How To Fix Photos App In Windows 11

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Alright, let's dive deep into troubleshooting the Photos app in Windows 11! It can be frustrating when your go-to image viewer and editor starts acting up, but don't worry, we'll walk through a comprehensive set of steps to get it back in shape.

Is your Photos app acting a little… unphotogenic lately? Maybe it's crashing, not loading images, or just being plain sluggish. Whatever the issue, you've come to the right place. Let's get started!

Step 1: The Quick Fixes - Let's Start Simple

Before we delve into more technical solutions, let's try some of the easiest and often most effective remedies.

1.1: Restart the Photos App

This might seem obvious, but sometimes a simple restart is all it takes to resolve temporary glitches.

  • How to do it: Close the Photos app completely by clicking the 'X' button in the top right corner. Then, reopen it from the Start Menu or your taskbar.

1.2: Restart Your Computer

A fresh system restart can often clear up background processes that might be interfering with the Photos app.

  • How to do it: Click the Windows icon on your taskbar, then the power button, and select 'Restart'.

1.3: Check for Updates in the Microsoft Store

Outdated apps can sometimes have bugs. Ensuring you have the latest version of the Photos app is crucial.

  • How to do it:
    1. Open the Microsoft Store app.
    2. Click on the Library icon (usually in the bottom left corner).
    3. Click the Get updates button in the top right corner.
    4. If an update for the Microsoft Photos app is available, it will be downloaded and installed automatically.

Step 2: Diving Deeper - Troubleshooting Within Settings

If the quick fixes didn't do the trick, let's explore some settings-related solutions.

2.1: Repair the Photos App

Windows 11 has a built-in repair tool for apps that can often resolve issues without requiring a full reset.

  • How to do it:
    1. Press Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
    2. Click on Apps, then Installed apps.
    3. Search for Microsoft Photos in the app list.
    4. Click the three vertical dots (ellipsis) next to Microsoft Photos and select Advanced options.
    5. Scroll down to the Reset section. First, try clicking Repair. This will attempt to fix the app without deleting your data.

2.2: Reset the Photos App (Use with Caution!)

If repairing didn't work, the next step is to reset the app. Be aware that this will delete the app's data, including any custom settings you might have.

  • How to do it: Follow steps 1-4 from the 'Repair the Photos App' section above. Then, in the Reset section, click Reset. Confirm your decision when prompted.

2.3: Check App Permissions

Sometimes, the Photos app might not have the necessary permissions to access your pictures.

  • How to do it:
    1. Open the Settings app (Windows key + I).
    2. Click on Privacy & security.
    3. Scroll down and click on Photos under 'App permissions'.
    4. Ensure that the toggle switch for Photos access is turned On.
    5. Also, make sure that the Photos app itself has permission to access your files and folders. You might see a list of apps here; ensure Microsoft Photos is enabled.

Step 3: Advanced Troubleshooting - When Things Get Serious

If the previous steps haven't resolved the issue, we might need to try some more advanced techniques.

3.1: Re-register the Photos App

Sometimes, the app's registration with the operating system can become corrupted. Re-registering it using PowerShell can help.

  • How to do it:
    1. Type powershell in the Start Menu search bar.
    2. Right-click on Windows PowerShell and select Run as administrator.
    3. In the PowerShell window, type or paste the following command and press Enter:
      PowerShell
      Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.Windows.Photos | Reset-AppxPackage
    4. Wait for the command to complete. It might take a few moments.
    5. Close PowerShell and try opening the Photos app again.

3.2: Uninstall and Reinstall the Photos App

If all else fails, completely uninstalling and then reinstalling the Photos app can often resolve persistent issues.

  • How to do it:
    1. Open PowerShell as administrator (as described in the previous step).
    2. Type or paste the following command to uninstall the Photos app and press Enter:
      PowerShell
      Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.Windows.Photos | Remove-AppxPackage
    3. Once the command is complete, close PowerShell.
    4. Open the Microsoft Store app.
    5. Search for Microsoft Photos.
    6. Click Install to reinstall the app.

