Users who use Windows 7 may experience various problems when using the built-in tool of this OS to view photos. For example, the tool may not launch at all or may not open images of a certain format. Next, we will figure out exactly how you can fix various problems in the operation of this program.
Specific ways to resolve problems with the photo viewer depend on the nature of the problem and the cause of its occurrence. The main factors that can cause the malfunction under study include the following:
- File association changes or extension identification failure;
- Virus infection of the system;
- Damage to system files;
- Registry errors.
If the tool does not start at all, there is a high probability that its files are damaged due to a virus infection or other failure. Therefore, first of all, check your system for viruses using antivirus utility. By the way, there is also a possibility that the malicious code simply replaced the extension of image files (PNG, JPG, etc.) with EXE and that is why photo viewing applications cannot open them.
Then be sure to scan your system for file corruption using the built-in utility.
If none of these general scanning methods reveal problems, move on to the specific photo viewer troubleshooting options below.
Method 1: Set up file associations
There is a possibility that the cause of the problem lies in a failure in the file association settings. That is, the system simply does not understand which objects the photo viewer should open. This situation could arise when you installed a third-party image viewer, but then uninstalled it. In this case, during installation it rewrote the associations of the image files to itself, and after deleting they simply were not returned to the initial state. Then you need to make a manual adjustment.
- Click the button "Start" in the lower left corner of the screen and select "Control Panel".
- Next, open the section "Programs".
- Click on the item "Matching file types...".
- A list of all file types registered in the system will be loaded. Find in it the name of the extension of the type of image that you want to open using the viewer, select it and click "Change program...".
- In the window that appears in the block "Recommended Programs" select the name "Viewing photos..." and click "OK".
- After this the mapping will change. Now this type images will be opened by default using the Windows Photo Viewer. Similarly, change the associations of all those types of images that you want to open through a standard tool. After completing the necessary actions, you can exit the mapping management window by clicking "Close".
Method 2: Editing the Registry
If you are using 64-bit Windows version 7, the problem with the operation of the photo viewer can be solved by editing the system registry.
Attention! Before performing any of the following steps, be sure to create backup copy registry and system restore point. This will help you avoid big troubles in case of mistakes.
- Dial Win+R and enter the command in the window that opens:
Click the button "OK".
- In the window that appears, open a thread "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT".
- First make settings for files with JPG extension. Move sequentially to the sections:
jpegfile/Shell/open/command
- Then find the parameter "Default" on the right side of the interface. Click on it.
- In the only field of the window that opens, instead of the current entry, enter the following expression:
Click "OK".
- Next, you should do a similar procedure for images with the PNG extension. In the directory "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT" go through the sections:
pngfile/Shell/open/command
- Reopen the object "Default" In chapter "command".
- Change the parameter value to the following:
rundll32.exe "C:\WINDOWS\SysWOW64\shimgvw.dll", ImageView_Fullscreen %1
Click "OK".
- Finally, you should follow the procedure for specifying a collation for images with a JPEG extension. Go to directories "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT" by sections:
PhotoViewer.FileAssoc.Jpeg/Shell/open/command
- Open the object in the last named section "Default".
- Change its value to this:
rundll32.exe "C:\WINDOWS\SysWOW64\shimgvw.dll", ImageView_Fullscreen %1
Click "OK".
- Then close the window "Editor" and reboot the system. After a restart, images with the above extensions will be opened through a standard photo viewer using the second version of the shimgvw.dll library. This should solve the problem with the functionality of this program on Windows 7 64-bit version.
Problems with the built-in photo viewer not working can be caused by a number of different reasons. Each of them has its own solution algorithm. In addition, the specific method depends on the bitness of the operating system. But in most cases, problems can be resolved by updating the file type associations.
Download programs for viewing images and photos.
The best free image viewers for Windows XP, 7, 8, 10.
Download photo, image and graphic file viewing programs on your computer.
FastStone Image Viewer is a fast, stable and user-friendly viewer, editor and converter. FastStone Image Viewer has a nice set of features, including viewing, comparing and resizing images, red-eye removal, and color management (reduction and adjustment).
FastStone Image Viewer is innovative yet intuitive full screen mode viewing, convenient thumbnail browser, quick access to main tools via hidden panels tools that pop up when the mouse touches the four edges of the screen.
version: 4.54 from December 13, 2019A free application for viewing images with the ability to edit them, which allows you to take screenshots, view photos in slideshow mode, and open video and audio files.
