Photo Gallery slideshow full screen in Windows 8.1

Anonymous
2013-11-04T04:50:50+00:00

I don't recall whether the upgrade caused this, i.e., whether fullscreen was functional in Photo Gallery for Windows 8.0 slideshow. Either way, my question is whether or not fullscreen will be implemented in future versions of Photo Gallery slideshow for Windows 8.1 or whether I can do something at my end to activate it now. Apparently fullscreen was available in the Vista version judging from Web chatter but several sources say it is not implemented in Windows 8 and that the Windows Experience Index (WEI) must be above 4 something to allow the fullscreen option. Since the WEI was eliminated in Windows 8.1, I am wondering if that is the problem. My equipment is very new (Dell XPS 2720) with a large high resolution (2560 x 1440) screen. Photos viewed in Photo Gallery slideshow have a large black area to the right and black areas above and below and the photo is not centered. Perhaps it is not possible to implement a fullscreen version, but if that is the case, it should be at least mentioned. Since Photo Gallery has many other useful features, I hope there is something I am doing wrong.

Windows for home | Other | Music, photos, and video

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Anonymous
2015-09-21T18:12:17+00:00

For anyone who is still trying, I found a simple solution!

I am a long time user of photo gallery and have a kind of love/hate relationship with it. I recently discovered this issue after upgrading from windows 7 to 10.

It took me about 30 minutes to find this solution, so unless this is not working for others and just for me, shame on you Microsoft (sorry, couldn't help myself)

So.... here goes:

  1. Locate the Photo Gallery .exe file, in my case and most likely for anyone else:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Live\Photo Gallery\WLXPhotoGallery.exe

  1. right click and select properties.
  2. open compatibility tab
  3. put a tick-mark in "disable display scaling on high DPI settings"
  4. click apply
  5. close properties

Now startup Photo Gallery and try a slideshow.

Please let me know if it worked for you, as it did for me.

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Anonymous
2015-09-21T23:31:50+00:00

Thank You! Finally a solution that works. Why have Microsoft not publicised this?

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-09-10T04:41:39+00:00

    Suggesting to people that they use the 8.1 Photo App is not reasonable because that app is a SERIOUS downgrade from the Windows Live Photo Gallery app.

    Microsoft should probably just make an 8.1 version of the decent software instead of asking your customers to accept less functionality with a newer OS.

    Wonder why Windows 8 is not selling????

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-11-22T04:26:01+00:00

    Can't believe this thread has been out there for a year with no resolution. 

    Same issue. Upgraded Windows 8 to 8.1 and can no longer get full screen Photo Gallery Slideshows. I can use the Photos app and get a full screen slide show, but not with Pan & Zoom.

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-11-23T02:56:46+00:00

    To all disappointed users for which I an one!

    To clear the smoke, read between the lines, put 2 & 2 together and connect the dots:

    MICROSOFT SCREWED UP SO BAD THAT THE PROBLEM WITH PHOTO GALLERY SLIDESHOW CAN NOT BE FIXED.

    I have worked with Photo Gallery with Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 in each version Microsoft made improvements so Microsoft did not abandon Photo Gallery they just screwed up.

    Microsoft will either have to rewrite Photo Gallery(a new Photo Gallery), Come out with a new version of Windows, or both. I expect The next version of Windows will have a replacement for Photo Gallery. When will that be? I'm not holding my breath!

    From JamesWiMe, on November 28, 2013

    Unfortunately we may never be able to use Slideshow full screen in Windows 8.1, maybe not in Windows anything ever again. On November 21st I received a private message from John_M, Windows Live Global Escalations Team. I will try to quote:

    Hello JamesWiMe

    Got an update from our product group and it was determined to be a program supportability issue in Windows 8.1. Sad to say, this new release of OS does not support Photo Gallery 2012 therefore the problem being apparent in your machine (and all others who posted on this thread as well). A new version of the application that will be supported in Windows 8.1 needs to be created in order to address this issue and that I believe is still in the works. I guess reverting to a lower OS version is not an option especially for you right now and as such the best they could suggest for the mean time is to use Windows Photo View application in the system.

    We are hoping for your understanding regarding this matter. Our product team is aware of this concern addressed for future releases of the product.

    Sincerely

    Windows Live Global Escalations Team

    From John_M, on December 2, 2013

    Just as JamesWiMe had stated, this issue with the full screen option has been determined to be a program supportability o r functio nality in Windows 8.1. Apparently, Photo Gallery 2012 is yet to be supported by the new operating system. Since the software version of the application would address the concern. For now, there hasn't been any update whether there would be a new one which would be released soon but rest assured that all will be informed of this new version once it is available.

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