How to bring back Windows Photo Viewer on Windows 10

[Mave]

If you're like me and hate the "Photos" application that Microsoft forces you to use, this little trick will bring back Windows Photo Viewer.
You don't have to download anything since Windows Photo Viewer is still available on Windows 10, it's just hidden away.

1. Make sure to close all open Photos instances
2. Create a new notepad file somewhere
3. Paste in the following code

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 

; Change Extension's File Type 
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.jpg] 
@="PhotoViewer.FileAssoc.Tiff"


; Change Extension's File Type 
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.jpeg] 
@="PhotoViewer.FileAssoc.Tiff" 


; Change Extension's File Type 
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.gif] 
@="PhotoViewer.FileAssoc.Tiff" 


; Change Extension's File Type 
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.png] 
@="PhotoViewer.FileAssoc.Tiff" 


; Change Extension's File Type 
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.bmp] 
@="PhotoViewer.FileAssoc.Tiff" 


; Change Extension's File Type 
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.tiff] 
@="PhotoViewer.FileAssoc.Tiff" 


; Change Extension's File Type 
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.ico] 
@="PhotoViewer.FileAssoc.Tiff"

4. Save the file and rename it to .reg
5. Double click the file and confirm the warning by pressing yes
6. Now open up an image file (jpg, jpeg, gif, png, bmp, tiff or ico) and Windows will prompt you to select a program. Windows Photo Viewer is listed as "new", select it. Repeat this process for every image type you want associated.

That's it. So glad I got my good old Windows Photo Viewer back.

 

[Stybar]

I prefer Honeyview. It can manage pretty much any file format, including zipped folders of images.

 

[Mave]

I prefer Honeyview. It can manage pretty much any file format, including zipped folders of images.

Thanks, will check it out.