Windows 10: Why are photos opening in small window and how to fix it?

I organize and view my photos from file explorer, and just the other day the photos app updated and things changed for how the photos are viewed when opened. When I first click on a photo, it opens in a full maximized window, which is normal and what I want, but any photo I click on after the first one opens in a smaller window. I want them to all open in a full size window as it is frustrating when trying to look through multiple photos and taking an extra step each time making the window bigger on each one. I have looked through settings and nothing I've seen has helped. I included a screens

:)

 

Photos are opening with Paint instead of Photos app

Hello,

It's likely that your default application for opening photos is Paint. To change your default program in Windows 10 from
Paint to the Photo app, we suggest that you perform the following steps:

• On the Start menu, select Settings.
  
• Go to System, then go to Default apps.
  
• Select Photos or any app that you like to be the default under
  Photo viewer.

Update us if the steps above helped you in resolving your concern.

 

Lost default photo viewer after profile rebuild

Thanks Brink. I've tried those steps before i started searching Google. After the profile rebuild i don't have the Photo app listed to choose to make it default in either the system settings for default apps or the Open With option.

I can't even find it doing a search. Seems to have been removed somehow with the profile rebuild, which doesn't make sense.

Might be helpful to list what i've done I've done the open with check, the choose default program in the system menu, tried that in device manager default programs also. I've checked the programs and features Turn windows features on/off and it's not listed there (never thought it was but that was a suggestion), searched the MS Store, it's not listed there either.

I don't like playing in the registry unless i have defined steps and haven't found anything for this yet, just the Win7 version like in my OP.

 

Set Windows Photo Viewer as default to open photos

Hi,

Thank you for your interest in Windows 10.

I suggest you to follow the steps below to set window photo viewer as default and check if it helps:

• 
  Press Windows key + X.
  
• 
  Click on Control Panel and under View by change it to
  Small Icons.
  
• 
  Click on Default Programs and click on
  Set your default programs.
  
• 
  Click on Windows Photo Viewer from the Left pane and click on
  Choose Defaults for this program.
  
• 
  Select all the formats available from the list and click on
  Save and click Ok.
  
• 
  Check if issue persists.
  

Hope this information is helpful. Please do let us know if you need further assistance, we’ll be glad to assist you.