Helping people with computers... one answer at a time.
Windows Picture and FAX Viewer is the default application for viewing images under Windows. But there are many other programs out there as well.
How do I make something other than "Picture and FAX Viewer" the default for viewing pictures?
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I'm sure that Microsoft believes they're being helpful by providing this default viewer for graphics images. But in reality this is a common question I get and it's one of several things I "fix" when I install a new copy of Windows XP. It's not difficult to change, just a tad cumbersome.
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If, when you try to view a picture, it's displayed in the "Picture and FAX Viewer", do the following:
Note what the file extension is. That's the ".jpg", ".gif", and so on at the end of the filename. It indicates the type of picture and more importantly it's what Windows uses to decide what program to use to display it.
Close "Picture and FAX Viewer".
Open up Windows Explorer. (The Windows Key + E, on many keyboards.)
Find any file with that same extension. It's handy if it's the same file but it doesn't have to be.
Right-click on the filename and select Open With ....
Even if the program you want is already listed don't click on it. Instead, select Choose Program at the bottom of the list that's displayed.
In the resulting dialog box, click on the program you want to use to view pictures.
Check the box labeled "Always use the selected program to open this kind of file".
Press OK
This made your selection permanent. That particular type of image file will now be opened with the program you've selected.
The only down side to this approach is that you'll need to repeat it for each different image type (file extension) that you typically view. Fortunately that's usually only a handful.
You can also change the program used per extension by visiting Tools, Folder Options, File Types in Windows explorer, but personally I find this technique using Open With ... and Always use ... to be easier and quicker.
Update:
View Selecting a Different Image Viewer and watch as I walk you through the Tools, Folder Options method of making this change.
Article C1909 - March 18, 2004 « »
Leo A. Notenboom has been playing with computers since he
was required to take a programming class in 1976. An 18 year career as a programmer at Microsoft soon followed.
After "retiring" in 2001, Leo started Ask Leo! in 2003 as a place for answers
to common computer and technical questions. More about Leo.
July 9, 2009 4:04 AM
my pictures does not display....what's the reason?? is the cause virus if then which virus and what should we do for it????
February 27, 2010 12:33 PM
How do I opened a ".pps" file that is send to me in Outlook Express? I get the message that there is no program associated with the file. Well, there is and its properly associated in the File Options. Now, if I save the PPS to my Desktop, the Power Point Viewer open it immediately.
October 20, 2010 1:01 PM
win xp sp3. i followed your directions for changing jpg viewing to my prefered program (i.s., psp.exe).
it opened psp.exe with the jpg in it. i closed that.
the icon didnt change for jpg files. AND if iclick on a jpg file it opened up in XXXX windows picture and fax viewer.
ARRRRGH.
i even tried to delete and rename shimg...dll ... but i ALWAYS COMES BACK.
i am at a loss here . i never have had a problem like this before. i wanted delet the JPG type and put in as new but it will not remove .
... rebooted eariler and previously GREYED OUT "always use the slected program ..." is now open taking a check ... but doesnt really do anything to windows pnf viewer.
August 27, 2011 4:08 PM
okay i have nero photo snap viewer and i want to change to window fax viewer,what i has to do in my computer.
thank you
rafael diaz
April 22, 2012 11:06 AM
I recently went into Windows picture and fax viewer to enlarge an image. Don't know what I did, but now when I try to view my pictures, some of them will no enlarge when I click on them, others will. How do I change it back to enlarge when I click? Thanks