FIX: ‘There’s a Problem With Photos’ Error in Windows 11?

The Windows Photos application has improved considerably over the last few years but is still prone to errors. Recently, several users complained that their Photos application crashes whenever they attempt to launch it, and an error stating ‘There’s a Problem With Photos’ appears on their screens. 

We had a look into the issue and discovered that it can be caused by a number of reasons, including a corruption error within the application, an issue with the Microsoft Store installation, and generic inconsistency within your Windows operating system. Whatever the reason might be, the solutions listed below will help you fix the issue in no time. Proceed with the method that suits your situation the best.

Reinstall the App

There are times when a bug or virus infects the application you are trying to use, preventing it from performing its functions like it is supposed to. If you cannot use the Microsoft app, then the first thing we recommend doing is reinstalling the application using Windows Powershell and Microsoft Store.

This method involves uninstalling the installed application and then installing the new, latest version of it using Microsoft Store.

Here are the detailed steps for doing so:

1. Type Powershell in the search area of the taskbar and click on Run as administrator to launch Powershell with administrative privileges.
2. Inside the Powershell window, type the command mentioned below and press Enter to execute it:
   

   get-appxpackage -allusers *Microsoft.Windows.Photos* | remove-appxpackage

   

3. If a confirmation prompt appears on your screen, click on Yes/Allow to proceed.
4. Once done, launch Microsoft Store.
5. Type the app name in the search bar and click on it from the search results.
6. Install the application back and check if you can use it without any issues.
   

Reset Windows Store Cache

Websites, browsers, and apps use caches to store temporary data to load faster. There will be some sort of cache on all types of devices, whether it’s a computer, laptop, phone, browser, or app. 

It makes it easier to retrieve data quickly, resulting in the more efficient operation of devices. As a result, data can be accessed locally instead of constantly downloading when visiting a website or opening an app. 

However, since cached data gets piled over time, it is common for it to become corrupt, causing the application to misbehave. This might also be the case in your scenario, which is why we suggest you reset the Microsoft Store cache and see if that fixes the issue for you.

Re-Register Microsoft Store

Microsoft Store on Windows can experience the same problems as applications do when they become corrupt and fail to work properly. As a result, you have issues launching applications from the Microsoft Store. For instance, the Photos app.

If this scenario is applicable, re-registering the Store should do the trick for you. 

1. Type Powershell in the search area of the taskbar and click on Run as administrator to launch Powershell with administrative privileges.
2. Inside the Powershell window, type the command mentioned below and press Enter to execute it:
   

   Get-AppXPackage *WindowsStore* -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}

   

3. Once Powershell executes the command, restart your PC.
4. Upon reboot, try launching the Photos app again and check if the problem is fixed.

Run Windows Store Troubleshooter

Windows 10 includes the “Windows Store Apps” troubleshooter, a utility that automatically detects and fixes any issues that might prevent your apps from working properly after they are acquired from the Store. If re-registering the Store does not work, you can try running the troubleshooter to fix the Photos error.

You can run this utility using Windows Settings. Follow the steps below to do so:

1. Launch Windows Settings and click on Update & Security.
   

   

2. Select Troubleshoot from the left pane and click on Additional troubleshooters on the right side of the window.
   

   

3. In the Additional troubleshooters window, look for the Store Apps Troubleshooter and click on the Run the troubleshooter button under it.
   

   

4. This should initiate a scan that will look into the system for potential issues. If the troubleshooter identifies issues, click on Apply this fix.
5. Wait for the fixes to be applied and then check if the issue is resolved.

Use System Restore

Another solution you can try is restoring the last working state of your Windows installation using System Restore.

Our Windows operating system created ‘restore points’ every once in a while. The restore points include snapshots of a number of files in your Windows system, your programs, your registry settings, and the drivers that you use. Normally, Windows creates restore points periodically and before critical operations, but you can create them manually too whenever you want.

Using these restore points, you can revert your system to a previous state where the Microsoft applications were working just fine. 

Reset Windows

In the case that none of the above fixes is able to resolve your problem and you still cannot use the Photos application, chances are you are dealing with a severe corruption issue that must be resolved by resetting every component of Windows. In most cases, it’s easiest to perform a clean install, although you’ll lose any personal files, applications, and preferences during this procedure.

If you want to keep all of your files and data, then performing an in-place upgrade is the right option for you. Doing so will reset the components and boot the data while keeping all your files intact.