Windows 11/10 Photos App Not Working or Crashing (Fix)

Published by Nyau Wai Hoe - Updated on

The Photos app is a useful feature in Windows 10 and Windows 11, but it’s not always reliable. Some users have reported issues with the app, such as it not working, not opening, or crashing randomly. Other problems include displaying blurry images even if they are of high quality.

In this article, we have outlined several solutions that you can use to fix issues with the Photos app in Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Also see: How to Hide Photos on Windows 11 Photos App

How to fix Windows Photos App not working issue

Before diving into specific solutions, it’s important to ensure that your Windows operating system and the Photos app are both up to date. Check for updates through the Windows Update section in the Settings app and update the Photos app from the Microsoft Store. If you have already ensured that your system is updated and you’re still experiencing issues with the Photos app, try the following solutions to resolve the problem.

Restart the Photos App Process

Sometimes, simply closing the Photos app is not enough to solve the issue. The app’s background process may still be active on your computer. To fully restart the Photos app, you will have to terminate its background process. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Click on the Start menu and select Settings (the gear icon on the left) or press Win+i on your keyboard.
  2. In the Settings app, select Apps, then Apps & features from the left pane.
  3. Scroll down the list of apps until you see the Photos app. Select it and click on the Advanced options link.Windows 11/10 Photos App crashes
  4. In the Photos app settings, look for Terminate and click on the Terminate button. Note that the button may not turn gray after clicking it.Photos App not working in Windows 10/11
  5. After terminating the process, retry opening the Photos app and see if it works.

Reset the Photos App

If restarting the background process doesn’t resolve the Photos app not working problem, the next step is to reset the app. This should solve most issues regarding the Windows 10 and Windows 11 Photos app.

  1. Go back to the Photos app settings as outlined above – Settings > Apps > Apps & features > Photos app > Advanced options.
  2. Scroll down and look for Reset. Click on the Reset button.Reset Photos App
  3. Restart your computer and try opening the Photos app again. Verify if your issue is resolved. If not, try the next solution.

Reinstall the Photos App

If the above solutions don’t work, reinstalling the app may help solve the issue. There is no exe installer for the Photos app, so we’ll have to use Windows PowerShell by executing a few commands.

  1. Click on the Start menu and search for Windows PowerShell. Right-click it and select Run as administrator.
  2. In the Windows PowerShell, enter the following command:
    Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.Windows.Photos

    Reinstall Photos App in Windows 10/11 blurry images

  3. Look for and copy the entire line of PackageFullName. When you have it copied, enter the following command with the copied Package Full Name:
    remove-AppxPackage Microsoft.Windows.Photos_2018.18041.15530.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe

Note that the package full name shown here is just an example. You may have a different version of the Photos app’s package full name. Be sure to copy your version of it. Entering this command will uninstall the entire Windows 10 or Windows 11 Photos app.

  1. To install it again, go to the Microsoft Store and search for Microsoft Photos. Click on Get or Install to install the Photos app again.
  2. Restart your computer and see if it resolves your issue with the Windows 10 or Windows 11 Photos app.

Perform a System File Check

Performing a System File Check (SFC) is a built-in Windows utility that scans your system files for corruption and replaces them with a cached copy. The SFC utility helps to ensure the integrity and stability of the Windows operating system by repairing any corrupted or missing system files that may cause issues with applications like the Photos app.

Performing an SFC scan can help to fix issues with the Photos app that may be caused by corrupted system files. This may include issues such as the app not working or crashing. By repairing the corrupted files, the SFC utility may be able to restore the functionality of the Photos app and other Windows components that rely on those system files.

To perform an SFC scan, follow these steps:

  1. Click on the Start menu and search for Command Prompt. Right-click it and select Run as administrator.
  2. In the Command Prompt, enter the following command:
    sfc /scannow
  3. Wait for the scan to complete. This may take some time.SFC scannow Windows 11
  4. After the scan is complete, the SFC utility will display a message indicating whether it found any issues and whether it was able to repair them. If it was unable to repair some of the files, you may need to perform additional steps to repair them or consider reinstalling Windows.
Categories: MicrosoftTroubleshoot

Nyau Wai Hoe
Nyau Wai Hoe is the Founder and Chief Editor of WindowsDigitals.com. With a degree in software engineering and over 12 years of experience in the tech support industry, Nyau has established himself as an expert in the field, with a primary focus on the Microsoft Windows operating system. As a tech enthusiast, he loves exploring new technologies and leveraging them to solve real-life problems.

Share via
Copy link