Bug: Unable to Cycle Through Photos in Windows 11 Photos App

[avviodigital]

Description

When attempting to open an image file in the Windows Photos app directly from the Files app, there is a limitation in navigating through all photos within the same folder.

Operating System:

• Windows 11 Home
• Version 22H2
• OS build 22621.3593

Steps To Reproduce

1. Open Files app.
2. Navigate to a folder containing multiple image files.
3. Select an image file and double-click to open it in the Windows Photos app.
4. Within the Photos app, attempt to navigate to other images within the same folder using the navigation controls (e.g., arrows or film strip).

Requirements

When opening an image in the Windows Photos app from Files, users should be able to easily navigate through all photos within the same folder using the controls (e.g., navigation arrows, film strip at the bottom).

Files Version

3.4.0.0

Windows Version

Edition Windows 11 Home Single Language Version 22H2 Installed on ‎2024/‎05/‎14 OS build 22621.3593 Serial number PF4JL4DL Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.22700.1003.0

Log File

debug.log

[yaira2]

I personally can't repro this, but you can try reinstalling Files to see if it helps.

[MapleRecall]

Had the same problem and I recorded a gif for Explorer & Files.

I don't see any difference in the startup command line for the process, it could be something else that's causing it.

• Files: 3.4.1.0
• Windows: 10.0.22631.3672
• Microsoft Photos: 2024.11050.29009.0

[yaira2]

I'm able to repro this with the latest version of Photos. I also confirmed that the code responsible for this behavior in Files has remained unchanged, so it's possibly an issue with the Photos app. If that's the case, the question remains why this doesn't affect File Explorer.

[jh20001]

Crud. I just posted something on this after doing a search. I don't know why I didn't see this in my search before posting it. But yep, I'm in the same boat. I spend a LOT of time in Explorer bouncing between images in Photos. I try from time to time to use Files as I am genuinely interested in switching, but between this and not having a live tree view to the left updating as I click through folders, this is what chased me away again this round. :( I really want to dump File Explorer lol

[yaira2]

This appears to be an issue with the Photos app (you can report to Microsoft via the Feedback Hub) but you workaround this by selecting all the photo files and then using the arrows to switch between them.

[yaira2]

I can confirm this issue is not present on Windows 10. This confirms my earlier theory that this is a bug with the Windows 11 Photos app. I'd like to call on the community to report this issue to Microsoft in the Feedback Hub.

I'll be keeping this issue open for reference.

[spinstartshere]

I installed Visum Photo Viewer on two of my Windows 11 computers and have encountered the same issue where I am unable to scroll through other photos in same folder when opening an image from Files.

Opening a file in Visum Photo Viewer from Explorer, I'm able to scroll through other images in the same folder in vaguely the same order that the folder's contents is sorted in Explorer, and in the same order that Photos has sorted them when opening the same file from Explorer.

[yaira2]

@spinstartshere what about on Windows 10? Can you also test using the preview build? https://files.community/download

[spinstartshere]

@yaira2 I don't have a Windows 10 installation that I can test this on. I can confirm, however, that scrolling through other photos is possible when opening in Visum Photo Viewer using the preview build of Files. It still isn't possible when opening in Photos, however.

[Allan1418]

I'm having the exact same issue on Windows 10, when I open an image file in the Windows Photos app, I can't navigate through the others within the same folder. The only solution that works for me is to open the folder with the native Windows explorer or open the image with QuickLook.

[Josh65-2201]

A fix for the Windows 10 version is in 3.7.8 (Preview only right now) https://files.community/download