# Photos.exe

Application Process: Microsoft Corporation

Also called photos, photosapp, microsoft photos

Windows, Application

Microsoft Photos. It is the Photos app for viewing and light edits. It is not Paint (mspaint.exe).

## What you need to know

Photos is the Photos app, not mspaint.

Photos.exe is Microsoft Photos. It opens the gallery and the viewer. mspaint.exe is Paint. Ending Photos drops an unsaved crop or filter.

- **Safe?**: Yes. It is Photos

  **Same as Paint?**: No. Paint is mspaint.exe

  **Should I end it?**: You lose unsaved edits

Feex says

If a JPEG opened in Photos and someone hunts mspaint, I point at Photos.exe. Paint is a different editor with a different image name.

## What is Photos.exe?

Photos.exe is Microsoft Photos, not mspaint.exe. The package lives under WindowsApps. Some builds nest it in a PhotosApp folder.

## What does it do?

It shows libraries, runs light edits, and can video-import. It does not replace Paint for pixel drawing.

## Why is it running?

You opened a picture, or a file association launched Photos. A copy at logon is a shortcut, not a photo service.

## Is it safe?

Usually safe

The Microsoft.Windows.Photos package is Photos. A Photos.exe in Downloads is not.

A legitimate copy normally runs from:

`C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.Windows.Photos_*\Photos.exe`

- Microsoft Photos
- Not mspaint.exe
- Do not delete WindowsApps by hand

## Can I end it?

Closes Photos

Ending Photos.exe closes the viewer. Unsaved edits can drop. It does not uninstall Paint.

## Can I remove it?

Uninstall Photos from Apps

Uninstall Photos from Settings > Apps. Do not delete the WindowsApps folder. mspaint.exe is a separate app and stays after Photos is gone.

## Should it start with Windows?

On demand unless a Startup shortcut opens Photos.

## Normal resource behavior

These are contextual labels, not universal averages.

- **CPU**: Rises on import or a huge RAW

  **Memory**: Follows the open library

  **Disk**: Thumbnails and edits

  **GPU**: Viewer acceleration

## File information

| Executable name        | Photos.exe                                                           |
| ---------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Common legitimate path | C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.Windows.Photos\_\*\Photos.exe |
| Publisher              | Microsoft Corporation                                                |
| Signature expectation  | Signed by Microsoft Windows                                          |

## Common problems

### Default app fight with Paint

Pick Photos or Paint per file type in Settings > Apps > Default apps. They are not the same process.

### Photos hangs on a OneDrive library

That is the cloud index, not mspaint. Check the network, then repair Photos.

## Troubleshooting

Diagnose before you change anything destructive.

### Open file location on the busy row

WindowsApps\Microsoft.Windows.Photos is Photos. PaintApp\mspaint.exe is Paint.

### Repair Photos in Apps if the gallery is blank

Do not download a Photos.exe from a filename site.

## Technical details

Technical details

| Image name | Photos.exe               |
| ---------- | ------------------------ |
| Package    | Microsoft.Windows.Photos |

## Related

These entities connect to this article. Type is shown on every link.

[mspaint.exe: Application Process](https://feex.it/wiki/process/mspaint.exe)[What is a Windows process: Guide](https://feex.it/wiki/software/system/what-is-a-windows-process)

## Sources and verification

Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Feex Reviewed. [How we research](https://feex.it/wiki/research).

- [Microsoft Support: Photos ](https://support.microsoft.com/windows/view-edit-and-share-photos)· Photos app
- [Microsoft Store: Photos ](https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9wzdncrfjbh4)· Microsoft.Windows.Photos package
- [Foxhole process map ](https://foxhole.feex.it/)· First-party samples on Windows PCs. Not a lab benchmark.

## Was this article useful?

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Quick facts

The short identity of this page. Specs, sources, and the full story stay in the article.

- **Type**: Application Process

  **Publisher**: Microsoft Corporation

  **Executable**: Photos.exe

  **Typical path**: C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.Windows.Photos\_\*\Photos.exe

  **Mapped by Feex**: Seen on Windows PCs in Foxhole

Feex Reviewed: Last verified August 2026

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Source: [Canonical Feex Wiki page](https://feex.it/wiki/process/photos.exe/)

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