Initially, IrfanView was conceived as a regular photo viewer. But then the creators decided to add some functionality to it, thereby increasing the popularity of the product. Let's take latest version IrfanView and let’s take a closer look at what they came up with.
version: 2.49.2 from December 13, 2019XnView is a powerful photo viewer that includes some editing tools. With its help, you can organize convenient viewing of pictures, change the format of selected files, improve sharpness and brightness, add a watermark, and also create a photo gallery for a web page.
If you are planning to show your friends photos from your trip to Thailand or prepare a photo gallery for your website, it is best to do this with XnView - downloading this multifunctional application will be very useful in such cases. Indeed, in addition to creating conditions for comfortable viewing, the program will also allow you to edit images in just a couple of clicks.
version: 3.9.14.259 from November 06, 2015A smart application from Google that will allow you not only to find and organize images on your computer, but also to improve them. At your service is a chic set of popular photo editing tools, as well as several basic tools for video processing.
First of all, Picasa is known as an advanced graphics file organizer. You don't have to search all over your computer for a specific photo. Add tags to images or entire folders and sort them the way you want, not just by date. In addition, you will provide yourself with quick access to pictures - thanks to a kind of library located on the left side of the interface and search tools.
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Our selection includes best apps to view photos, which, despite their free distribution, have high-quality functionality and capabilities on par with commercial software. Viewers graphic images They have options for converting and renaming pictures, creating photo albums for recording on disks, uploading to the Internet, etc.
The utilities we are considering are also editors with a set of tools for processing photographs, deleting unnecessary elements and applying interesting filters. Our review will help you choose a digital image viewing program that meets your needs.
Programs
Russian language
License
Slide show
Rating
Seal
Sorting
Yes Free Yes 10 Yes Yes Yes Free Yes 10 Yes Yes Yes Free Yes 10 Yes Yes Yes Free Yes 9 Yes Yes Yes Free Yes 10 Yes Yes Yes Free Yes 9 Yes Yes Yes Trial Yes 10 Yes Yes Yes Trial Yes 10 Yes Yes Yes Free Yes 10 Yes Yes Yes Free No 7 Yes No 
The application allows you to view photos in various modes, convert them into required format and edit images using a set of useful tools. The utility is one of the fastest among similar viewers; it easily opens objects of less common formats, recognizes audio and video, and can also expand the boundaries of its capabilities by adding plug-ins. The user can extract sections of the image of the selected area and image icons, view images as a thumbnail of the image, create screenshots and use convenient auto-correction.
The program combines the main functions for editing and processing images of various graphic formats and digital RAW. The user can apply watermarks to the image, work with the size, color and unnecessary fragments of images, auto-enhancement, batch processing and red-eye removal. In addition, you can create histograms, business cards and slideshows with music, turn on a magnifying glass and add comments. The application is compatible with the scanner.
One of the best programs for viewing and editing graphic images. Can convert files, change images, create photo albums, set passwords on photos, burn the resulting material to disk or print. You can also resave from one format to another, work with multiple formats, remove red eyes from a photo, and view photos in slide show mode. In addition, the user can take advantage of interesting filters and effects.
Free Google product for quick search, viewing on PC and image editing. Finds images available on the computer and, using a large set of tools and interesting effects, retouches them, creates collages and slide shows. The user can crop, remove red-eye, improve the quality of pictures, adjust color and shadow, as well as adjust height and width. Transferring photos and clips to Google+ will help you quickly display the material in your feed, and the comparison option will allow you to evaluate the initial and final results of the processed image. Pikasa also systematizes pictures and finds them in a common database by tags, faces, geolocation or other parameters of a given sorting.
The utility allows you to view and edit images using a large set of high-quality tools. The viewer opens more than 400 formats, converts files, works with different operating systems and installs new modules. For processing, the user has access to interesting effects and tools, capturing images, creating slide shows and web pages, going to search and selecting skins. Using plugins, integration into the Total Commander shell is possible, and having Nero on your PC will help you burn pictures to discs directly from the software. Creation of photo galleries and web pages is available.
A free Nero product for searching media files, playing and burning DVDs, Blu-Rays and CDs. The utility helps you quickly find the necessary files in the media directory, open them, create images and burn them to media. In addition, you can “upload” material to the Internet, record images in several formats, edit photos and create a slide show or video presentation. Nero Quick works with most formats, recognizes faces and has a large set of powerful tools.
