[Updated] Microsoft Photos app v2024.11050 not opening for some Windows 11 users

11:10 am (IST): It looks like Microsoft is aware of the issue with the Photos app and is working on a solution. This information, apparently, is available through Windows Health and thus requires an M365 Admin Center account. I don’t have one of these, so please let me know in the comments if this is indeed true.

Meanwhile, another user said they were able to open the Photos app from the Start menu after either resetting it or ending its task in Task Manager. This should allow you to access the app’s settings and download the Photos Legacy app from the Microsoft Store without needing admin permissions.

Original article from June 10 follows:

The latest update to the Microsoft Photos app (version 2024.11050.29009.0) has left users across various organizations unable to open the application on Windows 11. Despite repeated attempts to repair, reset, and reinstall the app, users are reporting that the Photos app simply will not launch, leading to significant disruption and frustration. But don’t fret. In this article, I’ve put together several workarounds that users have confirmed worked for them, so be sure to try them out if you’re having issues with the latest Microsoft Photos app on Windows 11. But first, here are some user experiences.

Reports of the issue started appearing in the Microsoft community forum late last month and continue to do so as I pen this. Several users are already expressing their frustration at the lack of an official response from Microsoft. While the problem appears to stem from an incompatibility between the latest update and specific Windows runtime packages, the company hasn’t acknowledged anything just yet. Users describe the Photos app simply failing to launch, with no error messages or explanations provided.

“The Photos app will not open,” says one user. “When I try to open a file, the computer thinks a little and nothing happens.” This sentiment is echoed by many others, with several organizations reporting similar issues across multiple users.

“I have several users in my company having this same issue. Repairing, resetting, uninstalling/reinstalling, and running system file checks have not resolved the problem,” another user states. Organizations affected include various companies and even large-scale environments such as an estate agency and an Intune-managed fleet of almost 1,000 devices.

Microsoft has yet to acknowledge the problem publicly, and the glitched version of the app remains available on the Microsoft Store. This has left users scrambling for solutions, with several workarounds emerging from the community.

In the absence of an official fix from Microsoft, users have been sharing potential workarounds, some of which have shown promising results:

1. Running the Photos app as administrator:

Some users found that opening the Photos app as an administrator allowed it to work temporarily. While this may provide a short-term workaround, it is not a convenient or sustainable solution.

2. Installing the Windows app SDK Runtime:

A more consistent solution shared by multiple users involves installing the latest Windows app SDK Runtime. “The only consistent resolution we’ve found was to install the latest version of Windows App SDK Runtime. We installed 1.5.3,” one user reported. Notably, it’s crucial to run the installation as an administrator and check the Event Viewer for the installation status.

3. Removing group policies:

For some, removing specific group policies related to Microsoft Accounts seemed to alleviate the issue, although this workaround has not been universally effective.

4. Using alternative apps:

In the meantime, users have resorted to using other image viewing applications like Paint or third-party apps as temporary measures.

5. Rolling back to a previous version:

A few users have managed to restore functionality by uninstalling the latest update and reverting to an older version of the Photos app (2024.11030). However, this may not be feasible for everyone, and it does not address the underlying incompatibility issue.

Despite these workarounds, some users express reluctance to implement them on a large scale, especially in production environments. “I’m hesitant to install an SDK on production PCs,” one user admitted. There’s a growing call for Microsoft to officially acknowledge the issue and provide a patch. “This is a bug. Any solutions?” pleaded another user from a large organization.

While the community has rallied to find temporary fixes, the latest update to the Microsoft Photos app has caused widespread disruption. Users and organizations alike are eagerly awaiting an official response and solution from Microsoft. Until then, the recommended workarounds may offer some relief, but they are far from ideal in a professional setting.

Write’s note: For those experiencing this issue, detailed steps for the workarounds mentioned above can be found in Microsoft community forums and technical support boards. If you’re unsure about implementing these solutions, it’s best to consult with your IT department or a professional technician.

Image source: Windows Blog