My old windows photo editor stopped working yesterday and how can I fix this app?

Question

My old windows photo editor stopped working yesterday and how can I fix this app?

Mick Marino 20

I have my favorite windows photo editor that I really love and yesterday it stopped working. And today it disappeared from my computer. This app was free on my windows 10 desktop computer around 2012. How can I retrieve this app?

Dobviews _ 0 Reputation points

2026-09-13T03:13:57.1533333+00:00

Same, my old program would allow me to open photo designer or edit with Designer from the top options. Now it is gone and I have a presentation due for this Tuesday which is now in jeopardy! Instead of just changing apps we use and depend on without telling us, instead ask us if we want to change! Even switching back to Photos Legacy does not allow me to open files from other folders into Window Photos and on top of that when I did move all of my photos they are jumbled mess and it still does not have the Designer Option at the top!

Windows... YOU FECKING SUCK BALLS!

Answer accepted by question author

John DeV 169.6K Independent Advisor

Hi, good day!

Can you remember what specific name of the photo editor app is so I can have an idea of what solutions I can provide?

Mick Marino 20 Reputation points

2026-05-08T22:16:30.5633333+00:00

Hi, When I choose this photo editor is says the option is “Edit with Photos “ . But I have to choose other options when I select this photo editor. But it is not working.
John DeV 169.6K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-05-08T22:19:05.8566667+00:00

If you can share what the editor looked like, any names, words, or icons you remember, or the features you used most often, I can help identify the app and guide you through reinstalling or restoring it.

2 additional answers

Your answer

Dobviews _ 0 Reputation points

2026-09-13T03:13:57.1533333+00:00

Same, my old program would allow me to open photo designer or edit with Designer from the top options. Now it is gone and I have a presentation due for this Tuesday which is now in jeopardy! Instead of just changing apps we use and depend on without telling us, instead ask us if we want to change! Even switching back to Photos Legacy does not allow me to open files from other folders into Window Photos and on top of that when I did move all of my photos they are jumbled mess and it still does not have the Designer Option at the top!

Windows... YOU FECKING SUCK BALLS!
Mick Marino 20 Reputation points

2026-05-08T22:16:30.5633333+00:00

Hi, When I choose this photo editor is says the option is “Edit with Photos “ . But I have to choose other options when I select this photo editor. But it is not working.
John DeV 169.6K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-05-08T22:19:05.8566667+00:00

If you can share what the editor looked like, any names, words, or icons you remember, or the features you used most often, I can help identify the app and guide you through reinstalling or restoring it.

Answer 1

Somil Jain 660

hi Mick Marino,
It may have been removed or broken by a recent Windows update, Microsoft Store update, or accidental uninstall.

First, try to identify which app it was:

Windows Photo Viewer

Microsoft Photos

Paint

Windows Live Photo Gallery

or another older editor

A few things to try:

Search for the app in:

Start Menu

  Settings → Apps → Installed Apps
  
  If it was a Microsoft Store app:
  
     Open Microsoft Store
     
        Library → reinstall/update it
        
        Run:
        
        ```
        wsreset.exe
        ```
        
        to reset the Store cache.
        
        If it was an older classic Windows program, check:
        
        ```sql
        C:\Program Files

C:\Program Files (x86) ```

        Also check whether System Restore can restore the app:
        
        ```
        rstrui.exe
        ```

If you remember the exact app name, it will be much easier to determine whether it can still be restored or reinstalled.
If my answer is useful for you, please hit Accept the answer to support me.

Thank you so much,

Mick Marino 20 Reputation points

2026-05-08T22:13:36.15+00:00

Hi, When I choose this photo editor is says the option is “Edit with Photos “ . But I have to choose other options when I select this photo editor. But it is not working.
Somil Jain 660 Reputation points

2026-05-09T02:12:26.5+00:00

Hi Mick Marino,

Thank you for the additional information.

It sounds like the “Edit with Photos” option is present, but the Microsoft Photos app is not responding correctly when that option is selected.

This is commonly caused by a corrupted Photos app installation or broken app registration after a Windows or Microsoft Store update.

Please try repairing or resetting the Photos app from:

Settings → Apps → Installed Apps → Microsoft Photos → Advanced Options

First select Repair, and if the issue continues, select Reset.

You can also try reinstalling or updating Microsoft Photos through the Microsoft Store.

If needed, re-register the app using PowerShell (Run as Administrator):

Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.Windows.Photos | Foreach {

Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"

}

After completing the steps, restart the PC and test “Edit with Photos” again.

If my answer is helpful for you, please click “Accept Answer” to support me.

Thank you so much.

Answer 2

Mick Marino 20

Hi, When I choose this photo editor is says the option is “Edit with Photos “ . But I have to choose other options when I select this photo editor. But it is not working.

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