Windows Photo Viewer is the classic image viewer that was used in earlier versions of Windows. Some users still prefer it because it is simple, fast, and familiar. On newer Windows systems, it may not appear as an available app for opening picture files by default.
The registry file shown here is used to register the legacy Windows Photo Viewer as an application for picture file types. After applying it, Windows can show Windows Photo Viewer as an option when choosing an app to open images.
Purpose
The purpose of this registry entry is to make photoviewer.dll available as an image-viewing application in Windows.
It adds Windows Photo Viewer to the current user’s application list and defines how Windows should open and print image files with it. This allows the user to select Windows Photo Viewer from the “Open with” menu or set it as the default app for supported picture file types.
What It Does
This registry file adds entries under:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\Applications\photoviewer.dll
Because it uses HKEY_CURRENT_USER, the change applies only to the current Windows user account. It does not affect all users on the computer.
The registry entries define two main actions:
Open Images
The open section tells Windows how to launch Windows Photo Viewer when an image file is opened.
It uses rundll32.exe to call the Windows Photo Viewer library and open the selected picture in full-screen image-viewing mode.
This makes Windows Photo Viewer available as an app that can open picture files.
Print Images
The print section registers a print action for Windows Photo Viewer.
This allows Windows to recognize that Windows Photo Viewer can also be used when printing image files. The NeverDefault value helps prevent this print action from becoming the default print behavior automatically.
How to Use It
To use this registry content, save it as a .reg file.
For example:
register-photo-viewer.reg
Then double-click the file and allow Windows to add the information to the registry.
After applying the file, you can choose Windows Photo Viewer for image files by doing the following:
- Right-click a picture file.
- Select Open with.
- Choose Choose another app.
- Select Windows Photo Viewer if it appears.
- Optionally enable Always use this app to make it the default for that file type.
Important Note
Editing the Windows Registry can affect how Windows behaves. Before applying a registry file, make sure the contents are trusted and suitable for your system.
This registry file is intended to register the legacy Windows Photo Viewer for the current user only. It does not install a new program; it only makes an existing Windows component available as an application option for picture files.
Summary
This registry file restores Windows Photo Viewer as a selectable app for image files. It is useful for users who prefer the classic Windows image viewer instead of newer photo apps. Once registered, Windows Photo Viewer can be selected from the “Open with” menu and used to open supported picture files.
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\Applications\photoviewer.dll]
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\Applications\photoviewer.dll\shell]
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\Applications\photoviewer.dll\shell\open]
"MuiVerb"="@photoviewer.dll,-3043"
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\Applications\photoviewer.dll\shell\open\command]
@=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,74,00,25,\
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00,74,00,6f,00,20,00,56,00,69,00,65,00,77,00,65,00,72,00,5c,00,50,00,68,00,\
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00,22,00,2c,00,20,00,49,00,6d,00,61,00,67,00,65,00,56,00,69,00,65,00,77,00,\
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00,31,00,00,00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\Applications\photoviewer.dll\shell\open\DropTarget]
"Clsid"="{FFE2A43C-56B9-4bf5-9A79-CC6D4285608A}"
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\Applications\photoviewer.dll\shell\print]
"NeverDefault"=""
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\Applications\photoviewer.dll\shell\print\command]
@=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,74,00,25,\
00,5c,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,72,00,75,00,\
6e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,33,00,32,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,20,00,22,00,25,\
00,50,00,72,00,6f,00,67,00,72,00,61,00,6d,00,46,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,73,00,\
25,00,5c,00,57,00,69,00,6e,00,64,00,6f,00,77,00,73,00,20,00,50,00,68,00,6f,\
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00,31,00,00,00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\Applications\photoviewer.dll\shell\print\DropTarget]
"Clsid"="{60fd46de-f830-4894-a628-6fa81bc0190d}"
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