This utility allows you to quickly view and edit photos in a high-quality manner, sort your home collections according to different criteria, and “upload” pictures to resources. The editor is almost as functional as its paid counterparts; it intelligently organizes collections of photographs, removes red eyes, and has options for adjusting color depth, palette, and adding text. You can create 3D buttons, layouts, collages, apply effects and fine tuning parameters. Processed images can be synchronized with mobile version software Free version works 30 days.
The application will help you properly organize your photos, create albums, collections, automatically sort and apply various effects to your photos. With the help of Karambis, you can create a convenient photo library not only for viewing on a PC, but also for use in software for viewing pictures or in social networks. There is a smart search, sorting by dates and locations. You can download GPS tracks and overlay them on an image, apply filters, share material by email, and adjust various quality enhancement settings. Estimate trial version possible within 30 days.
Now let's see what to use to view images on a computer, and choose the best photo viewers for Windows. The best photo viewer is a subjective concept, so in this article I will offer several applications that can be used to open popular graphic formats for viewing and processing images.
Any user, when working on a computer, inevitably encounters pictures, images, photographs. In any case, graphic format files will end up on your computer, so you will need a program to open and view them. Therefore, you need a photo viewer on your computer to easily view digital images.
Windows 10 has a built-in Photos application, with which you can open a graphic file, create an album, make the necessary changes to photos, etc. In previous versions Windows versions View application used Windows images. The user can install Windows Picture Viewer in Windows 10, in addition to the Photos program.
Exists free application Photo Gallery included in the main components Windows Live. The photo album supports opening and editing photos. The program must be installed on your computer (it is not included in the OS).
In addition to applications produced by Microsoft, a large number of third party programs to view and edit images. In this article we will look at the best free image viewer programs that have many additional built-in tools for working with graphic file formats.
Third-party photo viewers (viewers) can be used on your computer as an alternative to standard ones Windows tools. For the best free image viewers, I recommend checking out the following programs: FastStone Image Viewer, XnView, IrfanView, Ashampoo Photo Commander Free, Honeyview. These programs work in Russian in operating system Windows.
These applications, in addition to basic functions, have tools for image editing. For more serious picture editing, you will need another program - an image editor (photo).
The best photo viewers, in addition to the viewing function, have additional features necessary for working with images on a computer. The programs have built-in tools to perform various operations with digital photographs or any other images: rotate, resize, remove red-eye, swatch, color correction, convert to other formats, send for printing, etc.
The free Picasa program (which would have been included in this review) was left out of the scope of this review due to the fact that Google stopped developing and supporting the application in 2016.
FastStone Image Viewer
FastStone Image Viewer is a powerful free program for viewing and processing images with simple, clear interface. Built-in tools will help the user solve certain problems with photography: remove red-eye, change image size, apply color correction, convert files, etc.
A regular version of FastStone Image Viewer or a portable version of the program that does not require installation on a computer is available for download.
Key features of FastStone Image Viewer:
- Opening graphic files of major formats
- Editing digital photos and graphic files
- A large number of built-in tools for working with images
- Batch file processing
- Batch conversion to another format
- Creating a slide show with transitions and effects
- Preview function
XnView
XnView is a free program (for non-commercial use) for viewing images, multimedia files, and converting files to other formats. This is a high-quality program for managing photos on your computer. Thanks to the support large quantity formats, in XnView, in addition to working with graphic files, for example, you can watch movies or listen to music.
The program has a simple interface, a large number of built-in tools, XnView will do an excellent job of processing and editing photos on a computer.
The user can download the regular or portable version of the application to the computer from the official XnView website.
Features of the XnView program:
- Supports more than 500 formats
- Photo editing
- Applying filters and effects
- Screen capture
- Batch conversion
- Editing metadata
- Convert files to 70 file formats
- Supports viewing video and audio files, archives, documents
- Creating a Slideshow
- Plugins are supported to expand the program's capabilities
IrfanView
IrfanView is a fast, free image viewer that consumes minimal computer resources. The program is one of the leaders in the number of downloads in the world for programs of this class. This indirect information tells us about the quality of the application, which is rated by users.
Honeyview is a free image viewer with a simple and intuitive interface. The program opens quickly graphic files, the application has photo editing tools.
You can download from the official website of the developer in the form installation file or as a portable version.
Honeyview program features:
- Supports a large number of graphic formats
- RAW format support
- Viewing images in archives
- View photos in slideshow mode
- Bookmark for favorite photos
- Support GPS data on photos
Conclusion
The user can choose the best photo viewer running on Windows for their computer. Free programs: FastStone Image Viewer, XnView, IrfanView, Ashampoo Photo Commander Free, Honeyview are among the best image viewers in this class of programs.