The simple tool for viewing and editing JPG files removed without my knowledge

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Windows 10 Pro x64 22H2 on a desktop PC.

Yesterday, I double clicked a JPG file in File Explorer and to my surprise, the file was opened in an app that I had never seen before.  After some investigation, it transpires that the app was the new Photos app.

Previously, whenever I double clicked a JPG file in File Explorer, the file was opened in a tool with some fairly rudimentary function.  Its background colour was white and it enabled me to crop the file, rotate it, and resize it, which are the only pieces of function that I really require.  And, for resizing, it presented three basic options (if I recall correctly) – one of which was to convert it to a suitable size for emails. But I have no idea what the name of this tool was, and it appears to have disappeared completely.

After some searches on the Internet, I discovered the original Photos app was still available as the Photos Legacy app.  So, I installed the Photos Legacy app and opened a JPG file with that app.  But it definitely wasn’t the tool that I had been using previously for opening JPG files.  So, I have now uninstalled it.

I then uninstalled the Photos app and now, when I double click a JPG file, the file is opened in the Paint 3D app!

While the new Photos app was still installed, Settings > Apps informed me that the new Photos app was installed only four days ago on 26 October 2024.  Now, I have done nothing to cause it to be installed.  I haven’t even installed the October Windows updates on my system yet.  And I don’t have automatic updates of apps set in Microsoft Store.

Does anyone have any idea what might have happened?  Does anyone know what the simple tool was that opened a JPG file when I double clicked it in File Explorer?  I would like that tool back.

I am tempted to try restoring my system to a restore point earlier than 26 October 2024.  The problem I anticipate though is that, if it works and I get my simple tool back, how do I know that Windows will not remove it and install the new Photos app again?

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Deo

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Try this: https://www.askwoody.com/forums/reply/2287197/

It’s the old Photo Viewer from Win7.

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Thank you for your reply. But, sorry, that is not the tool that was used to open a JPG file for viewing and simple editing when I double clicked the file in File Explorer on my Windows 10 system. As far as I can see, the old Photo Viewer does not allow me to rotate, crop or resize a JPG file.

It is really a mystery what happened on 26 October 2024. As well as the new Photos app being installed on that date, there is also a system restore point for that date. Windows did something on that date without my knowledge and without any warning. Any ideas?

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Why not open .JPG with Paint ?

What is your default app setting for .JPG, .PNG…

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Thank you for your reply.

I don’t have very sophisticated requirements for editing JPG files. All I need to be able to do is rotate, crop, resize and print JPG files, and the tool I have now lost used to enable me to do those tasks very simply. I don’t want to open JPG files with Paint or the Photos app, which contain far more function that I need.

In Settings > Apps, the default app setting for Photo viewer and JPG files is currently the old Photo Viewer because I have just implemented PKCano’s suggestion. However, before I did that, the setting was Choose a default.

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After further investigation, the tool that I was using to view, rotate, crop, resize and print a JPG file appears to have been an old version of the Microsoft Photos app, even older than the function provided in the Photos Legacy app.

When I wanted to resize a JPG file using the old tool, I was given four options:

1. S: Best for profile pictures and thumbnails 0.25MP
2. M: Best for emails and messages 2MP
3. L: Best for viewing 4MP
4. Define custom dimensions

But the first three simple options are no longer offered in either the new Photos app or the Photos Legacy app.

As I mentioned in my initial post, restoring the system to its state before 26 October 2024 might restore the older version of the Photos app, but it would be a futile exercise unless I can stop Windows updating the app again.

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Deo, satrow

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TonyC wrote:

When I wanted to resize a JPG file using the old tool, I was given four options: S: Best for profile pictures and thumbnails 0.25MP M: Best for emails and messages 2MP L: Best for viewing 4MP Define custom dimensions

Although not exactly the tool you used, very similar in its actions is the Image Resizer that comes with Power Toys. Install Power Toys (link below). Turn on Image Resizer. To Use: Right click a .jpeg photo and select the Resize with Image Resizer from the context menu and select from the list as shown in the screenshot below.

PowerToys

HTH, Dana:))

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young058

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TonyC wrote:

All I need to be able to do is rotate, crop, resize and print JPG files,

Windows build-in Paint app does all that.

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You can also use the excellent free portable FastStone Image Viewer

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I’m giving up. I use Group Policy Editor settings to prevent automatic Windows updates and, as stated previously, I don’t have automatic updates of apps set in Microsoft Store. Nevertheless, Windows has automatically updated the Photos app on my system without my knowledge or any warning, and I am just feeling a little sore about it.

