Windows Photo Viewer next/previous arrows

Hey all,

I switched to Windows 10 a few weeks ago and have been trying to find a solution to a problem with the Windows Photo Viewer.

If I open a folder full of my photos, I am unable to advance to the next or previous pictures using the arrow keys on either side of the 'Play slide show' button, or the directional keys on my keyboard (as I was previously able to do in Windows 8). Windows Photo Viewer is set to be my default viewer for all extensions as well.

Am I missing something?

Thank you for your help!

I know that problem.

For me, this is not present always, but sometimes, depending on situation:
It seems to depend on the sorting in the folder from which you open the program: When next to the image file you open there is another image file, then you can go to that direction. However, if the next file cannot be opened by Photo Viewer, then you can't.
This behaviour is rather annoying, because if the arrow did work for the first time (because the next file was an image file), then it will also work for the following files - even if there are some files between, which Photo Viewer cannot open. It then just jumps to the next image. But if the first file to switch to cannot be viewed, then the arrow doesn't work.

I hope the problem got more clear now. I would like to have a solution for that one as well!

I find that opening all images in a folder works. CTRL+A then ENTER if all you have in the folder are images. If it's a mix of files, CTRL +A then right click an image and click open.

Extra steps = UX Fail! Common Microsoft... we just want to navigate images in a folder like in older versions.

Here's some more info. I've been trying to research this one for a little while now; it must be something with a new update.

New photos I copy to a picture folder will not show the left/right arrows, but old pictures previously in the folder will work just fine. I tried an experiment where I copied all photos from one folder to another and then back. Originally, some worked and new ones did not. When I copied them back, none will show the advance/go back arrows.

This is a new development; I noticed this a couple of weeks (or so) ago and have been trying to find a solution since then.

And to throw a wrench into things, I copied the same folder to a NAS drive and then opened the pictures through Explorer and they give the arrows, new and old. Weird.

I'm at a complete loss on this one!

I encountered this problem when I ordered my photos by date. When I reverted back to order by title the problem resolved itself.

You can change the order of your photos by changing the view to 'details'.
Then click on the heading 'Name'.

I had the exact same problem. I checked the properties of the folder containing the photos, and noticed it was "Read Only". I unchecked the box, and that solved the problem for me.

Enteen said:

Hey all,

I switched to Windows 10 a few weeks ago and have been trying to find a solution to a problem with the Windows Photo Viewer.

If I open a folder full of my photos, I am unable to advance to the next or previous pictures using the arrow keys on either side of the 'Play slide show' button, or the directional keys on my keyboard (as I was previously able to do in Windows 8). Windows Photo Viewer is set to be my default viewer for all extensions as well.

Am I missing something?

Thank you for your help!

I've set the Photos App as my default viewer for quick viewing of Photos in preference to Windows Photo Viewer or Photo Gallery. The Photos App is one of the few Apps I actually find useful.