How to Fix the Photos App Not Working in Windows 11

The Photos app in Windows 11 has received a much-awaited overhaul. It now comes with a new design, more features, and better usability. Unfortunately, for many users, the Photos app is not working on their Windows 11 computers.

If the Photos app on your computer is working slow or not working at all, here are a few troubleshooting steps to get it working again.

What Can I Do if the Photos App Is Not Working?

When troubleshooting this issue, begin by restarting the Photos app. Next, update the app to the latest version, run the app troubleshooter, or reset the app. As a last resort, use Microsoft PowerShell to reinstall the app.

1. Run the Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter

You can run the Windows apps troubleshooter to restore the Photos app to its working state. The built-in troubleshooter checks for common app issues and recommends fixes accordingly. Here’s how to use it.

1. Press the Win + I to open the Settings app.
2. In the System tab, scroll down and click on Troubleshoot.
3. Next, open Other troubleshooters.
4. Scroll down to Windows Store Apps and click the Run button.
5. Wait for the troubleshooter to scan and fix any issues. Then, if required, follow on-screen instructions to apply any recommended changes.

2. Check for Any App Updates

Check the Microsoft Store to see if a new update is available for the Photos App. New updates bring bug fixes and performance improvements.

Launch Microsoft Store and search for Microsoft Photos to update the app. Next, click the Update button to install pending updates.

3. Reset the Photos App

Windows 11 allows you to reset a built-in app without uninstalling the app. With a quick reset, you can restore the app to its default settings when the app acts up.

To reset the Photos app:

1. Press Win + R to open Run.
2. Type ms-settings: and click OK to open Settings.
3. Next, open the Apps tab in the left pane.
4. Click on the Apps & features option.
5. Now locate the Microsoft Photos app. You can either perform a search or scroll through the app list to find it.
6. Click the three-dots menu beside the Photos app and select Advanced options.
7. Scroll down and click on the Reset button. Then, click the Reset button once more to confirm the action.

Related: How to Create Videos With the Windows 11 Photos App

Launch the Photos app and check for any improvements. If the issue persists, use the Repair option. It allows you to repair the program installation without reinstalling the app.

To Repair the Photos app, go to Start > Settings > Apps > Apps and features. Here, locate the Photos app. Then click the three-dots menu next to it and select Advanced options.

Next, scroll down and click the Repair button to begin the process. If successful, a checkmark will appear next to the Repair button.

4. Disable OneDrive Cloud-Only Content

Microsoft’s Photos app, by default, is configured to show cloud-only content from your OneDrive account. Loading large image collections from the cloud can slow down the app. To speed up the process, you can stop the Photos app from showing contents from the cloud.

1. Launch the Photos app and wait for it to load.
2. Next, click the three-dot menu at the top left corner and select Settings.
3. Toggle the switch for Show my cloud-only contents from OneDrive and set it to Off.
4. Close and open the Photos app, and it should load faster than before.

5. Reinstall the Photos App

You can reinstall the Photos app to fix issues caused due to file corruption. Unfortunately, built-in Windows apps don’t have the classic Uninstall button. So, we will use a PowerShell command to uninstall the Photos app.

To uninstall the Photos app:

1. Press the Win key, and type powershell.
2. Right-click on Windows PowerShell and select Run as administrator from the search result.
3. In the PowerShell window, type the following command to view a list of all installed apps.

   Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers

4. Next, locate the Microsoft.Windows.Photos package from the list. To find the app, right-click on the PowerShell toolbar and select Edit > Find. Type Microsoft.Windows.Photos and and hit enter to locate the app.

5. Then, copy the PackageFullName for the Photos app. In this case, it looks something like this:

   Microsoft.Windows.Photos_2021.21100.20007.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe

6. To uninstall the app, enter the following command:

   Remove-AppxPackage Microsoft.Windows.Photos_2021.21100.20007.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe

7. The FullPackageName (app version) changes with every new update the Windows app receives. So, it is important to find and use the correct FullPackageName to uninstall the app.

Related: How to Uninstall Pre-installed and Third-Party Windows 11 Apps

Once uninstalled, open Microsoft Store and search for Microsoft Photos. Install the app, and it should now work without any issues.

If you don’t see the Install button for the Microsoft Photos app in Microsoft Store, relaunch the store app and try again.

6. Install New Windows Updates

Windows updates comprise performance improvements and bug fixes. If you have disabled automatic Windows 11 updates, you may not have the latest updates installed. Check if your system has any pending updates and install them to see if that helps resolve the problem.

To install Windows 11 updates:

1. Press Win + I to open Settings.
2. In the left pane, click on the Windows Update tab.
3. Then, click on the Check for updates button. Windows will scan for and install all the pending updates.

After the update is installed, restart your PC and check if the Photos app is working.

Fixing the Photos App Not Working in Windows 11

You can do a lot on the new Microsoft Photos app. It is faster, allows you to quickly make basic edits, and even check metadata. However, the app can at times fail to load images or stop working altogether.

Fortunately, a quick reset or reinstall can restore the Photos app to its working state. Additionally, you can also explore the Microsoft Photos app alternatives. These third-party apps are less prone to crashes and offer better features.

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