FIX: Try opening this file in another app error in Windows 10

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Try opening this file in another app

The built-in Windows Photos app allows you to edit photos as well as play videos of multiple formats apart from viewing images. Sometime, the app may not work as it should and end up showing “try opening this file in another app” error when you try to edit a photo or play a video file. This is a common issue and has been reported multiple times in the Microsoft Community Forums.

I  upgraded to windows 10 yesterday and all my videos were appearing normally in the photo app and playing fine, but today they aren’t.
It says “try opening this file in another app. We are having trouble reading it” The videos are .mp4, and were all working yesterday.

If you are also troubled by this error, here are a couple of troubleshooting tips to help you resolve this error in Windows 10.

How to Fix Try opening this file in another app

1. Run App Troubleshooter

  1. Windows OS comes with a built-in Windows apps troubleshooter. It allows you to fix any issues with the built-in apps without taking any extra step.
  2. Click on Start and select Settings.
  3. Select Update and Security.
    Windows 10 Photos app error
  4. Click the Troubleshoot tab.
  5. Scroll down and click on Windows Store apps.
    Fix Try opening this file in another app
  6. Select Run the Troubleshooter button under “Windows Store Apps“.
  7. Click Next and wait for the troubleshooter to scan and fix any issues with the apps. Click on Apply when prompted with a fix.
  8. Now try to open the video file with the Photos app and check for any improvements.

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2. Reset Photos App

  1. If the issue persists, you may try resetting the app to factory default. This will remove any temporary issues with the Photos app.
  2. Click on Start and select Settings.
  3. Select on Apps.
  4. Click on Apps and Features.
  5. Search for the Photos app in the search bar.
  6. Click on the Photos app and select Advanced Options.
    Fix Try opening this file in another app
  7. Scroll down and click on the Terminate button.
    Fix Try opening this file in another app
  8. Scroll down and click on the Reset button.
  9. Click on Reset button once again when asked to confirm.
  10. Reboot the computer. Try to play the video file and check if “try opening this file in another app” error is resolved.

3. Uninstall and Reinstall Photos App

  1. If the issue persists, you can try to uninstall the Photos app using a PowerShell command.
  2. Right-click on the Start button and select PowerShell (admin).
    Windows 10 Photos App error
  3. In the PowerShell window, type the following command and press enter to execute.
    get-appxpackage *Microsoft.Windows.Photos* | remove-appxpackage
  4. You should see a “Deployment operation progress” message on the screen. If the message disappears, it means the Photos app has been uninstalled.
  5. Restart the computer.
  6. To install the Photos app again, open the Windows Store app.
  7. Search for Photos and install it.

By following the steps in this article you can fix try opening this file in another app error in Windows 10. Do let us know which fix helped you resolve the error.

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More about the topics: photos app, windows 10