JPG is the standard format for picture files across the globe. It is hard to come by a device (phone and PC) that does not have a native viewer for a JPG file. In the same vein, it is almost impossible to see a supposed photo-viewing app that does not support JPG. Despite all these, we can often run into situations where a JPG file won't open.

In this article, you will learn why JPG won't open on Windows 10/11 and ways to fix it.

windows can't open jpg image

[Quick Know]

Common Reasons Why JPG Won't Open on Windows 10/11

There are a few reasons why JPG files won't open on Windows 10 or 11. They include, but are not limited to:

JPG File Got Corrupted

The major reason why a JPG file won't open on Windows 10 is corruption. Many things can cause a JPG file to become corrupt. For example, some errors may occur when saving or sharing the file and damage it. Also, virus attacks on the file can damage and corrupt it, leaving it inaccessible on Windows 10/11 and even any other app.

An Outdated Photo Viewer

If you are using a very old and obsolete photo viewing app, you may occasionally run into blank screens or black screens whenever you try to open a JPG file. This is even more prevalent if the JPG file is very large and very recent.

Outdated Windows Image Viewer

A native photo viewer comes preinstalled on Windows, and they do pretty well in handling JPG files. However, if it fails to open a JPG file, it's most likely because it is missing some important updates.

Flawed Windows 10 Update

One of the problems that come with improper installation of Windows is the inability to view JPG files.

8 Ways to Solve "Can't View JPG Files on Windows" Issue

Let's look at some of the ways to solve the problem of not being able to view JPG files on your Windows 10 or Windows 11.

1Fix Issued JPG Files with Specialize Photo Repair Tool

First of all, we highly recommend you to try with a useful photo repair tool for helping you fix photo issues in every aspect with ease. There are plently of tool that have published on the market like Repairit, Stellar, however, what we introduct today is the latest tool - iMyFone UltraRepair. See how it works.

ultraRepair_icon iMyFone UltraRepair - Repair Photo

Broken, pixelate and blurry images or even photos that unable to open can all back to normal by this intelligent technology.

Try It Now

Repair photos

Step 1.After downloading and installing the program on your system, launch it and choose "Photo Repair" module on the left side. Add your problemed JPG images by clicking "+ Add photo".

add photos to repair

Step 2.Once the uploading process is finished, hit "Repair" to begin the repairing process.

repairing photos

Step 3.Wait for a moment for the program to repair images. Then click the "Yes" to save the repaired pictures.

save repaired photos

Step 4.For severely damaged JPG photos, use the "Advanced Repair" function, which uses sample photo files for more technical repairs. Note that in this mode, sample image should be in the same JPG format.

add sample photo files

You May Want to Know: Fix Windows Can't Play Videos from iPhone

2Rename the JPEG File

Step 1.Navigate to the file you want to rename and right-click on it.

Step 2.Select "Rename" from the options; then, go ahead and rename the extension. (The extension characters are ALWAYS after the period.)

Step 3.In case the file is not showing the extension, go to the top panel of the File Explorer app and click "View".

Step 4.Check the box beside "File name extensions".

show file name extensions in file explorer

3Update Windows 10 Photo Viewer

If the problem is coming from the Photo Viewer app, one sure way to fix it is by updating it. When an app runs on the latest version, there's a very low chance of it running into glitches and issues. The Windows 10 Photo Viewer updates come as updates to the Windows itself. What this means is that you can either separately update the app or choose to update your Windows. Follow the steps below to update your Windows 10:

Step 1.Press the key on your keyboard, or click the Windows icon at the bottom left of your screen with your mouse.

Step 2.Click the Gear icon right above the Power icon.

go to windows settings

Step 3.Go to "Updates and security". It is the last option in the settings pane. Then click "Check for updates".

check windows update

Step 4.If there are updates, download and install them. Then restart your PC and check if the issue is still there.

update windows

Alternatively, you can choose to update only the Photo Viewer app. To do this,

Step 1.Go to Microsoft store by typing "Microsoft store" in the search box.

