How to Fix “Not Implemented” Error When Opening Images?

Encountering the error “Not Implemented” when opening the Photos App indicates that the operating system is unable to execute the requested action due to missing or unregistered components. This issue can arise at any time; however, many users have reported it occurring after the recent Windows update.

Before proceeding to the methods, it is recommended to restart your computer. Restarting can eliminate bugs and reduce conflicts that might interfere with and prevent photos from displaying. The issue might be fixed after a restart; however, it may recur after a few hours or days. Therefore, we recommend performing the following steps so you don’t need to worry.

1. Install Microsoft Photo Legacy or Switch to Classic Photo Viewer

Installing Microsoft Photo Legacy or switching to the classic photo viewer offers one of the simplest solutions to this issue. This eliminates the need for the Photos app, directly resolving the issue without requiring further action.

To install Microsoft Photo Legacy, simply open the Microsoft Store, search for Microsoft Photo Legacy, and install it.

1. To switch to the classic photo viewer, download the registry file from the link provided.
2. After downloading, double-click the file to run it.
   
3. Click Run to confirm the action.
   
4. Click Yes if prompted by User Account Control (UAC).
5. Once completed, right-click on the taskbar and select Task Manager.
   
6. In Task Manager, right-click on Windows Explorer and select Restart.
   
7. Finally, right-click on the image you want to open, hover over Open with, and select Windows Photo Viewer to open the image.
   

2. Install Optional Updates

Missing important Windows components required to open photos via the Windows Photo app might be the cause. Additionally, optional updates sometimes include fixes and improvements that can address this issue without needing further action. Therefore, ensure you install optional updates or even the Windows update if available to resolve the problem.

1. Press the Win key and type Check For Updates.
   
2. Hit enter to open the Windows Update Settings.
3. Select Advanced Options and click Optional Updates under Additional Options.
4. Select all the updates, whether they are optional or Windows updates, and click Download and Install.
   
5. Once done, see if this resolves the issue.

If this does not work, you can try uninstalling the recent Windows update from your system, which might have caused this issue.

3. Reinstall Microsoft Photo Viewer

If there are missing or corrupted files for the Photos application, try reinstalling the Microsoft Photos app to refresh its components, ensuring it can properly display images without interference.

1. Press the Win key and type Windows PowerShell.
2. Right-click on it and select Run as administrator.
   
3. Enter the following command to uninstall the Photos app.

   Get-AppxPackage *Microsoft.Windows.Photos* | Remove-AppxPackage

   

4. Upon completion, open the Microsoft Store and install the Photos app from there.
   
5. Then, try opening the photo by double-clicking on it.

4. Use a Workaround to Avoid the Issue

If the issue still persists, you can use an alternative workaround until Microsoft addresses it. The workaround involves right-clicking the image you want to open and selecting Edit with Photos. This will open the image in the Photos app editor. Simply click Cancel, and the image will open normally.

While this is not a permanent solution, it will surely help in urgent situations where you need to open an image that is showing the error message.

5. Use a System Restore Utility

If this issue occurred after installing the Windows update and is not resolved by uninstalling that update or following the above methods, you have the option to use the System Restore utility to revert to the previous state of your Windows. However, this requires a restore point created before you encountered this issue.

Sometimes, the Windows Update utility creates a restore point before installing updates, so it’s worth checking, as it might have been created either by you or by a Windows update.

1. Press the Win + R keys simultaneously to open the Run Program.
2. Type rstrui in the input box and click OK to open the System Restore utility.
   
3. Click Next and select a restore point.
   
4. Then, click Next and click Finish to start the process.
   
5. Once done, check if the issue is fixed.

If you are still facing the issue, there may not be much left to do until Microsoft releases a fix in the next updates. Meanwhile, you can use other photo viewer apps like Microsoft Photo Legacy or the classic photo viewer.