With the introduction of Windows 10, Microsoft made the photos app as the default image viewer. On Windows 11, Microsoft is still using the Photos app to open the default picture viewer. However, if you’re not happy with the standard Photos app on Windows 11, you can use the classic Windows Photo Viewer. This means that Windows Photo Viewer is still part of Windows 11 and all you have to do is activate it on your PC.
Microsoft has removed the default file association for pictures from the Windows Photo Viewer and linked it to the Photos app. This means that if you right-click an image, you won’t find the Windows Photo Viewer app to open it. You have to make the corresponding entries in the registry under the File associations Key.
How do I enable the classic Windows Photo Viewer app in Windows 11?
Step 1. Download the pre-made registry files.
Step 2. Extract the contents using any archiving tool.
Step 3. Now double click on that Activate Classic Photo Viewer.reg File. Press the Yes Button when prompted.
Once you have completed the above steps, the file association part is complete. Now you can use .bmp, .dib, .jpg, .jpe, .jpeg, .jxr, .jfif, .wdp, .png, .gif, .tiff and .tif Open files using the Windows Photo Viewer app on your Windows 11 computer. However, you have to select Windows Photo Viewer every time you open the picture file. To open the picture simply with a double click, you have to make this app the default picture app.
How do I make Windows Photo Viewer the default pictures app on Windows 11?
To set the Windows Photo Viewer default pictures app on Windows 11, do the following:
Step 1. Find an image file (ex. .Png) and double click on it to open it.
Step 2. Now you will see the following dialog: –
Step 3. Click the Windows Photo Viewer in the list of available apps and check the box Always use this app to open .png files. Finally, click on that OK Button.
That’s it! Double-clicking a .png file will open it with the Windows Photo Viewer App.
You will need to repeat the steps for .bmp, .dib, .jpg, .jpe, .jpeg, .jxr, .jfif, .wdp, .gif, .tiff, and .tif image files
How do I disable the classic Windows Photo Viewer app in Windows 11?
In the file downloaded above, double-click Disable Classic Photo Viewer.reg File. click on the Yes Button when prompted. Now the Windows Photo Viewer app will be disconnected and will no longer be the default picture viewer.
Now click with the right mouse button on the image file (for example .png) and select Open with and then Choose another app Opportunity.
Select the photo app, check the box Always use this app to open .png files and then click on OK Button.
You will need to repeat a similar process for other image files the first time you open them. After you’ve linked the Photos app, you can view it in the Photos app by double-clicking it.