How to fix if you can't open JPG files in Windows

By default, Windows opens JPG files using the Microsoft Photos app, which comes preinstalled with the OS. While it is not as powerful as some third-party options, it still lets you open and view files easily, which is good enough for most users. However, at times, you may not be able to open JPG files in Windows at all, due to various reasons. The issue may be with the Photos app, or with the OS itself. To sort out the problem, you will need to try out a few fixes.

Solution 1: Check your JPG file

Certain issues with your JPG file may be preventing Windows from opening it, such as having an incorrect file extension or an extremely long file name. In this case, you will have to rename the file and give it a shorter name and the file extension '.jpg'.

Besides this, you should check the size of the file as Windows will not be able to open an extremely large file. To open such a file, you first need to edit it in an image editing program and reduce its file size. Then retry opening it in Windows.

Finally, some JPG files may be corrupted, which is another reason Windows may be unable to open them. Download other JPGs from the internet and see if you can open them to confirm this.

Solution 2: Repair, update, or reset the Microsoft Photos app

By default, Windows opens JPG files using the Microsoft Photos app, unless you've changed this to a third-party application. If there is a problem with this app, it may be unable to open your JPG files. To fix this, you can try updating or repairing the app or resetting it completely.

1. Open the Microsoft Store from the Start menu and then search for the Microsoft Photos app.

2. If an update is available, click on the 'Update' button on the left and wait for the update to complete. Then try using the Photos app to open a JPG file.
3. In case that does not work, close the Microsoft Store app and right-click on the Start button before clicking on 'Installed apps' at the top.

4. When the list of installed apps appears, locate the Photos app and click on the three dots to its right before selecting 'Advanced options'.

5. Now scroll down and click on the 'Repair' button.

6. Wait for the process to complete and then try using the app to open a JPG file again. If that does not work, go back to the same page and this time click on the 'Reset' button. This will remove all app data, which may have become corrupted, and hopefully resolve the problem.

Solution 3: Use another program to open JPGs

If the Microsoft Photos app isn't working, consider using a different application to open your JPG files, like IrfanView, which is a lightweight program that can open a variety of images in different formats.

1. Download the application you want to use to open JPG files on your Windows machine and install it.
2. Navigate to the JPG file you want to open, right-click on it, select 'Open with', and then choose IrfanView or your preferred application.

3. If your third-party application can open your JPG files, you can set it as the default app for this purpose. To do so, right-click on a JPG image and then click on 'Properties'.

4. Once the Properties dialog box appears, click on the 'Change' button.

5. Then select your preferred application and click on the 'Set default' button.

Solution 4: Perform an SFC scan

Sometimes system files can get corrupted and lead to various problems, such as Windows being unable to open JPG images. You can use the built-in System File Checker tool to scan for and fix system files.

1. Open the Start menu, type cmd, and click on 'Run as administrator'.

2. When the Command Prompt window appears, type sfc /scannow and press Enter.

3. Wait for the scan to complete and then type the following commands one by one into the window, pressing Enter after each one:
   
   DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

4. Once the process is complete, reboot your computer. Then try to open JPG files as you normally do and see whether that works.

Solution 5: Re-register Microsoft Store apps

1. Open the Start menu, type powershell and click on 'Run as administrator'.

2. When the PowerShell window opens, type the following inside it and press Enter: Get-AppXPackage | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}

3. This will re-register all Microsoft Store apps, including the Photos app. You can then try using it to open your JPG files again.

Solution 6: Use PowerShell to reinstall the Photos app

You can also reinstall the Photos app using PowerShell.

1. Open PowerShell with Admin rights as explained and type get-appxpackage *Microsoft.Windows.Photos* | remove-appxpackage before pressing Enter.

2. After running this command, open the Microsoft Store and download the Photos app again.

Solution 7: Change the file type association

Third-party applications can sometimes change their file type associations, which can prevent Windows from opening JPG files. Here's how to fix this.

1. Open the Settings app using the Win + I shortcut and then click on 'Apps' on the left.

2. Next, click on 'Default apps'.

3. Now, type .jpg in the search box at the top and the default app that is set to open JPG files will appear.

4. You can click on the program to change it and select a different one. Then click on the 'Set default' button.

Solution 8: Run Windows Update

Your copy of Windows may have some bugs that are causing issues like preventing you from opening JPG files. Updating your system can help get rid of such bugs and may help fix the problem.

1. Open the Settings app and click on 'Windows Update' on the bottom left.

2. On the Windows Update page, click on the 'Check for updates' button.

3. If updates are available, Windows will download and install them. Restart your computer after they are installed and then check whether you can open JPG files now.

Solution 9: Remove recent updates

While Windows updates can contain bug fixes, they sometimes also contain bugs themselves. If you're unable to open JPG files after updating your PC, consider uninstalling recent Windows updates as they might be the cause of the problem.

1. Open the Windows Update page in the Settings app and click on 'Update history'.

2. You will see recently installed updates on the next page. Scroll down and click on 'Uninstall updates'.

3. Now you can see the updates you can remove. Click on the 'Uninstall' option on the right to do so.

Solution 10: Scan for malware and viruses

Viruses and malware can also cause issues preventing Windows from opening JPG files. You can scan for them using Windows Defender or a third-party antivirus program and then take the required steps to remove them from your computer.

1. Click on the taskbar overflow button that appears as an arrow to access hidden icons.

2. When the hidden icons appear, click on your antivirus to open it.

3. When your antivirus program opens, click on the 'Deep scan' or 'Complete scan' option and wait for the scan to complete.

4. If the antivirus program recommends any steps, follow them and then restart your computer before trying to open JPG files again.

Solution 11: Run a CHKDSK scan

The CHKDSK scan searches for any errors in the Windows system files and tries to fix them. To run it,

1. Open Command Prompt with elevated privileges as explained above.
2. Type chkdsk /f /r and press Enter. Once the scan is complete, you can try opening JPG files and see if it is working now.

Solution 12: Run the Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter

On Windows 10, you can use the Store Apps Troubleshooter to fix problems that can prevent Store apps like Microsoft Photos from working properly.

1. Open the Settings page and click on 'Update and Security'.
2. Then click on 'Troubleshoot' and scroll down to Windows Store Apps.
3. Click on it and then on the 'Run the troubleshooter' button. Wait for the troubleshooter to run and then follow the steps that appear on your screen.

Things to know

• If you are unable to open JPG files because they are corrupt, try using third-party professional repair tools to repair them. There are several options you can try, such as JPEG Repair Shop, JPEG Recovery Pro, PixRecovery, etc.
• Depending on which version of Windows you are using, some options may not be present or may appear differently. For instance, you cannot access the Microsoft Store apps troubleshooter from the Windows Update page in Windows 11 as in Windows 10.
• Third-party programs, especially those related to image editing and viewing, can sometimes change certain settings preventing Windows from opening image files. If the problem started occurring after you recently installed such an application, consider removing it and then try opening JPG files again.
• If you've set up a restore point, you can use the System Restore feature to revert your PC to an earlier time when it did not have trouble opening JPG files.