Get Missing Windows Photo Viewer Back

Windows Photo Viewer was the default image app for years, but Windows 10 and 11 hide it in favor of the Photos app. If you prefer the old, fast, and simple viewer, you can re-enable it with a few clicks or a quick registry tweak. This guide shows you how to bring it back on current versions of Windows, without any third-party software.

What You’ll Need

A PC running Windows 10 or Windows 11
Administrator access (to edit the registry or run a command)
Basic comfort with copying and pasting commands

Step-by-Step

Check if Photo Viewer is already there. Right-click any image file, choose Open with > Choose another app. If you see Windows Photo Viewer in the list, you can select it and you’re done. If not, continue.
Open a text editor as Administrator. Press the Start button, type Notepad, right-click it, and choose Run as administrator. If you don’t have admin rights, you’ll need to ask someone who does.

Copy the registry fix. Select and copy the following lines exactly:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\photoviewer.dll]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\photoviewer.dll\shell\open]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\photoviewer.dll\shell\open\command]
@="\"%ProgramFiles%\Windows Photo Viewer\WindowsPhotoViewer.dll\",ImageDisplay"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\photoviewer.dll\shell\open\DropTarget]
@="{FFE2A43C-56B9-4BF5-9A79-CC6D4285608A}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\photoviewer.dll\shell\print]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\photoviewer.dll\shell\print\command]
@="\"%ProgramFiles%\Windows Photo Viewer\WindowsPhotoViewer.dll\",ImagePrint"

Save the file as a .reg file. In Notepad, click File > Save As. In the Save as type drop-down, choose All Files. Name the file photo-viewer.reg and save it to your Desktop.
Run the file. Double-click the saved .reg file. Windows will ask if you’re sure you want to continue – click Yes, then OK when it says the keys were added.
Restart Explorer (optional but recommended). Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager. Scroll down to Windows Explorer, right-click it, and choose Restart. Your screen will flicker for a second.
Test it. Right-click any image file, choose Open with > Choose another app. You should now see Windows Photo Viewer in the list. Select it, and also check the box Always use this app to open .jpg files if you want it as the default.

Common Mistakes

Saving the file as .txt – If Notepad appends .txt to your file name, the registry will not recognize it. Make sure the file name ends with .reg and that you’ve chosen All Files.
Copying the text incorrectly – A missing bracket or extra space can break the registry file. Copy the entire block exactly, including blank lines between sections.
Not running as administrator – If you don’t run Notepad as administrator, you may not be able to save the file to certain locations, but saving to Desktop usually works even without admin rights. The important part is that you have admin rights to run the .reg file – Windows will prompt you anyway.
Expecting it to appear in the Start menu – Windows Photo Viewer is not a separate app; it only appears when you right-click an image and choose Open with.

Tips

Set it as default for all image types – After the fix, go to Settings > Apps > Default apps, click Photos, and change each image type (like .jpg, .png, .gif) to Windows Photo Viewer.
If the registry edit feels risky – You can use the same steps but instead of manually editing, download a ready-made .reg file from a trusted source. However, the manual method here is safe if you follow it exactly.
Photo Viewer is basic – It doesn’t handle HEIC files (iPhone photos) or some modern formats. For those, you’ll still need the Photos app or another viewer.
Use the command line alternative – If you’re comfortable with Command Prompt, you can run the same registry entries using reg add commands, but the .reg file method is simpler for most users.

Troubleshooting

Photo Viewer still doesn’t appear after the fix. First, double-check that you saved the file as .reg and that you ran it (you should have seen a confirmation dialog). If it still doesn’t show, restart your PC – sometimes Explorer restart isn’t enough. If you’re on Windows 11, also check that you’re looking in the right place: right-click an image, choose Open with > Choose another app, and scroll down – it may be under More apps.

You get an error when running the .reg file. This usually means the file is corrupted or not formatted correctly. Open the file in Notepad and verify that the first line is exactly Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 and that every key starts with [HKEY. If you see any extra characters or missing brackets, delete the file and repeat the steps.

Photo Viewer opens but shows a black screen or crashes. This can happen if the file is corrupted or if the image format isn’t supported. Try a different image file. If the problem persists, you may have a system file issue – run sfc /scannow in an elevated Command Prompt to repair Windows files.

You want to undo the change. Simply delete the registry keys you added. Open Registry Editor (type regedit in Start), navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\photoviewer.dll, right-click it, and delete it. Then restart Explorer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is Windows Photo Viewer still available in Windows 11?
A: Yes, the files are still present in Windows 11, but the app is hidden. The registry fix above works on both Windows 10 and 11.

Q: Will this fix work for all image formats?
A: It works for common formats like JPEG, PNG, BMP, GIF, and TIFF. It does not support HEIC or WebP by default.

Q: Do I need to download anything?
A: No, the necessary files are already on your system. The registry fix just tells Windows to show the hidden viewer.

Q: Is it safe to edit the registry?
A: If you follow the steps exactly, it is safe. The changes only add a few keys that tell Windows where the Photo Viewer is. You can undo them by deleting the added key.

Q: Why doesn’t Windows Photo Viewer appear in the Start menu?
A: It was never a standalone app in Windows 10/11; it only appears as an option when you right-click an image and choose Open with.

Q: Can I set Photo Viewer as the default for all images at once?
A: Yes, after the fix, go to Settings > Apps > Default apps, click the current photo app, and change each file type individually. There’s no one-click “set all” for Photo Viewer.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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