Opening photos in Windows 10. Solving Windows Photo Viewer problem
With the release of the Windows 10 operating system, users were faced with not only a new interface. The developers have made sure that all images are opened through the Photos utility. Although it is more functional, many people want to return the old photo viewing in Windows 10. To solve this issue, you do not have to download and install anything, since the program we need has not been removed. It simply cannot open popular image formats, working exclusively with .tif and .tiff.
Now let's figure out how to enable photo viewing in Windows 10, add the corresponding item to "To open with" and allow the program to open images in common formats.
Adding Registry Settings
Right-click on the “Start” button and click in the context menu. Or you can use the combination Win + R on the keyboard.
The window we need will open "Registry Editor". Here you need to open:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Photo Viewer\
Capabilities\FileAssociation
In the main window, you will only see the 2 formats mentioned above, which can be opened using the photo viewer. Let's expand this list.
To do this, right-click on an empty space in the window and select “Create” - "String parameter".
In the field that appears, erase its name and indicate the desired format as the name. For example, I’ll write .jpeg. Then press "Enter".
Then open the created parameter by double-clicking on its name. A window for changes will appear. In the “Value” field, write PhotoViewer.FileAssoc.Tiff and click “OK”.
Similarly, make the required number of parameters, the names of which will correspond to the extensions of the images you want to view. For example, .gif, .jpg, .bmp. Don't forget to fill out the "Value" field for each.
When you're done, just close this window.
Now let's make the Photo Viewer by default open the formats specified in the registry.
Right-click on “Start” again and go to .
At the top right, make sure that “View” is selected – "Large icons". Continue clicking "Default Programs".
In the next window you need to click on the line “Setting programs...”.
Check the box “Select all”, or check the boxes only next to the required formats, and click on “Save” at the bottom right.
In the updated "ten" everything is done through the Settings window. You can read about this in the article:.
Now find the photo you want, right-click on it and select "To open with". In the next menu I immediately have "View photos", so I click on it. If this is not the case for you, then click "Select another application".
I have the required item at the top of the window. If you don't see it, expand "More applications" and find it in the list that opens. Place the bird opposite "Always use this app to open... files" and click "OK".
All – the selected picture is open in the desired application.
Using Winaero Tweaker
The first method is quite simple and fast, but if you yourself do not want to touch anything in the registry, then you can use the Winaero Tweaker program, which can also solve the problem.
You can download it from the official website at the link: https://winaero.com/download.php?view.1796. It's absolutely free. Take a look at the screenshot below. To download, you need to click not on the green button with the inscription “FOR FREE”, but on the line with the word “Download” and the name of the utility itself.
Go to the Downloads folder, unpack the archive and run the only executable file (in fact, there is only one there).
The Application Installation Wizard will open. Everything is quite simple here. Click "Next".
Then mark the item “Portable mode” with a marker so as not to install Winaero Tweaker, but simply extract the necessary files, and click “Next” again.
We agree with the license terms - “I accept...” and continue.
The top field will indicate the folder where all files will be extracted: C:\WinaeroTweaker. If you want to choose a different path, click "Browse". After that, select “Extract files”.
When all the files are extracted, open in Explorer the folder that you selected at the last installation step (I left it this way: C:\WinaeroTweaker). Here you need to run the file opposite which in the “Type” column is written “Application”.
Again we agree to the license: “I AGREE”.
The main program window will open. In the list on the left we need the group “Get Classic Apps”, item "Activate Windows Photo Viewer". Further on the right, click on the line with the same name.
In the already familiar window on the left, select "Photo Viewer", further "Select default values".
You won’t surprise anyone with photographs and pictures on your computer for a long time. However, such a seemingly ordinary thing as a photo cannot be opened without a viewer. But the problem will disappear by itself if you know what to look for.
Windows Photo Viewer
This is a standard Windows 7 program that is installed along with the operating system. Besides, this is the simplest one you can find. Its functionality is minimal:
- viewing images of all formats;
- automatic display of photos as a slide show;
- increase and decrease;
- Rotate the photo 360 degrees.
