Are you trying to open pictures/photos on your Windows 11 computer, but nothing happens when you double-click image files? Are you not able to open any picture files on your Windows 11 PC? Learn why Windows 11 cannot open picture files and how to fix the issue.
Why are images not opening in Windows 11?
By default, the Photos app is set as the default app to open all image files. So, when you double-click on an image file, Windows 11 tries to open the picture file with the Photos app. But when the Photos app fails to open, your picture files also fail to open.
In short, you are unable to open picture files on your Windows 11 PC because the Photos app is refusing to open.
To open picture files again, you need to fix the Photos app.
Important: Before trying out the solutions mentioned below, we recommend you ensure that the Photos app is set as the default picture viewer as the solutions are for the Photos app. Right-click on a picture file and then click Open with. If Photos is the default picture viewer, you should see the Photos app entry in the Default app section (top of the list).
Solution 1 of 3
Repair and reset the Photos app to fix its problems
Windows 11 lets you repair apps so that you can fix app issues without reinstalling them. Here is how to repair and reset the Photos app.
Step 1: Open the Settings app. Go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps page.
Step 2: Ensure the List view is selected by clicking on its icon (refer to the picture below).
Step 3: Look for the Photos app’s entry, click the three dots next to it, and then click Advanced options.
Step 4: Scroll down the page to see the Reset section. Click the Repair button to repair the Photos. The Photos app should be repaired in a few seconds. Once done, you should see a checkmark next to the Repair button.
After repairing the Photos app, check if you are able to open photos. If not, please click the Reset button on the same page to reset the app.
Solution 2 of 3
Reinstall the Photos app
If the picture files are not opening even after repairing and resetting the Photos app, you can consider reinstalling it.
Reinstalling the Photos app involves uninstalling the current version of the Photos app and then installing a fresh copy from the Microsoft Store.
You can refer to our how to reinstall the Photos app in Windows 10/11 guide for step-by-step directions.
Solution 3 of 3
Install a third-party image viewer or use Windows Picture Viewer
Plenty of third-party utilities are available to open image files on your Windows 11 PC. In fact, you can also enable Windows Photo Viewer software, which was the default picture viewer for Windows 7 and earlier versions.
If you wish to install a good third-party app, we recommend FastStone Image Viewer and the latest version of ImageGlass.
Leave a Reply