Windows 10: Is Windows Photo Viewer gone?

It is still there.. I can find it and use it with no effort.

 

Yes, Jeff, it's still there for everyone, but it seems to be broken in clean installs and probably works fine if you have upgraded from 7 or 8, since your file associations will have carried over.

 

Copy the following code into notepad and save it as a .reg file then merge it. Should fix the issue.

See also: Restore Windows Photo Viewer in Windows 10 Apps Features Tutorials

Code: Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\photoviewer.dll] [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\photoviewer.dll\shell] [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\photoviewer.dll\shell\open] "MuiVerb"="@photoviewer.dll,-3043" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\photoviewer.dll\shell\open\command] @=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,74,00,25,\ 00,5c,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,72,00,75,00,\ 6e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,33,00,32,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,20,00,22,00,25,\ 00,50,00,72,00,6f,00,67,00,72,00,61,00,6d,00,46,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,73,00,\ 25,00,5c,00,57,00,69,00,6e,00,64,00,6f,00,77,00,73,00,20,00,50,00,68,00,6f,\ 00,74,00,6f,00,20,00,56,00,69,00,65,00,77,00,65,00,72,00,5c,00,50,00,68,00,\ 6f,00,74,00,6f,00,56,00,69,00,65,00,77,00,65,00,72,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,\ 00,22,00,2c,00,20,00,49,00,6d,00,61,00,67,00,65,00,56,00,69,00,65,00,77,00,\ 5f,00,46,00,75,00,6c,00,6c,00,73,00,63,00,72,00,65,00,65,00,6e,00,20,00,25,\ 00,31,00,00,00 [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\photoviewer.dll\shell\open\DropTarget] "Clsid"="{FFE2A43C-56B9-4bf5-9A79-CC6D4285608A}" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\photoviewer.dll\shell\print] [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\photoviewer.dll\shell\print\command] @=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,74,00,25,\ 00,5c,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,72,00,75,00,\ 6e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,33,00,32,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,20,00,22,00,25,\ 00,50,00,72,00,6f,00,67,00,72,00,61,00,6d,00,46,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,73,00,\ 25,00,5c,00,57,00,69,00,6e,00,64,00,6f,00,77,00,73,00,20,00,50,00,68,00,6f,\ 00,74,00,6f,00,20,00,56,00,69,00,65,00,77,00,65,00,72,00,5c,00,50,00,68,00,\ 6f,00,74,00,6f,00,56,00,69,00,65,00,77,00,65,00,72,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,\ 00,22,00,2c,00,20,00,49,00,6d,00,61,00,67,00,65,00,56,00,69,00,65,00,77,00,\ 5f,00,46,00,75,00,6c,00,6c,00,73,00,63,00,72,00,65,00,65,00,6e,00,20,00,25,\ 00,31,00,00,00 [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\photoviewer.dll\shell\print\DropTarget] "Clsid"="{60fd46de-f830-4894-a628-6fa81bc0190d}"[/quote]

 

This doesn't really solve the problem. I don't use WPV to view pictures in a slideshow. I use it to quickly view pictures and delete them as I get them off my camera.

You're right. But we're a few days from release and this MAJOR bug is still present.

This didn't work. I still only have 2 file associations in the "Default Programs" panel.

 

Merge that file, then associate three or four file types with WPV, eg.: png, jpg, bmp, etc:





Then you should get the option to use WPV as default:

 

Hmm, I didn't do that but I just checked and I was able to select WPV from the "Open With" menu.

Thanks, this is quite a relief. I can't believe MS is forcing people to use their "apps".

Also, what exactly does your registry fix do?

 

Unable to replace Photos app with Photo Viewer as default (10240).
(Post #11)

 

Thanks. Great info in those posts.

I have submitted a post to MS Answers, and to Windows Feedback.

This must be fixed before final release.

 

Well done for this fix - I have been struggling to find an answer to this problem since the last technical build for the 10 preview!

 

[/quote] Thank you this work really great XD

 

Didn't do a thing for me, behavior is exactly the same as before whether right clicking an image or attempting to change the default app in settings.

My build is current as of today.

 

Run the Reg file,
then associate a few file types with WPV, like .bmp, .jpg, .png:





then you should see WPV as an option here, and change it here, not in the classic Defaults Control Panel:

 

@Edwin.. thanks that works just perfect.

Jeff

 

I've discovered something that's not a direct fix for this issue, but rather, it's another option.

Instead of using Windows Photo Viewer, you can use Windows Photo Gallery. The UI is almost exactly the same as Windows Photo Viewer, and you don't have to mess with the registry for it to be the default picture opener in Windows 10.

Microsoft has Windows Photo Gallery included in the Live Essentials download here: Windows Essentials - Download Windows Live Essentials


Windows Photo Gallery is much better than the Photos "app", and it works just as great as Windows Photo Viewer.

 

Works for me too, was using it last night, but prefer PS8 elements as my default viewer/worker.