10 ways to fix the 'Photos' app not working in Windows 11 (2022)

10 ways to fix photo app not working in windows 11 (2022)

One of the most popular tools for viewing and editing photos in Windows 11 operating system is the Photos app. However, like any software, it can sometimes run into problems and stop working correctly. If you are facing such a situation and want to find a way to solve the problem, in this article, we will provide you with 10 effective solutions.

The first way is to check for updates for the Photos app. An outdated version of the app might be the cause of the problem. Go to the Microsoft Store and make sure you have the latest version of the Photos app installed. If an update is available, install it and restart your computer.

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Another way to fix the problem may be to restart the Photos app. Close the app completely by clicking on the cross in the top right corner of the window. Then open it again from the Start menu. Sometimes restarting the app can help fix temporary errors and problems with its operation.

If restarting didn’t help, try clearing the cache of the Photos app. To do this, right-click on the application icon in the Start menu and select “Settings”. In the window that opens, go to the “Storage” tab, then click on the “Clear Cache” button. After that, restart the app and check if the problem is solved.

If the previous methods didn’t help, try running a system file check and restore. Incorrect or corrupted system files can cause problems with the Photo application. To perform a system file scan and restore, open a command prompt with administrator privileges and run the command “sfc /scannow”. Once the scanning process is complete, restart your computer and check if the problem is fixed.

If all the above methods failed, try performing a driver update for your graphics card. Outdated or incompatible drivers may be the cause of the problem with the Photos application. To update your drivers, go to your graphics card manufacturer’s website and download the latest driver for your model. Install it and restart your computer.

In some cases, the problem with the Photo application can be solved by performing an application reset. To do this, open the “Settings” menu, select “Applications” and find the “Photos” application in the list of installed programs. Right-click on it and select “Advanced settings”. In the window that opens, click on the “Reset” button and confirm your action. After resetting, restart your computer and check if the Photos app works correctly.

If none of the previous methods helped, try creating a new user account. The problem with the Photos app may be due to a corrupted user profile. To create a new account, open the Settings menu, select “Accounts” and click on the “Family and other users” tab. Click on “Add another user on this PC” and follow the on-screen instructions. After creating a new account, switch to it and check if the Photos app works without any problem.

Sometimes, you can solve the problem with the Photos app by disabling and re-enabling the app in Windows settings. To do this, open the “Settings” menu, select “Applications” and click on the “Apps and Features” tab. Find the “Photos” application in the list of installed programs, click on it and select “Advanced Settings”. In the window that opens, switch “Enable” to “Disable”, wait for a while and switch back to “Enable”. After that, restart your computer and check the work of the application.

In some cases, the problem with the Photos app may be due to the presence of malware on your computer. If you suspect that your computer is infected with a virus or malware, run an antivirus scan and remove any threats that are detected. After that, restart your computer and see if the problem is fixed.

Finally, the last way to fix the problem with the Photos app is to perform an operating system reset. This is a last resort that should only be used if none of the previous methods have worked. Before performing a reset, back up all important data. To perform a system reset, open the “Settings” menu, select “System” and go to the “Recovery” tab. Under the “Reset Computer” section, click on the “Get Started” button and follow the on-screen instructions. Note that a system reset will remove all installed programs and files, so be careful.

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10 ways to solve the problem with Photos app not working in Windows 11 (2022)

In Windows 11 (2022), the Photos application can sometimes fail to work properly, causing various problems when viewing and editing photos. This article presents 10 ways to solve this problem:

Restart the Photos app. Often, problems with a non-functioning app can be solved by simply restarting it.
Update the Photos app. Make sure you have the latest version of the Photos app installed, as new updates may contain fixes for known issues.
Restart your computer. Sometimes problems with the Photos app may be due to system errors, which can be resolved after restarting your computer.
Check the access to the photos folder. Make sure that the Photos app has access to the folder where your photos are stored. If access is denied, the application may not work properly.
Clear the Photos app cache. Accumulation of temporary files in the app’s cache may cause the app to not work properly. Clear the cache to fix this problem.
Uninstall and reinstall the Photos application. If none of the previous methods worked, try uninstalling the Photos app and then installing it again.
Check for Windows updates. Make sure your Windows 11 (2022) operating system is updated to the latest version, as this may resolve issues with the Photos app.
Use an alternative app to view and edit photos. If all other ways didn’t work, try using another photo application on your computer.
Check for viruses and malware. Malware can cause the Photos application to not work properly. Check your computer for viruses and malware.
Contact Microsoft support. If all of the above methods didn’t work, contact Microsoft support for further assistance in resolving the problem.

