I recently encountered a frustrating issue with the Photos app on my Windows 10 machine. It all started on a seemingly ordinary day when I tried to open a few pictures from a recent vacation. Instead of enjoying the beautiful memories, I was met with an error message and the app crashing repeatedly. I tried opening other photos, but the result was the same: the Photos app would launch and then immediately close. It was baffling and irritating, especially since I hadn’t made any significant changes to my system recently.
I knew I had to tackle this problem head-on, so I began troubleshooting in earnest. My first instinct was to restart my computer, hoping it might be a temporary glitch. Unfortunately, restarting didn’t solve the issue. The Photos app still crashed as soon as I tried to open it. Next, I checked for any recent updates that might have caused the problem. Sometimes, new updates can introduce bugs, and I figured this could be the case. I went to Windows Update and verified that my system was up-to-date, and to my relief, it was. So, this wasn’t the cause of the issue.
I then turned my attention to the Photos app itself. I decided to repair or reset the app through the settings. I navigated to the “Apps & Features” section in the Settings menu, found the Photos app in the list, and selected “Advanced options.” From there, I chose the “Repair” option. This process attempted to fix any corrupted files or settings without affecting my personal data. After the repair completed, I tried opening the Photos app again, but unfortunately, it still crashed.
Not giving up, I proceeded to the “Reset” option. This step would remove the app’s data and settings, essentially restoring it to its default state. I was a bit apprehensive about this, as I didn’t want to lose any configurations or preferences. However, I decided it was worth a shot, hoping it would resolve the issue. After the reset, I restarted the Photos app, but to my dismay, the crashing issue persisted.
Realizing that the problem might be deeper than a simple repair or reset, I decided to look into the potential conflicts with other software. I recalled that I had recently installed a new photo editing tool that integrated with the Photos app. This new software might have been interfering with the Photos app, causing it to crash. I uninstalled the photo editor and tried to open the Photos app again. This time, it managed to stay open, and I was able to view my pictures. It seemed that the conflict with the newly installed software was indeed the culprit.
While this resolved the issue temporarily, I wanted a more permanent solution. I decided to check if the Photos app had any pending updates. I went to the Microsoft Store and navigated to the “Updates” section. I made sure that all apps, including Photos, were up-to-date. Sometimes, updates can fix bugs and improve compatibility with other software. After installing any available updates, I restarted my computer and tested the Photos app once more. This time, it worked smoothly without crashing.
To further ensure that my system was in good health, I performed a System File Checker (SFC) scan. This utility scans for and repairs corrupted system files. I opened Command Prompt as an administrator and ran the command sfc /scannow. The scan took some time to complete, but it identified and fixed a few issues. Once it finished, I restarted my computer and tried the Photos app again. It continued to function properly, confirming that the SFC scan had addressed some underlying problems.
Despite the improvements, I wanted to be thorough in my troubleshooting. I decided to look into the event logs to see if there were any specific error messages related to the Photos app crashes. I accessed the Event Viewer by searching for it in the Start menu and navigated to the “Windows Logs” section, then “Application.” Here, I looked for error messages or warnings related to the Photos app. I found a few entries that suggested possible issues with certain system components interacting with the app.
Based on these findings, I updated my graphics drivers, as outdated drivers can sometimes cause problems with applications that rely on visual components. I went to the Device Manager, expanded the “Display adapters” section, right-clicked on my graphics card, and selected “Update driver.” I followed the prompts to search for and install the latest driver updates. After updating the drivers, I rebooted my system and tested the Photos app once more. It performed flawlessly, with no crashes or errors.
In conclusion, fixing the Photos app crashing issue on Windows 10 required a combination of troubleshooting steps. I started with basic fixes like repairing and resetting the app, then moved on to checking for software conflicts and updates. The solution involved uninstalling conflicting software, performing a system file scan, and updating drivers. Each step was crucial in resolving the issue and restoring the Photos app to its intended functionality. It was a bit of a journey, but ultimately, I was able to enjoy viewing my vacation pictures without any more interruptions.