Restore Windows Photo Viewer in Windows 10  

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    Restore Windows Photo Viewer in Windows 10

    Restore Windows Photo Viewer in Windows 10

    How to Restore Windows Photo Viewer in Windows 10
    Published by Category: Apps & Features
    14 Apr 2022
    Designer Media Ltd

    How to Restore Windows Photo Viewer in Windows 10


    Usually you could use Windows Photo Viewer to view your image files in a variety of ways. You can also print, order prints, attach pictures to an e‑mail message, burn, or open photos in another app on your PC.

    Windows 10 uses the Photos app as the default app to open image files with instead now. By default, Windows Photo Viewer is no longer listed in Open with, and only has .tiff files associated with it in Default Programs.

    This tutorial will show you 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 and Windows 11.

    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 Photo Viewer\PhotoViewer.dll" file.

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

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

    For example: rundll32 "%ProgramFiles%\Windows Photo Viewer\PhotoViewer.dll", ImageView_Fullscreen E:\Pictures\alien avatar 2.jpg



    Contents

    • Option One: To Only Restore Windows Photo Viewer for Current Account
    • Option Two: (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 ONE

    To Only Restore Windows Photo Viewer for Current Account


    This option will only affect the account that you are currently signed in to.

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


    1 Do step 2 (restore) or step 3 (undo) below for what you would like to do.


     2. To Restore Windows Photo Viewer for Only Your Account

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

    Restore_Windows_Photo_Viewer_CURRENT_USER.reg

    Download


     3. To "Undo" Restore Windows Photo Viewer for Only Your Account

    This is the default setting.

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

    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, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

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

    8 If you selected to undo restore Windows Photo Viewer, then select a different app (ex: Photos) as the default app under Photo viewer in Settings. (see screenshot below step 9)

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

    If you do 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 Photo Viewer for All Accounts


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

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


    1 Do step 2, step 3, or step 4 below for what you would like to do.


     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


     3. To Restore Windows Photo Viewer for All Users with Sort Order Fix

    This option does the same as step 2 above, but allows you to view files in the same order as they are arranged in the folder.

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

    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_with_Sort_order_fix.reg

    Download


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

    This is the default setting.

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

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

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

    9 If you restored Windows Photo Viewer, then select "Windows Photo Viewer" as the default app under Photo viewer in Settings. Other users on the PC will also need to do this step if they want Windows Photo Viewer set as the default program in their account. (see screenshots below)

    If you do 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


    That's it,
    Shawn Brink






  1. Posts : 18
    XP/7/8.1/10 PRO 10586
       #1

    Thank you for this tutorial Brink as always.

    I am super angry at Microsoft right now. I'm starting to give up hope on 10
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2

    You're most welcome J. :)
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 591
    Windows 10 Pro 64bit; Windows 10 TP; KDE Neon
       #3

    Thank you very much, Brink, for enabling Windows Photo Viewer for all of us, again! :)
    I've checked it and it works fine.

    It's sad that we have to go through so many tweaks, manual settings and Registry changes to make Windows 10 function the way we knew, expected and desire. For example, last night I have enabled the Shuffle (of my desktop background images) in the Slideshow mode by going into the Registry (again) and modifying a value... For how long will I have to do this?

    I'd like to ask something else now: is there a tutorial on how to reset the Reliability History on Windows 10?
    I have used this tutorial but it does not clear it completely.

    Thank you!
      My Computers


  4. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Hello Joanne,

    I'm glad the tutorials have been able to help. :)

    I don't have a Windows 10 version for Reliability History yet.

    Be sure to send feedback to Microsoft about wanted features. The more they get, the better chance it may have of being added.

    https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/7...dows-10-a.html
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 1
    64-bit Windows 10 Home Edition
       #5

    Thank You very much for sharing your knowledge here Brink. I have found your solution to be straight forward and correct.
    Thanks again!
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #6

    I'm glad the tutorial could help Rob, and welcome to Ten Forums. :)
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 1
    Windows 10x64
       #7

    Thanks for this Brink!
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 591
    Windows 10 Pro 64bit; Windows 10 TP; KDE Neon
       #8

    Brink said:
    Hello Joanne,

    I'm glad the tutorials have been able to help. :)

    I don't have a Windows 10 version for Reliability History yet.

    Be sure to send feedback to Microsoft about wanted features. The more they get, the better chance it may have of being added.

    https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/7...dows-10-a.html

    Thank you, Brink!

    I am really (really) looking forward to your new tutorial on how to reset Windows 10 Reliability History - and eventually on how to clean the Event Viewer, even though I had success on that one.

    Thank you :)
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 15
    64-Bit Windows 10 Home
       #9

    Thank you brink you’re a life saver.
      My Computer


 

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