I refer to the following statement on the Windows Update page in Settings:

We’ll ask you to download updates, except when updates are required to keep Windows running smoothly. In that case, we’ll automatically download those updates.

My assumption is that Microsoft wanted to deprecate the old version of the Photos app that I was using and took a unilateral decision to update it automatically on my system.

My thanks to everyone who has responded.

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Deo, satrow

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Here’s a link to directly download the AppxBundle installer for the Microsoft Windows Photos 2020.20120.4004.0 x64 version that originally came with Windows 10 without needing to go thru the MS Store.

http://tlu.dl.delivery.mp.microsoft.com/filestreamingservice/files/dcbafdfc-253b-49aa-9c77-9677bb295545?P1=1730388548&P2=404&P3=2&P4=MqQ9Jo9n6xVs6sDvvjmVyCpwNNK9hEy5yjr7WgJ2o%2bBgk8%2f%2blVOc4MgZPez10isXXGJ5LcXgwQaSVUe3OI7tzA%3d%3d

Simply save it to your PC and then run as Admin to install it.

Since the newer version is already installed, you’ll get an alert indicating it’s installed and have to press Reinstall twice to force the older version to install.

Note: it’s also “possible” the older version may fail to install due to missing dependencies and leave the new version in place.

Good luck!

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Deo

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Would it help to uninstall the new photos app first?

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Hi N0ads! Thx yet you intimate a “good luck” which I take as it may not work?

I so appreciate your research, links & advice, but prior to adding yet another ‘tweak’ of this magnitude on my system, may I pls ask if it worked for you? many thx!

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It looks like you’ll be able to get your favored program back based on other responses in this thread but having an alternative is always nice.

I’ve used the freeware program Irfanview to do similar what you say you wish to do and a bit more. It’s worth checking out as an alternative or backup and handles a huge variety of formats and functions with the plugin pack installed.

https://www.irfanview.com/

 

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TonyC wrote:

I’m giving up. I use Group Policy Editor settings to prevent automatic Windows updates

You are on Pro version so set ‘notify=2’ (notify don’t download/install).
I just got notification about PowerShell 7.4.6 update.

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@Alex5723 et al above: I HAVE 10 Pro set to “notify=2” and windows app auto updates turned off. Alas, I forgot to turn ‘metered connection on’ off again after Oct updates (win 10 Pro) as I was awaiting the Webview2 update to deal with ‘Search/News Interest’ issues, and thus got this new Photo App round-a-bout. Thus don’t think it’s a GP notify 2 issue.

Are @TonyC and I the only ones met with this fate?

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satrow

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The GP setting of “2” only applies to the updates served through Windows Update.
It doesn’t apply to Store Apps, Edge, Office 365, the “rollback” updates that correct a problem in the background, or any other thing that does not get updates through WU.

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Alex5723

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Thanks so much @PKCano! I appreciate & get your explanation. However, I followed all those advisements via your sage advice for years. This does NOT explain this new Photos App chaos nor what to do about it.

(You have always used ‘native’ windows fixes, and though I am unsure but believe you don’t use photos app?) I wonder if guru you:) or anyone on AW can confirm this is occurring on all win 10(11?) pro, why,  and how to circumvent? Or undo this NEW photo app craziness? Why should a normal local consumer, jump thru hoops (manually mess with PC) to achieve app stasis?

I am a local account only, and simply need the photos app for it’s normally basic purposes, as the OP, that has worked well, and locally vs needing ms account.  I wonder how many users have jaws dropped, gobsmacked, not knowing what to do now? AND what to do? Haven’t seen many complaining (yet) but surely there will be, and it is frustrating. And a privacy invasion, no?

Am certainly not complaining about you or anyone else here, just wondering if anyone or Susan will address this, as I’m sure it’s affecting many. If I am wrong, and it’s only me, no problem, yet why?

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What chaos?

The newly introduced Photos app on Windows 10 offers enhanced capabilities for managing and editing your photos.
…
If you’d rather continue using the previous Windows 10 photo experience, which includes Video Editor, you can download Photos Legacy.

Changes in the new Photos app on Windows 10

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The “chaos” from my point of view is simply that Windows decided to update my Photos app even though auto-update of apps is set to OFF in my profile settings in Microsoft Store.

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