Hopefully, one of these ways will help you to resolve the issue of Photos app not working in Windows 11 (2022) and resume a comfortable experience with your photos.

Method 1: Check for operating system and application updates

Step 1: Make sure your Windows 11 operating system is updated to the latest version. To do this, follow the steps below:

Open the Start menu and select Settings.
In the Settings window, select the Update and Security section.
In the left pane, select “Windows Update”.
Click on “Check for updates” and wait for the process to complete.
If any updates are available, install them by following the on-screen instructions.

Step 2: Check if updates are available for the Photos application. To do this, follow the steps below:

Open the Microsoft Store.
Click the “…” icon in the upper right corner of the window.
Select “Downloads and Updates.”
Click on “Check for updates” and wait for the process to complete.
If any updates are available, install them by following the on-screen instructions.

After updating the operating system and the Photos app, re-launch the app and check if it works correctly.

Method 2: Reinstall the Photos app

If the Photos app in Windows 11 has stopped working, one way to solve the problem may be to reinstall it. In this case, you can uninstall the app and then reinstall it. To do this, follow the instructions:

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Click the Start button in the lower left corner of your screen or press the Windows button on your keyboard.
Click on the Settings icon (gear) in the Start menu.
In the “Settings” window that opens, select the “Applications” section in the left pane.
In the Applications and Components section, locate the Photos application.
Click on the Photos app and select the Uninstall option.
Confirm deleting the application in the dialog box that appears.
After uninstalling the Photos app, go to the Microsoft Store, find the Photos app, and click the Install button.
Wait for the installation of the app to complete.
After installing the Photos app, try opening it and see if the problem disappears.

Reinstalling the Photos app can help solve many problems related to its performance. If the problem still persists after reinstalling, you can try other ways from our list.

Method 3: Check for conflicts with other apps

The reason why the Photos application is not working in Windows 11 may be a conflict with other applications that interfere with its operation. In this case, you should perform a number of actions to resolve the conflicts:

Close all applications that can use the camera or access photos (e.g., messengers, video chats, image viewing applications).
Restart your computer to shut down all running applications and refresh your system.
Open the Photos application again and see if the problem is fixed.

If the Photos application continues to fail after performing these steps, you may have an application installed on your system that is interfering with its operation. To install a program that may be causing conflicts, follow these steps:

Open Windows 11 Settings by clicking the Start icon or pressing the Win key on your keyboard.
Select the Applications tab on the left side of the settings window.
Scroll through the list of apps and find an app that may be causing a conflict with the Photos app.
Click on the app and select the Uninstall option.
Confirm the uninstallation of the app.
Restart your computer to complete the uninstallation of the application.
Open the Photos application again and check that it is still working.

If Photo continues to fail after uninstalling the conflicting application, there may be another issue causing the problem and it is recommended to proceed to the next method.

FAQ:

Why is the Photos app not working in Windows 11?

Various problems can cause the Photos app in Windows 11 to not work. This can be due to errors in installing or updating the application, incorrect system configuration, corrupted files, or conflicts with other programs.

How can I fix the problem with Photos not working in Windows 11?

There are several ways to fix the problem with the Photos app not working in Windows 11. Try restarting your computer, updating the app from the Microsoft Store, running a system file integrity check, disabling antivirus programs, or reinstalling the app.

How do I reinstall the Photos application in Windows 11?

To reinstall the Photos app in Windows 11, follow these steps: open Settings, select Applications, find Photos in the list of installed apps, click on it and select Uninstall. Then open Microsoft Store, find the “Photos” app and reinstall it.

Can a conflict with another program cause the Photos app to not work in Windows 11?

Yes, a conflict with another program can cause the Photos app to not work in Windows 11. Some programs may have conflicting components or require access to the same system resources as the Photos app. In such cases, you may want to try temporarily disabling other programs or running Photos in compatibility mode.

What should I do if Photo stops working in Windows 11 after an update?

If Photo stops working in Windows 11 after an update, try the following: restart your computer, check for updates to the application or operating system, reset the application, or reinstall it.

Why did the Photos application stop working in Windows 11?

There could be several reasons. There may have been an error during the installation or operating system update process that affected the app’s operation. The problem could also be due to an incompatibility between the application and a new version of Windows.