3.3: Check for System File Corruption

Corrupted system files can sometimes cause various apps, including Photos, to malfunction. The System File Checker (SFC) tool can scan for and repair these files.

  • How to do it:
    1. Type cmd in the Start Menu search bar.
    2. Right-click on Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
    3. In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter: 
      sfc /scannow
       
    4. Wait for the scan to complete. This process might take some time. If any errors are found and repaired, you might be prompted to restart your computer.  

3.4: Update Your Graphics Drivers

Outdated or corrupted graphics drivers can sometimes cause display issues within applications like the Photos app.

  • How to do it:
    1. Press Windows key + X and select Device Manager.
    2. Expand the Display adapters category.
    3. Right-click on your graphics card and select Update driver.  
    4. You can choose to Search automatically for updated driver software, or if you have downloaded the latest drivers from the manufacturer's website (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel), select Browse my computer for drivers.
    5. Follow the on-screen instructions to install the latest drivers.

Step 4: Consider Alternatives (If Nothing Works)

While we've covered a lot of ground, there's always a chance that the issue might be more complex or specific to your system. In such cases, you might want to consider using alternative photo viewing and editing software available in the Microsoft Store or from other sources.

Frequently Asked Questions: How to Fix Photos App in Windows 11

Here are some common questions related to fixing the Photos app:

How to clear the cache of the Photos app?

  • Quick Answer: You can't directly clear the cache of the Photos app in Windows 11. However, resetting the app (as described in Step 2.2) will effectively clear its data, which includes cached information.

How to fix Photos app not opening in Windows 11?

  • Quick Answer: Try restarting the app and your computer first. If that doesn't work, try repairing or resetting the app in Settings (Step 2.1 and 2.2). As a last resort, uninstall and reinstall the app (Step 3.2).

How to fix Photos app crashing in Windows 11?

  • Quick Answer: Ensure the app is updated (Step 1.3). Try repairing or resetting the app (Step 2.1 and 2.2). Check for system file corruption using SFC (Step 3.3).

How to fix Photos app not showing all photos in Windows 11?

  • Quick Answer: Check the app's permissions to access your photo folders (Step 2.3). Ensure the folders containing your photos are added as sources in the Photos app settings (look for "Sources" in the app's settings).

How to fix slow loading of photos in the Photos app in Windows 11?

  • Quick Answer: Ensure your system has enough resources (RAM, disk space). Close other resource-intensive applications. Try resetting the Photos app (Step 2.2). Consider optimizing your storage if you have a large number of photos.

How to reinstall the Photos app in Windows 11?

  • Quick Answer: Open PowerShell as administrator and run the command Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.Windows.Photos | Remove-AppxPackage. Then, open the Microsoft Store and search for "Microsoft Photos" to reinstall it (Step 3.2).

How to update the Photos app in Windows 11?

  • Quick Answer: Open the Microsoft Store, click on "Library," and then click "Get updates" (Step 1.3).

How to run the troubleshooter for Windows Store Apps?

  • Quick Answer: Open the Settings app, go to "System," then "Troubleshoot," and finally "Other troubleshooters." Look for "Windows Store Apps" and run the troubleshooter.

How to change the default photo viewer in Windows 11?

  • Quick Answer: Open the Settings app, go to "Apps," then "Default apps." Scroll down to "Set defaults for applications" and find "Photos." Click on it and change the file type associations to your preferred viewer.

How to report a problem with the Photos app in Windows 11?

  • Quick Answer: Open the Feedback Hub app (search for it in the Start Menu). Click "Add new feedback" and describe the issue you're experiencing with the Photos app. Provide as much detail as possible.

Hopefully, this comprehensive guide has helped you get your Photos app back on track! If you're still facing issues after trying these steps, there might be a more specific problem with your system, and you might consider seeking further assistance from Microsoft support or relevant online forums. Good luck!

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How To Fix Photos App In Windows 11

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