"Not Implemented" when clicking on photos in Windows Explorer

Anonymous
2024-10-30T20:20:13+00:00

I've been having this issue since shortly before installing the latest Windows Update last week. Any time I click on a photo within Windows Explorer, a message pops up that simply lists the file path and says "Not Implemented".

This started happening before I installed the update, and it was only upon restarting my computer to solve the issue that the update was installed (I tend to procrastinate updates).

The issue appears to be caused by Explorer. Downloading any random image with my Chrome browser and opening the image from the downloads list successfully opens the image, as does viewing images from within the Photos app itself.

Restarting Explorer from task manager fixes the issue temporarily, but it has always reoccurred after some time. So that's not a permanent fix and having to restart Explorer at least once a day is not ideal. I'm more just worried that this could be the precursor to or symptom of something much more serious. I've never had this problem before, and most issues like this are resolved with a full restart.

I don't know what to do.

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Files, folders, and storage

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  1. Anonymous
    2025-04-06T22:30:38+00:00

    Hello Everyone,

    I know this thread is old but I found a solution to this issue. In my case it was because in the user environment variables I was missing this entry which should be at the very beginning of the path:

    %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps

    If that is missing you will ABSOLUTLEY get the error of Not Implemented.

    I had just removed it a day or so ago troubleshooting something else and I happened to remember it.

    So I thought I would share this in hopes it helps someone else...

    God Bless,

    Scott

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  2. Anonymous
    2025-04-06T22:24:58+00:00

    Thanks, your suggestion is the best I've seen, and is easy to implement

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  3. Anonymous
    2025-04-04T23:06:34+00:00

    Simplest solution, since MS hasn't seemed to fix it, is to use a different app for photos. I (and many others) have gone back to using the legacy Photos app. Try Method 2 in link below. https://www.wintips.org/fix-not-implemented-error-when-opening-photos-or-images-on-windows-10/

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  4. Anonymous
    2025-04-04T19:12:11+00:00

    I believe you guys (Microsoft Updates) are what messed with my computer, that I cannot open my photos, which say "Not Implemented". I have another computer that doesn't have the problem. It is bugging me about an update which I am now afraid to do. I would like for you to fix my problem as I believe you did it. I went through the steps suggested but got stuck when I entered the "scannow". As it said to go through every one of them. I didn't see any way to start going through them.

    I've always thought you guys were trustworthy now I not so sure.

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  5. Anonymous
    2025-04-01T14:35:46+00:00

    Found a fix, a real one. I tested this with four users a few weeks ago and have not heard from them since then.

    Summary: Purge the Photos app from the system (for everyone) and reinstall from the Store or from the appx/msix installer

    The following commands need to be run in an elevated PowerShell

    Step 1: Get the name of the provisioned package

    Get-ProvisionedAppxPackage -Online | where {$_.DisplayName -like "*Photos*"}
    

    Step 2: Remove the provisioned package

    Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage -Online -PackageName [PackageName_from_step1]
    

    Step 3: Verify if the app is still installed for anyone

    Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers | where {$_.Name -like "*Photos*"}
    

    Step 4: Remove the app for everyone

    Remove-AppxPackage -AllUsers -Package [PackageFullName_from_step3]
    

    At this point, the Photos app should be purged. Rerun step 1 and 3 commands to be sure.

    Step 5: Reinstall the app

    Option 1: Install from the Store. This will install the app only for the current user, it won't be provisioned for new users. This is probably fine for personal computers.

    Option 2: Download the appx/msix installer (search "download appx" if you don't know how to do this). Then, run this command:

    Add-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online -SkipLicense -PackagePath [path_of_downloaded_file]
    

    This should reinstall the app for everyone as well as new users.

    Followed the steps provided. Unfortunately, this did not resolve the issue for me.

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