Microsoft Photos App not Working after Windows 10 Update 2025

The Microsoft Photos app is the default app to view, edit, and organize pictures on a Windows 10 PC. It also supports video playback and basic video editing, making it a handy all-in-one media solution. However, occasionally it can run into problems like the Photos app not opening, unexpectedly crashing on launch, freezing, or not displaying pictures. Well, this issue can occur due to a variety of reasons, including corrupted app files, outdated applications or Windows OS, conflicts with other apps, internal settings issues, corrupted system caches, or even malware attacks. If you’re dealing with the Photos app not working on Windows 10, here are effective troubleshooting steps from basic quick fixes to more advanced solutions.

Why Windows 10 Photos app not working?

The Microsoft Photos app may stop working on Windows 10 due to various reasons, including app corruption, outdated software, or conflicts with other applications.

• Corrupted App Files: The Photos app’s files might be damaged, preventing it from functioning properly.
• Outdated Application or OS: An outdated Photos app or Windows OS can lead to compatibility issues and malfunctions.
• Conflicts with Other Apps: Other installed applications might interfere with the Photos app’s operation.
• Corrupted System Caches: Temporary files stored in the system cache can sometimes cause problems.
• Missing Media Feature Pack: If using a Windows N version, the Media Feature Pack may be missing and needs to be installed.
• Internal Settings Issues: Incorrect settings within the Photos app itself could be the culprit.

Force Close and Restart the Photos App

If Microsoft Photos becomes unresponsive or hangs after opening, the first thing to try is to restart the Photos App. This clears the app from memory, ends any stuck processes, and gives it a clean start.

• Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
• In the Processes tab, look for Photos or Microsoft.Photos.exe.
• Select it and click End Task.
• Close Task Manager and reopen the Photos app from the Start Menu or by double-clicking an image.

Restart Your Computer

Temporary system glitches or background processes can cause apps like Microsoft Photos to misbehave. Restarting the computer clears the memory cache, refreshes Windows services, and can stop conflicting background apps.

Restarting might sound basic, but it’s often the easiest and most effective solution.

• Click on the Start button.
• Select Power > Restart.
• After rebooting, try opening the Photos app again.

Set Photos as the Default App

If the Photos app isn’t set as the default image viewer, Windows may attempt to open images using another app or display errors.

How to check and set Photos as default:

• Press Windows + I to open Settings.
• Go to Apps > Default apps.
• Under Photo viewer, make sure Photos is selected.
• If not, click on the current app and choose Photos from the list.

Update the Microsoft Photos App

Keeping the app updated ensures you’re running the latest version with performance improvements and bug fixes.

• Open Microsoft Store from the Start Menu.
• Click on the Downloads icon at the bottom left.
• Press check for updates and wait for updates to download.
• Relaunch the Photos app after the update.

In addition, an outdated operating system can cause app compatibility problems. Open Settings -> Update and Security -> Windows Update. Check for and install the latest Windows update as well.

Repair or Reset the Photos App

Windows 10 allows users to repair or reset apps individually, which can fix internal glitches without affecting the rest of your system.

• Repair: Attempts to fix the app while retaining your data and settings.
• Reset: Clears app data, settings, and cache — ideal if the repair doesn’t help.

Resetting will remove editing history, recent files list, and personalized app settings.

• Right-click on the start menu, select Installed Apps.
• Use the search bar or just scroll down to find the Photos app.
• Now select the Advanced options link.

• Scroll down and click on the Repair button. Windows will attempt to repair the Photos app.

Now open the Photos app to see if it’s working correctly. If still having problems, try the Reset option.

This will reset the Photos app to the default settings. Perform a restart to make the changes take effect.

Reinstall the Photos app

If your app still doesn’t work after the reset, you can try a full reinstall of Photos.

• Right-click on the Start Button and choose PowerShell (Admin)
• Copy and paste the following command to uninstall the Photos app

get-appxpackage *Microsoft.Windows.Photos* | remove-appxpackage

• Once you’ve done this, restart your Windows PC
• Now open the Microsoft Store, search for Microsoft Photos, and reinstall it.

Let’s open an image and check if there is no more problem with the Photos app.

Run the Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter

Windows has a built-in diagnostic tool specifically for detecting and resolving Store app-related problems.

• Go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters.
• Select Windows Store Apps and click Run the troubleshooter.

• This will detect and fix Permission issues, Broken registry entries, Incorrect app installations, and more.
• Once the diagnostic is complete, reboot your PC and check if the Photos app is working.

Create a New Windows User Profile

The Photos app, like many other Windows applications, relies on data and settings stored within your user profile. If that profile is corrupted or damaged, the app may be unable to access its necessary configuration files or data, leading to malfunctions or crashes. Let’s create a new local user account and check ifthe  Photos app works.

• Go to Settings > Accounts > Family & other users.
• Under Other users, click Add someone else to this PC.
• Choose I don’t have this person’s sign-in information > Add a user without a Microsoft account.
• Create a username/password and click Next.
• Log in to the new account and try Photos there.

Try an Alternative Photo Viewer

If nothing else works and you need a working photo viewer urgently, consider using a third-party alternative:

• ImageGlass – Modern, open-source viewer with support for multiple formats.
• IrfanView – Lightweight and fast, great for older machines.
• FastStone Image Viewer – Offers batch editing and advanced preview tools.
• XnView MP – Powerful image viewer and converter with thumbnail support.

These apps are lightweight, fast, and support a wide range of file formats.

• 7 Tips To Maximize Battery Life on Windows 10 Laptops
• The default gateway is not available after the Windows 10 update
• Fix unidentified network no internet access Windows 10
• How to Transfer Photos from iPhone to Windows Computer without iTunes

Check This Video Steps Performed to fix the Windows 10 photo app not working, even photos not opening.