While Windows gives users flexibility in choosing photo and video viewers, most rely on the default Microsoft Photos app. Unfortunately, many users have noticed that this pre-installed app is slowing down their PCs.
This performance dip is largely due to two recent changes. In June, Microsoft switched the Photos app from UWP to the Windows App SDK and added new AI-driven features. These updates have made the app slower to start, particularly when it automatically launches during system boot, which can be frustrating.
So far, only users on Windows 11 with version 2024.11050.3002.0 are affected, but the issue could spread, especially as Microsoft plans to bring the new Photos app to Windows 10, according to information from a Windows Insider blog.
Although the Photos app cannot be fully uninstalled as it’s part of the Windows ecosystem, there are steps you can take to prevent it from launching automatically when you start your computer:
- Option 1: Head to Settings > Apps > Startup, then scroll to Windows Photo Display and toggle it off.
- Option 2: Use Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, go to the Startup tab, locate Windows Photo Display, and click Disable.
Turning off the automatic launch won’t cause any significant issues. The app will still be available for manual use, and this simple change could improve your PC’s overall performance.