He is not capable of anything else. Although why do you need more if its only function is viewing pictures. And he copes with it perfectly. It is also worth noting that this Windows 7 image viewer, due to its simplicity, consumes a minimal amount of RAM, so it starts quickly and works like a clock.
Paint
The well-known standard drawing program for PC. Most often, this is where children begin their acquaintance with computers. However, it is also a good Windows image viewer for almost all common formats.
In addition to multiple drawing features, it has a very useful function of rotating and reflecting the image horizontally and diagonally. In addition, it can be used to save a graphic element in a different format.
Free
- FastStone Image Viewer. A very common image viewer, it has an intuitive interface and is easy to use. Everything is visible, almost all tool buttons are clear at first glance, the folder tree will help you find photos without leaving the program, thumbnails of pictures are shown.
In addition, the utility is notable for its great functionality for editing and minor processing of photos, as well as the ability to view them in full screen mode. In the same mode, you can edit using the pop-up toolbar.
A distinctive feature of the program is the function of collective file renaming, it is called “Batch conversion\renaming”. For more convenient viewing, you can create a slide show with quite interesting settings (display in random order, use of effects and music, compress photos, etc.).
- Picasa. Also a very famous image viewer. It has a design that is both simple and sophisticated. When you open a picture, the editing panel immediately opens using filters (auto-light correction, retouching, removing red eyes, etc.). You can also experiment with colors, brightness, and contrast.
As in the previous program, there is a function for creating slide shows with the addition of various effects, transitions and music. However, this is not the main feature of Picasa. It is famous for its ability to find a specific person in a photo or group photos with a certain personality.
An excellent utility for viewing graphic files. Has a stylish modern design. Supports many well-known and not so well-known image formats. It can be controlled using hot keys, and it is also possible to write a caption for a photo. In addition, with its help, any picture can easily become wallpaper on your desktop.
This utility does not contain any serious editing functions. However, it is somewhat different from its relatives in that it does not need to be installed and is not case sensitive. Therefore, you can safely carry it on a flash drive and use it to view various kinds of images.
Microsoft Office program
The world-famous Microsoft Office software package is installed on almost every computer. It includes a large number of office utilities, including an image viewer. It's called Microsoft Office Picture Manager.
Its functionality is small, but it is enough for viewing photos and editing them a little. With it you can:
- flip or rotate the image;
- crop or change resolution;
- adjust color, brightness and contrast;
- remove red eye, etc.
This utility is capable of opening graphic elements in many formats. The only caveat is that the license for the software package from Microsoft is paid, and does not cost that little. But you can find a hacked office on torrents (however, this is highly undesirable, since using pirated programs can result in a hefty fine).
Which one is better to choose?
Of course, it is impossible to definitely say which is the best image viewer. It all depends on the user’s preferences, what functions he wants to see and what to do with the photo. But we can definitely say that it is useful to have a couple of different programs on your computer. For example, you can use a standard utility for simple viewing and Paint for minimal editing and resaving, and additionally install FastStone Image Viewer for advanced actions with graphic files.
In this article, I will tell you what to do if viewing photos in Windows 7 does not open an image, such as a jpg or png.
The Windows 7 operating system has a fairly nice and user-friendly interface, and there are also many built-in tools for solving errors. However, from time to time problems still arise that are not so easy to fix. So, for example, if viewing photos in Windows 7 suddenly stops opening jpg and png images, then you have to go through a considerable number of possible methods. The most famous of them will be discussed below.
But, before describing them, please note that to perform most of them you will need administrator account rights.
Windows 7 photo viewer does not open jpg and png images - solutions
So, let's look at what to do if jpg and png images do not open on your computer.
1. Set up file associations in Windows 7. Sometimes it happens that programs, when installed, replace file associations (that is, which program will open when double-clicked). And when they are deleted, these programs do not restore the previous associations. Therefore, it makes sense to try to configure them manually. This is done very simply. Right click on the image file. Then in the menu select “Open with” - “Select program...”. In the window that opens, select "Windows Photo Viewer". Make sure that the "Use the selected program for all files of this type" checkbox is checked. And click the "OK" button.
