to apply the solution. Here's how: We will explain what needs to be done in each one.Of course, you have to determine which one applies to your case, based on the diagnosis you have made.

Confirm that the photos are opening with the correct app

The first thing you can do is Check that photos in JPEG, PNG, GIF, and BMP formats are opening with the Photos app.. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Go to Configuration - Applications - Installed applications.
2. In the search bar, type Photos, tap the three dots on the right of “Microsoft Photos”, and click Advanced options.
3. Locate the “Default values” entry and click on “Set default applications”.
4. Now search for Photos and tap on the Photos app.
5. Verify that the mentioned formats are opening with the Photos app.
6. Finally, click back twice to click Finish and you're done.

Alternatively, you can right-click on the photo you're trying to open, sSelect Properties and then Change in the “Opens with” sectionThere, you need to make sure the Photos app is selected as the default program for opening photos. If another app is selected, simply change it and you're all set.

Repair or reset the Photos app

If you noticed that all your photos are opening with the correct app, then You can repair or reset the Photos app.To do this, go to Settings – Apps – Installed apps – Microsoft Photos. There, look for the Reset option. click RepairThen, open the photo to see if the problem you were having has been resolved.

If repairing the Photos app doesn't work, Then click on ResetWait for the app to reset; a small arrow will appear indicating it's ready. Then, open the photos again to confirm the problem is resolved.

Reinstall the Windows Photos app

If repairing or resetting the app doesn't solve the problem, you can try reinstalling the Photos app on Windows. To do this, you'll need to remove it using PowerShell and a few commands. Don't worry! There's nothing to worry about if you follow the steps carefully. To uninstall the Photos app on your device, do the following::

1. Press the key Windows + R write PowerShell - Accept.
2. Once inside, copy the following command Get-AppxPackage *photo* | Remove-AppxPackage and press Enter to run it.

Done. This command locates the Photos app package and removes it from the system for the current user. To reinstall the app on your computer, simply go to the Microsoft Store in Windows. Search for Microsoft Photos and install it.After that, the problems opening and viewing photos in Windows 11 may be solved once and for all.

Update Windows and drivers

Something you can always do when you have problems in Windows is Make sure your device has the latest updates installedTo do this, go to Settings – Windows Update and install any available updates. You can also update your graphics drivers from Device Manager or the manufacturer's website.

Install missing codecs

If the problem is that you have to Install missing codecs to be able to open the photos For HEIC, HEIF, or RAW formats, do the following:

• Open the Microsoft Store and search for HEIF Image Extensions or RAW Image Extensions.
• Choose the one you want and install them so that Photos can open those formats that were not previously supported.

Uninstall problematic updates

If you're having trouble opening and viewing photos in Windows 11 after installing an update, you can uninstall it. To do this, go to Configuration - Windows Update - Update history - Uninstall updatesOnce done, restart your PC and reopen the photo to see if the problem is solved.

Use a different image viewer

If none of the above works to fix the problems opening and viewing photos in Windows 11, you can use another image viewerYou have other options available, such as ImageGlass, A lightweight viewer compatible with multiple formats and extensions. You can also try opening the image in your browser if you need to do so urgently.

Convert the image format

Another solution to problems opening and viewing photos in Windows 11 is convert the image format to a more common oneTo achieve this, you can use Paint, GIMP, or online converters to change the format to JPEG or PNG. This way, your photos will open more easily in any image viewer, including Windows Photos.

In conclusion, Troubleshooting problems opening and viewing photos in Windows 11 doesn't have to be complicatedWith the right tools, you can identify the root cause of the problem and regain access to your photos. Remember that keeping your system updated will make these errors a thing of the past.