Many Windows users use the Microsoft Photos app to view images and videos. The main reason for this is simple: it is the default app for media on Windows. When you click on an image or video, it may open in the Photos app by default.
Microsoft recently made changes to the Photos app on Windows 11. First, it migrated the Photos app from UWP to the Windows App SDK. In addition, Microsoft has started adding AI features to the app, just like it added AI to other parts of the operating system.
Some users are also reporting that the Photos app is autostarting with Windows 11. I couldn’t verify this on Windows 11 version 24H2 devices, but this might be something Microsoft is still testing or rolling out slowly to test reactions.
nice to know: The Changes in June For Insiders. Microsoft has started updating the app on stable versions of Windows 11. It also announced that the updated version will come to Windows 10 devices as well.
This change comes in version 2024.11050.3002.0 of the Photos app. You can check the version by opening the Microsoft Photos app on your device and selecting Settings. The version is displayed under “About” at the bottom of the page that opens.
Some users of the new Photos app encountered two main issues:
- The app is set to autostart with the operating system. This causes the PC to start slower.
- The app takes longer to launch.
Launching the Photos app when the system starts can be beneficial for users who use it regularly. It is problematic for users who do not use it at all. The main reason for this is that it slows down the start of the Windows system without any use when the system is turned on.
How to stop the Photos app from launching with Windows
You can use the built-in admin tool to check the startup status of the Photos app. Here's how to do it:
- Select Start.
- Open the Settings app.
- Go to Apps > Startup.
- See photos.
- Close the photo.
This prevents the autostart of the app with Windows 11. This does not affect any functionality for users who do not use the app. Those who do, may notice a slow startup when launching the app for the first time on the system.
You can also use the best Startup Manager Autoruns To deal with Photos and any other apps that might make their way into the autostart settings.
Also good to know: You can still install the Microsoft Photos legacy app on Windows. It has been replaced by the new app, but it is still available.
There are options
tipIf you're looking for alternatives, consider a lightweight photo viewer like IrfanView Or FastStone Image ViewerThey might not have all the features, but they will get the job done without impacting your system
Remember, keeping an eye on your startup apps is a smart way to maintain your computer's performance. Often it's the quiet, background processes that can have the biggest impact on your system's speed.
When you upgrade your system to Windows 11 version 24H2, you may want to check the autostart entries to make sure any app that you don’t want to start with the system hasn’t added itself to the list.
Have you noticed any other resource-heavy apps on your system? Share your experiences and suggestions in the comments below!
Thanks for reading..
