If you upgraded to Windows 11 from Windows 10 and were disappointed to find that the classic Windows Photo Viewer is no longer available, there is a way to restore it. Many users have found that the default photo viewer in Windows 11 does not offer the same seamless experience, especially when using the slideshow feature. Fortunately, you can bring back the old Windows Photo Viewer with a few simple steps.

Solution 1: Enable Windows Photo Viewer through the Registry Editor

To restore Windows Photo Viewer and set it as your default photo viewer, you can modify the Windows Registry. Follow these steps:

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog, type regedit, and press Enter.
2. Navigate to the following path: HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerFileExts.jpg (replace .jpg with the appropriate file extension, such as .png for PNG images).
3. In the right pane, right-click and select New > String Value, then name it Progid.
4. Set the value to PhotoViewer.FileAssoc.Jpeg for JPG files or PhotoViewer.FileAssoc.Png for PNG files.
5. After completing the registry changes, restart your system for the changes to take effect.

Solution 2: Use a Third-Party Tool to Restore Windows Photo Viewer

If you’re uncomfortable with editing the registry, a simpler solution is to use a third-party tool like this guide by Ghacks.net. The tool automates the process and restores Windows Photo Viewer for use with all image types in Windows 11.

Solution 3: Set Windows Photo Viewer as the Default App

After restoring Windows Photo Viewer, you can set it as your default app for viewing images:

1. Go to Settings > Apps > Default Apps.
2. Scroll down to the photo file types (such as .jpg, .png) and select Windows Photo Viewer as the default app for each type.
3. This will make Windows Photo Viewer the default for all image files, so you can easily view your photos with it.

Conclusion

Restoring Windows Photo Viewer in Windows 11 is a great way to get back the familiar, simple photo viewing experience. Whether through a registry edit or a third-party tool, you can quickly bring back this classic app and use it just as you did in previous versions of Windows.

For more “Windows 11” solutions, please check our Windows 11.