Step 2.Click the three horizontal dots at the top right corner and select "Downloads and updates".

open downloads and updates in microsoft store

Step 3.Look for "Photo App" or "Microsoft Photos" and click "Get updates". Wait for it to download and install; then, restart your PC.

update microsoft photos

4Run an SFC Scan

If some essential operating system components are broken, one of the results can be the inability to open JPG files. You can run an SFC scan to fix this on Windows 10. Follow the steps below to run an SFC scan:

Step 1.Type "CMD" in the search box.

Step 2.Right-click on "Command Prompt" and select "Run as administrator".

run command prompt as administrator

Step 3.Type "sfc/scannow" and hit enter on your keyboard and restart your PC immediately.

insert sfc scannow

You May Want to Know: JPEG VS. JPG VS. PNG

5Change the Default App for Viewing Pictures to Photos App

It could be that there's a problem of software conflict between the Photos app and other third-party photo viewing apps. It could even be that two third-party apps are clashing over who should rule on your PC. To remedy this, change the default app for viewing photos to the native Windows Photo app. To do that, follow the steps below:

Step 1.Hit the Windows icon, then "Settings", and go to "Apps".

change windows app settings

Step 2.Go to "Default apps" and click "Photo viewer" and choose "Photos".

choose photos as default photo app

Step 3.Or scroll down and hit "Reset". Doing this will reset all your app preferences to their defaults.

6Reset the Photo App

If you suspect that the Photos App is malfunctioning, you can be able to repair right on your PC. Windows makes provision for repairing apps that are not damaged beyond repair. Follow the steps below to fix a damaged Photo App:

Step 1.Hit the Windows icon, and go to "Apps" then go to "Applications and Features".

change windows app settings

Step 2.Scroll down until you find the Photos app. Click on it and select "Advanced" from the dropdown.

advanced option of photo

Step 3.Click on the "Reset" button at the bottom of the screen.

reset photos settings

Step 4.Now, try to view the JPG file again.

7Open the JPG File in Another Application

If, after following all the steps above, you are still unable to open a JPG file, you can try opening the file in another photo viewing app. Some good alternatives and substitutes include Picasa, Photoshop, Cool File Viewer, Paint 3D, etc.

8Retransfer the JPG File

It could be that while transferring the JPG file, it secured some damages. A quick fix is to get another copy of the JPG file from the original source.

How to Prevent JPG Files Not Opening on Windows

Normally, being unable to open, transfer, or edit JPG files or any other files on Windows often happens when there is an accidentally closing operation, a bug when saving files, or other potential wrong actions. Here are what you should know to avoid JPG problems include not opening.

    • Don't do any actions or add extensions on JPG files while saving or changing names.
    • Install a trustworthy antivirus to prevent your files from being damaged.
    • Ensure you have a good network connection when downloading or uploading JPG files.
    • Ensure that the file extensions are not hidden on your device.
    You May Want to Know: How to Fix Unsupported Format Error When Open Photos?

    FAQs: More Tips About Can't Open JPG Files on Other Device

    1 Why can't I open a JPEG attachment in an email?

    If you cannot open a JPEG attachment in an email message, the JPEG file is either corrupt, or you don't have the supporting app to view the JPEG file. If you are sure your device has a photo viewing app, then you can ask the sender to send another copy of the JPEG file.

    2 Why can't I open JPG files on my iPhone?

    There are various reasons why you cannot open a JPEG file on your iPhone. However, the most plausible reason is a damaged JPG file.

    Conclusion

    Whenever a JPG file is not opening on your PC, don't worry too much about it because there are quick and extensive solutions for you to choose from. In this article, 8 methods of fixing the issue have been provided, so you have plenty of options. A one-stop photo repair tool can fix your photos within 3 steps. Just give it a shot!