And now, I’ll explain in more detail how and what to do to configure image viewing in Windows 7:
1. Open the Windows registry (regedit)
2. Open the key HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\jpegfile\Shell\open\command (this is for jpg files)
3. In the default parameter, replace c
for the next call
4. Open the key HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\pngfile\Shell\open\command (this is for png files)
5. In the default parameter, replace c
%SystemRoot%\System32\rundll32.exe "%ProgramFiles%\Windows Photo Viewer\PhotoViewer.dll", ImageView_Fullscreen %1
for the next call
rundll32.exe "C:\WINDOWS\SysWOW64\shimgvw.dll", ImageView_Fullscreen %1
6. Open the key HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\PhotoViewer.FileAssoc.Jpeg\shell\open\command (this is for jpeg files - although the file represents the same jpg, it still opens differently)
Note Note: To change the default settings for a given key, you may need to change the owner of the key (set the TrustedIntaller account to Administrator) and then add edit permissions to Administrator.
On Windows 10, you use a store app called Photos. This application has much greater capabilities for viewing and managing images compared to the classic application Viewing Windows Photos, which was the default in previous versions of Windows.
However, if you want to set Classic Viewer as your default program for viewing images, you may find that the application is missing from the Open With menu, Default Programs settings, and assigning file associations to programs in classic control panel. As a result, you cannot set Windows Photo Viewer as your default image viewer.
You upgraded to Windows 10 from Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1
There are no problems here. The ability to use the Windows Photo Viewer application remains in the GUI. You can choose it as your default app in Settings (the new Control Panel) or the Open With menu. You will find step-by-step instructions in our article.
You have done a clean installation of Windows 10
As you can see, the settings for supported file types have special values that correspond to subkeys in the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT registry key. By default, these subkeys are also not in the registry and need to be added.
After applying the registry file, Windows Photo Viewer will be available in the Open With image context menu
In the list of applications for opening images
In choosing default applications in system settings
In the File Type Association settings in Classic Control Panel
To view photos and images, the Windows 10 operating system uses the Photos application by default. And not “Windows Photo Viewer” as in the Windows 7 operating system. I think that many Windows 10 users will use the “Photos” application. To view your images.
But still, for other users of Windows operating systems, the “Windows Photo Viewer” tool remains more familiar. The interesting thing is that the old Windows 7 photo viewer in the Windows 10 operating system, in fact, did not go anywhere, but remained in the system.
Restoring “Windows Photo Viewer” (provided you updated Windos 10 after the Windows 7/8.1 operating systems) is very simple; no problems should arise here. In this case, "Windows Photo Viewer" is located in the GUI of the Windows operating system.
Recovering Windows Photo View when upgrading to Windows 10
In order to restore “Windows Photo Viewer” in Windows 10, right-click on any photo or image, then in the window that opens, select “Open with”, after which you need to select the “Select another application” context menu item from the list of available applications "
Select "Windows Photo Viewer", highlight it, then check the box for "Always use this app to open files" and tap the "OK" button.
After this, all your photos and images will be opened using Windows Photo Viewer by default.
View Windows Photos with restore Windows Photo viewer reg
If you have not updated Windows 10 from Windows 7/8.1 operating systems. And installed a clean Windows 10 on your computer. Then “Windows Photo Viewer” will not be available in the system GUI. Therefore, it will not be possible to select it to view photos and images.
In this case, you will need to download a file called (restore_windows_photo viewer.reg), by this link to install it on your computer. This file makes changes to the Windows 10 system registry.
Before making any changes to the system registry, I recommend making a copy of it. In this case, if any problems arise (which is unlikely) , you could return everything to working condition. Read more about cleaning the registry and how to restore the registry from backups.
After downloading the file (restore_windows_photo viewer.reg), from the link above. Right-click on it, then select “Merge” from the context menu.
The “Registry Editor” window will open, click “Yes”.
In the next window, click “OK”.
After making all the changes to the system registry, the Windows Photo Viewer application will appear on your computer.
Or you can select this: “Start” - “Settings” - “System” - “Default Applications” - “Photos” - “Windows Photo Viewer”.
Conclusion
In this way you can restore or return “Windows Photo Viewer”. I think this article will be useful to many. What do you use to open and view photos?
