How to Restore Windows Photo Viewer in Windows 10

Usually you could use Windows Photo Viewer to view your epitome files in a variety of ways. Y'all tin can also impress, order prints, adhere pictures to an east‑mail message, burn down, or open photos in another app on your PC.

Windows x uses the Photos app as the default app to open image files with instead now. By default, Windows Photograph Viewer is no longer listed in Open with, and only has .tiff files associated with it in Default Programs.

This tutorial will bear witness y'all how to restore Windows Photo Viewer to be able to select to open image files in Default apps, Default Programs, and Open with for only your account or all users in Windows 10.

You may have to restore Windows Photo Viewer again after every quality or feature update from Windows Update.


There isn't an executable file for Windows Photo Viewer. Instead, Windows Photo Viewer uses the "%ProgramFiles%\Windows Photograph Viewer\PhotoViewer.dll" file.

If you wanted to create a shortcut or run a command to directly open up a specific image file with Windows Photo Viewer, you could use the command beneath to do and then:

rundll32 "%ProgramFiles%\Windows Photo Viewer\PhotoViewer.dll", ImageView_Fullscreen <full path of image file with file extension>

For instance: rundll32 "%ProgramFiles%\Windows Photo Viewer\PhotoViewer.dll", ImageView_Fullscreen E:\Pictures\conflicting avatar ii.jpg

Contents


  • Option I: To Only Restore Windows Photo Viewer for Current Account
  • Option 2: (recommended) To Restore Windows Photo Viewer for All Accounts

EXAMPLE: Default and Restored Windows Photo Viewer
Restore Windows Photo Viewer in Windows 10-windows_photo_viewer.jpg
Restore Windows Photo Viewer in Windows 10-settings_default_apps.png
Restore Windows Photo Viewer in Windows 10-open_with.png
Restore Windows Photo Viewer in Windows 10-open_with_choose.png

OPTION Ane

To Only Restore Windows Photo Viewer for Current Account


This pick volition but affect the account that you are currently signed in to.

You do not need to be an administrator to do this choice.

1 Do pace ii (restore) or step iii (undo) below for what you would similar to do.

 two. To Restore Windows Photo Viewer for Only Your Account

A) Click/tap on the Download push beneath to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Restore_Windows_Photo_Viewer_CURRENT_USER.reg

Download

 iii. To "Disengage" Restore Windows Photo Viewer for Only Your Account

This is the default setting.

A) Click/tap on the Download push beneath to download the file below, and become to stride iv beneath.

Undo_Restore_Windows_Photo_Viewer_CURRENT_USER.reg

Download

4 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

5 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Aye (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

7 You tin can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you similar.

8 If you lot selected to undo restore Windows Photograph Viewer, then select a different app (ex: Photos) as the default app nether Photo viewer in Settings. (run into screenshot below pace 9)

9 If you selected to restore Windows Photo Viewer, then select "Windows Photograph Viewer" equally the default app under Photo viewer in Settings. (run across screenshots below)

If you practice not see the restored Windows Photo Viewer in Default apps, then close and reopen the Default apps settings page to refresh it.

Restore Windows Photo Viewer in Windows 10-open_with2.png Restore Windows Photo Viewer in Windows 10-default_apps.jpg

OPTION TWO

To Restore Windows Photograph Viewer for All Accounts


You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to restore Windows Photograph Viewer using this pick.

This option will override Option 1 above, and also adds the Image Preview context menu for Windows Photo Viewer.

i Practice pace 2, step 3, or step 4 below for what y'all would like to exercise.

 2. To Restore Windows Photo Viewer for All Users

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.

Restore_Windows_Photo_Viewer_ALL_USERS.reg

Download

 iii. To Restore Windows Photograph Viewer for All Users with Sort Order Fix


This selection does the same as stride 2 higher up, but allows you to view files in the aforementioned order equally they are arranged in the binder.

This choice does cause Windows Photo Viewer to be listed twice in Open with -> Cull an app.

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step v below.

Restore_Windows_Photo_Viewer_ALL_USERS_with_Sort_order_fix.reg

Download

 four. To "Undo" Restore Windows Photo Viewer for All Users

This is the default setting.

A) Click/tap on the Download push below to download the file below, and become to pace 5 below.

Undo_Restore_Windows_Photo_Viewer_ALL_USERS.reg

Download

5 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

6 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge information technology.

vii When prompted, click/tap on Run, Aye (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

8 You can at present delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.

ix If y'all restored Windows Photograph Viewer, then select "Windows Photograph Viewer" as the default app under Photo viewer in Settings. Other users on the PC will also need to practise this pace if they desire Windows Photo Viewer set every bit the default program in their account. (see screenshots below)

If you do not see the restored Windows Photograph Viewer in Default apps, then shut and reopen the Default apps settings folio to refresh information technology.

Restore Windows Photo Viewer in Windows 10-open_with2.png Restore Windows Photo Viewer in Windows 10-default_apps.jpg

That'southward it,
Shawn

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