Images Open in “Print Pictures” Instead of the Photos App

When you double-click an image file (e.g., JPG/PNG/BMP) in Windows 11, the image file opens in the “Print Pictures” app/dialog instead of the Photos app.

Print Pictures dialog opens when double-clicking photos

This happens if the “Print” command is somehow registered as the default double-click action for image files in Windows 11.

remove "edit with clipchamp"

Reinstalling the Photos app doesn’t resolve the issue.

Cause

The above symptom is caused by a buggy shell extension that comes with the Clipchamp app. The above bug could be simulated in the current version (v2.3.0.0) of Clipchamp.

See also: Troubleshoot Shell extension issues in Windows.

Solution

To resolve the problem, disable the Clipchamp shell extension (Clipchamp.ShellExtension.dll) via the registry, or uninstall the Clipchamp app if you don’t plan to use it.

You can uninstall Clipchamp via the Start menu or Settings → Apps & Features.



uninstall Clipchamp - Print Pictures dialog opens when double-clicking photos

Alternately, to disable Clipchamp shell extension only (without removing the app), open Command Prompt as administrator. Then, run the following command:

reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell Extensions\Blocked" /v {8AB635F8-9A67-4698-AB99-784AD929F3B4} /f

Log off and log back in for the change to take effect.

Undo Information

If Microsoft fixes the bug in a future release of Clipchamp, you can unblock its shell extension using the following command-line:

reg delete "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell Extensions\Blocked" /v {8AB635F8-9A67-4698-AB99-784AD929F3B4} /f

See if double-clicking image files open in the Photos app (or whichever is the default image viewer on your computer.)


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Ramesh Srinivasan is passionate about Microsoft technologies and he has been a consecutive ten-time recipient of the Microsoft Most Valuable Professional award in the Windows Shell/Desktop Experience category, from 2003 to 2012. He loves to troubleshoot and write about Windows. Ramesh founded Winhelponline.com in 2005.

9 thoughts on “Images Open in “Print Pictures” Instead of the Photos App”

  1. THIS ACTUALLY WORKS, THANK YOU. FINALLY A TUTORIAL THAT ACTUALLY GAVE ME THE ANSWER. I HOPE YOUR PILLOW IS ALWAYS COLD EVERYNIGHT ON BOTH SIDES

    Reply
  2. This seems like great advice but I don’t actually seem to have this program installed? it doesn’t show up in apps under settings, the start menu, or when searching in windows explorer.

    Reply

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