Modifying your Windows Registry involves risk as incorrect modifications can cause your system to malfunction. If you intend to proceed with the steps below, first create a restore point and back up your Windows Registry. This will help you to recover your system if something goes wrong.

1. Press Win R to open the Run dialog. Input notepad and click OK.
2. Copy and paste the following script into the Notepad file. This script activates the Windows Photo Viewer.

   Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\Windowsphotoviewer.dll\shell\open] "MuiVerb"="@Windowsphotoviewer.dll,-3043" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\Windowsphotoviewer.dll\shell\open\command] @="\"%SystemRoot%\\System32\\rundll32.exe\" \"%ProgramFiles%\\Windows Photo Viewer\\PhotoViewer.dll\", ImageView_Fullscreen %1" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\Windowsphotoviewer.dll\shell\open\DropTarget] "Clsid"="{FFE2A43C-56B9-4bf5-9A79-CC6D4285608A}" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\Windowsphotoviewer.dll\shell\print\command] @="\"%SystemRoot%\\System32\\rundll32.exe\" \"%ProgramFiles%\\Windows Photo Viewer\\PhotoViewer.dll\", ImageView_PrintTo %1" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\Windowsphotoviewer.dll\shell\print\DropTarget] "Clsid"="{60fd46de-f830-4894-a628-6fa81bc0190d}" 

   
3. Press Ctrl Shift S to open the Save dialog. Alternatively, go to File > Save As.
4. In the Save as dialog, enter ActivateWindowsPhotoViewer.reg as the file name. Click the Save astype drop-down and choose All Files(*.*). Choose a location and Save the file to your drive.
5. Next, open File Explorer, browse to the location where you saved the file, double-click ActivateWindowsPhotoViewer.reg, and then click Yes. When a warning prompt appears, click Yes.
6. After the script is executed, you'll see a success message. Click OK.
7. To apply the changes, press Win X to open the Windows Powermenu and choose Task Manager.
8. In the Process tab, find and right-click on Windows Explorer, then click Restart. Your screen may flash momentarily as Windows Explorer restarts.

Since Windows Photos Viewer doesn't have its own .EXE file, but only a .DLL, you can't open it from the search bar in Windows. Instead, to open pictures in Photo Viewer, right-click on any image in File Explorer, go to Open With > Choose another app, and then scroll down and select Windows Photo Viewer. Choose Just once to open the image. If you select Always, Windows will set Photo Viewer as the default app for that image format.

How to Disable Windows Photo Viewer in Windows 10 and 11

To disable Windows Photo Viewer, you must undo the changes you made earlier to the Windows Registry. It's worth making a backup again before making the changes. Then:

1. Press Win R to open the Run dialog. Input notepad and click OK.
2. Copy and paste the following script into the notepad file:

   WindowsRegistryEditorVersion 5.00[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\Windowsphotoviewer.dll] 

   
3. Press Ctrl Shift S to open the Save dialog.
4. Type DeactivateWindowsPhotoViewer.reg as the file name. Click the Save as type drop-down, choose All files (*.*), then click Save.
5. Double-click DeactivateWindowsPhotoViewer.reg to execute the script and follow the on-screen instructions.

Once done, restart Windows Explorer, and the Photo Viewer app will be disabled.

Use One Photo Viewer

One Photo Viewer is an excellent Windows Photo Viewer and Windows Photos alternative. It's fast, free, and offers a clean interface by placing all the controls in the context menu, decluttering the toolbar area. Right-click the app interface to view the menu and access all the tools and settings.

One Photo Viewer offers all the bells and whistles you expect of an image viewer, plus more. You can scroll through the images using the arrow keys or the dedicated buttons, zoom in and out, rotate, crop, resize, or adjust colors.

It also supports RAW formats, including HEIC and WEBP animation, a slideshow from a folder or loaded images, custom keyboard shortcuts, and a color correction tool to make quick enhancements. You can also opt for the $3 Pro version to get two additional features: a toolbar for improved functionality and thumbnails for easier navigation.

Download: One Photo Viewer (Free, premium version available)

That said, if you prefer to stick with a native option, give the built-in Windows Photos app another shot. It's not as bad as you may think upon first use.