Windows 10: Default image editor can't open image files

I recently installed paint.net on Windows 10, and since its installer can't change the default image "editor", I read a post on the paint.net forums, which said to change the value of HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations\image\shell\edit\command to "C:\Program Files\paint.net\PaintDotNet.exe" "%1". In my other Windows 10 installations, after doing that, I could just simply right-click any image file and click "Edit" from the menu, and it would open the image with paint.net.

Now, when I clicked "edit", paint.net opened and gave the error message "The file was not found". The image file is completely fine, and I can open it in paint.net from the "Open" menu in the app itself.

I didn't remember the original value of the registry string that I changed, but I changed it back to what I think it was, "%SystemRoot%\System32\mspaint.exe" "%1". Then I tried to edit an image file, MSPaint opened, but even MSPaint said "The file was not found"! So, I don't know what caused this problem, maybe "%SystemRoot%\System32\mspaint.exe" "%1" wasn't the original value, or, something happened after I edited it to open with paint.net. If anyone knows what has happened, please let me know. I can't even seem to be able to open my files with mspaint.

:)

 

Change Default Image Editor

I tried the image editor application... It's incompatible.

 

Can't open image files, default viewer also doesn't work.

Hello,

File corruption is one of the possible reasons why you're having issue opening image files. For us to identify and isolate this issue better, we need to gather more information. Kindly answer the following questions:

• Where are those images located?
• Any error messages, if there's any?
• Which program are you using to open those images?
• What is the file format of the images?

We would suggest using Windows Photo Viewer to open this file and check if it helps. We would also suggest making Windows Photo Viewer as the default program to open pictures and check.

We'll be waiting for your response.

 

Change Default Image Editor

Right-click Start, click Command Prompt (Admin).

Type:

reg add hkcr\systemfileassociations\image\shell\edit\command /ve /d "\"C:\Program Files\Paint.NET\PaintDotNet.exe\" "\"%1"\" /f

Press {ENTER}

(or)

1. Start the registry editor (regedit.exe) and select HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT.

2. Press Ctrl + F to open the Find dialog.





3. Type systemfileassociations, enable "Keys" and deselect "Values" and "Data" check boxes.

4. Press ENTER.

You'll now be taken to the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations branch.

Expand the "SystemFileAssociations" branch by double-clicking on it

Scroll down until you see a subkey named "image"

Double-click "image"

Double-click "shell"

Double-click "edit"

Double-click "command"

So you're in this key finally.

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations\image\shell\edit\command

In the right-pane, double-click (default) and set its data as follows:

"C:\Program Files\Paint.NET\PaintDotNet.exe" "%1"

Include double quotes around the Paint.NET executable file path, followed by a space, and then
"%1" with quotes.

Note: The above steps assume Paint.NET executable is located at "C:\Program Files\Paint.NET\PaintDotNet.exe"

Exit the Registry Editor.