Microsoft Photos app is the default image viewer on Windows 10 or Windows 11. With Windows 11 Microsoft included the Universal Windows Platform (UWP) version of the Photos app which serves as a .jpg and .png file opener. It allows editing the opened pictures by cropping, adjusting the lighting, rotate, apply effects, and so on. The Photos app receives regular updates with new features and better usability. However, at times you may experience Microsoft Photos app won’t open or the app crashes whenever you try to use it. For many users, the Photos app is not working on their Windows 11 computers. This article explores the common reasons and troubleshooting steps to fix the Photos App Stopped Working after a Windows 11 Update.
Photos App Not Working on Windows 11
There is no specific Reason Behind this problem; a corrupted App cache, Damaged system files, problematic images, or conflicts with other apps are common.
- Over time, the temporary files that help the Photos app run smoothly can become corrupted or damaged. This can cause the app to struggle to open or behave weirdly.
- Important files that the Photos app relies on might become corrupted or damaged. When this happens, the app can have trouble doing its job.
- Sometimes, if there’s a picture or video file that’s not quite right, it can make the Photos app act funny. This could be due to the file being damaged or not in the right format.
- Your computer runs lots of different programs, and sometimes they don’t get along. If another app is causing trouble, it can affect how the Photos app behaves.
Restart the Photos App
Closing and then restarting the app has proven effective in many cases. This is because when you restart the app, it completely shuts down along with all its associated services and components. When you reopen it, these elements are reinitialized, which often resolves the issue. It’s like giving the app a fresh start, allowing it to function properly.
Run Windows Store App Troubleshooter
This Photo App is related to the Microsoft Store. Running Windows ‘ built-in Store app Troubleshooter can help fix Windows Store and its related app problems.
- Press the Windows key + X and select the Settings option
- Go to the system then troubleshoot and Click on other troubleshooter option
- Scroll down to find the Windows Store apps, then click the “Run” button next to them.
- Wait for the troubleshooter to scan and fix any issues.
To Run The Troubleshooter
Check for Windows Updates
Windows updates are like little packages of fixes and improvements. They’re designed to make your computer and its apps run better. By installing these updates, you’re giving your computer the tools it needs to work more efficiently, which can directly improve the Photos app’s performance.
- Go to the Settings menu on your computer.
- Click on “Windows update” then select “Check for updates”
- Download and install any available updates. You need to restart Windows 11 to apply them.
Update the Photos app:
In addition, open the Microsoft Store and check for any updates to the Photos app. New updates bring bug fixes and performance improvements.
Launch the Microsoft Store App, click on Library, then Get updates
Reset the Microsoft Photos app
Over time, apps can develop small glitches or errors that affect how they work. Repairing or resetting the app can fix these issues, essentially restoring it to a healthier state. It’s like hitting the reset button to get things running smoothly again.
- Press the Windows key + R, type ms-settings: and click OK to open Settings.
- Go to Apps, then the Installed Apps option,
- locate the Microsoft Photos app. You can either perform a search or scroll through the app list to find it.
- Click the three-dots menu beside the Photos app and select Advanced options.
- Scroll down and first try the Repair option and check if the problem is fixed.
- If not, click on the Reset button and click the Reset button once more to confirm the action.
Reinstall Photos App
Sometimes, apps just need a fresh start. Reinstalling the Photos app is like giving it a clean slate. It can fix problems related to installation files or settings that might be causing issues.
Press the Windows key on your keyboard and type “PowerShell”. Right-click on Windows PowerShell and select “Run as administrator”.
Type the command Get-AppxPackage *Microsoft.Windows.Photos* | Remove-AppxPackage and press Enter.
- The above command removes the Photos app on Windows 11, restarts your PC.
- Now open the Microsoft Store, search for “Microsoft Photos”, and reinstall the app.
Re-register Store Apps
Also re-registering the store app might also work if all of the above mentioned methods don’t work.
Again, open Windows PowerShell as administrator, then type the following command and press the Enter key to re-register store apps.
Get-AppXPackage | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml”}
Wait until the command completes, then restart your PC, and hopefully it will fix the issue.
Create a New User Profile
Again, creating a new one can help determine if the issue is specific to your current profile or if it’s a system-wide problem.
- Open Settings on your computer.
- Go to “Accounts” and select “Family & other users”.
- Under “Other users”, click “Add someone else to this PC” and follow the prompts to create a new user profile.
- Log in to the new profile and test the Microsoft Photos app.
Perform System Restore
If nothing is working for you, it’s time to use the System Restore feature, which reverts Windows to a previous working state without affecting your documents. Check How to perform System Restore on Windows 10.
If there’s a problem with a specific image or video, it can affect how the Photos app behaves. Checking file integrity helps identify and address any issues with those particular files.
By default, the Photos app supports only a limited set of commonly available file formats. Open the Microsoft Store app and download the extensions to support new and modern file extensions.
Here are some of the newer file extensions you can download:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Possible reasons include corrupted cache, system files, conflicts, or outdated software.
Try clearing the cache, repairing/resetting the app, updating software, and checking for malware.
It could be due to corrupted files, conflicts, or outdated drivers.
In “Apps & Features”, find Microsoft Photos, click “Advanced Options”, and choose “Repair” or “Reset”.
Yes, there are many alternative apps, such as Adobe Lightroom and Google Photos.
