If you're running Windows 10 there are some changes you might have noticed when viewing images. Those that upgraded from previous version will retain Windows Photo Viewer along with the new Photos. Those that have a clean install of Windows 10 will only see the new Photos.

Window Photo Viewer however is not gone, but rather hidden in the clean install of Windows 10. In order to access it, you will need to add some code to your registry. Simply put the below code into Notepad and save the file as a .reg file. (ie. photoviewer.reg).

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTApplicationsphotoviewer.dll]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTApplicationsphotoviewer.dllshell]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTApplicationsphotoviewer.dllshellopen]
"MuiVerb"="@photoviewer.dll,-3043"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTApplicationsphotoviewer.dllshellopencommand]
@=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,
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,
6f,00,74,00,6f,00,56,00,69,00,65,00,77,00,65,00,72,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,
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,
5f,00,46,00,75,00,6c,00,6c,00,73,00,63,00,72,00,65,00,65,00,6e,00,20,00,25,
00,31,00,00,00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTApplicationsphotoviewer.dllshellopenDropTarget]
"Clsid"="{FFE2A43C-56B9-4bf5-9A79-CC6D4285608A}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTApplicationsphotoviewer.dllshellprint]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTApplicationsphotoviewer.dllshellprintcommand]
@=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,
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,
6f,00,74,00,6f,00,56,00,69,00,65,00,77,00,65,00,72,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,
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,
5f,00,46,00,75,00,6c,00,6c,00,73,00,63,00,72,00,65,00,65,00,6e,00,20,00,25,
00,31,00,00,00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTApplicationsphotoviewer.dllshellprintDropTarget]
"Clsid"="{60fd46de-f830-4894-a628-6fa81bc0190d}"


You can save this anywhere, like your Desktop, and then just double-click the file. You'll be asked if you're sure you want to continue, so click Yes. That's it! You'll be able to right-click on any image and open with Windows Photo Viewer now. You can also set it as your default if you wish to.