Solved: Windows Photo Viewer can’t Display This Picture, Not Enough Memory

Are you frustrated by the error message’ Windows Photo Viewer can’t display this picture, not enough memory’ when trying to view your precious photos? You’re not alone. Many Windows users have encountered this issue, leaving them wondering how to get their cherished memories on the screen.

However, don’t worry! In this article, we’ll explore the reasons why Windows Photo Viewer can’t open this picture and provide you with 10 effective solutions to resolve these problems. Let’s dive in and bid farewell to worries about Windows Photo Viewer not working.

Part 1: Why Windows Photo Viewer Can’t Display This Picture?

Before fixing the error message’ Windows Photo Viewer can’t display this picture, not enough memory,’ it is crucial to determine why the problem occurred. Some common reasons include:

  • Insufficient System Memory: Image files, especially high-resolution or large images, require a significant amount of memory to open. Your computer may not have enough available random access memory to display these images.
  • Corrupted Image File: The image file itself may be corrupted or damaged for some reasons, such as incomplete downloads or malware infections.
  • Software or System Issues: System files are missing or outdated. Or, there may be conflicts with the Windows Photo Viewer application or other software.
  • Resource Usage: Your PC has sufficient system memory, but most of it is consumed by other running applications or background processes.

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Part 2: 10+ Ways to Fix Windows Photo Viewer Can’t Display This Picture, Not Enough Memory

Solution 1: Convert Your Photo to A Supported Format

If you’re trying to open a file in a format that Windows Photo Viewer doesn’t support, it’s no surprise to encounter the “Windows Photo Viewer can’t open this picture” problem. To resolve it, you can use reliable online converters or image editing software like Adobe Photoshop. However, remember that while converting the image to a supported format can be helpful, it may result in some loss of quality.

Solution 2: Repair Corrupt or Damaged Pictures

As we mentioned before, file corruption is one of the main culprits causing the error message ‘Windows Photo Viewer can’t display this picture, not enough memory.’ In such a scenario, we highly recommend using reliable software like 4DDiG File Repair to fix damaged files. Here’s why you should choose this tool:

  • Effortlessly fix various image issues, such as pixelation, blurriness, file format errors, and more.
  • Allows you to process up to 3,000 pictures at once.
  • User-friendly interface and a high success rate.
  • Supports repairing a variety of image file formats, including JPG, JPEG, PNG, etc.
  • Provides a preview function after the repair is completed.

Follow these steps to repair damaged or corrupted photos with just a few clicks:

Step 1: Begin by launching the 4DDiG File Repair tool once it’s downloaded. Navigate to the ‘Photos Repair’ tab and select ‘Fix Photo Errors’ to proceed.

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Step 2: Then, you need to import the corrupted photos by clicking ‘Add a photo(s).’ Then, hit the ‘Start Repair’ button to initiate the photo restoration process.

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Step 3: Once the process is completed, you are able to preview the repaired image files. If you are content with the results, you can choose the ‘Export All’ option to store them on your computer.

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Solution 3: Try Another Image Viewer

Another simple solution to fix the ‘Windows Photo Viewer can’t open this picture’ error is to use a different photo viewer. Sometimes, the issue may not be with the photo itself but with the image viewer you’re using. If you can open the image successfully using third-party software, you may need to consider reinstalling Windows Photo Viewer.

Solution 4: Uninstall Conflicting Programs

If the Windows Photo Viewer is not working after updating a phone backup suite, there may be a conflict or compatibility issue between the two. Follow these steps to uninstall it:

Step 1: Type ‘Control’ after pressing the Windows + R key. Hit the Enter key to launch it.

Step 2: Navigate to the ‘Programs and Features’ option.

Step 3: Select and right-click on your phone backup suite. Then, select ‘Uninstall.’

Solution 5: Run the Troubleshooter on Windows

If the ‘Windows Photo Viewer not enough memory’ error persists, consider using a Windows built-in tool called Troubleshooter. It can run diagnostic checks and attempt to fix problems related to the application, memory, or other system components. Here is how to use it:

Step 1: Press the Windows + I keys together and select ‘Update & Security.’

Step 2: Click ‘Troubleshoot’ from the left panel. Then, select ‘Additional troubleshooters.’

Step 3: Scroll down and select the ‘Windows Store Apps’ button. Simply click on ‘Run the troubleshooter.’

Solution 6: Keep the Windows Photo Viewer Up to Date

Updating Windows Photo Viewer can help fix the error message ‘Windows Photo Viewer can’t display this picture, not enough memory’ because updates often bring improvements in compatibility and bug fixes. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Use the previous method to reach the ‘Update & Security’ interface.

Step 2: Click on ‘Windows Update’ and select ‘Check for updates.’

Step 3: If updates are found, they will be downloaded and installed automatically.

Solution 7: Reset the Color Management Settings

If the color management settings are corrupted or misconfigured, it can lead to problems such as the ‘Windows Photo Viewer not working’ error. Here is a step-by-step guide for restoring the default color configurations:

Step 1: Type ‘Color Management’ after pressing the Windows + S keys. Then, open it.

Step 2: In the ‘Devices’ tab, remove any listed ICC profiles if possible.

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Step 3: Now, navigate to the ‘Advanced’ tab and select ‘Agfa: Swop Standard’ from the Device profile drop-down list.

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Step 4: Save the changes by clicking on the ‘OK’ button.

Solution 8: Upgrade Your RAM

You can also resolve the error message ‘Windows Photo Viewer can’t display this picture, not enough memory’ by closing unnecessary programs in Task Manager. However, this is not a long-term solution if you consistently encounter memory issues. In such cases, upgrading your RAM can be a wise choice. This will provide more memory capacity for your computer to handle multiple applications and larger files more efficiently.

Solution 9: Unencrypt the Image Files

Some users may encrypt their photos to ensure data privacy and security, which is why Windows Photo Viewer is not working. You have to unencrypt the image file before opening it.

Step 1: Perform a right-click the encrypted photo and choose ‘Properties.’

Step 2: Then navigate to the ‘General’ tab. You should see an ‘Advanced’ button; click it.

Step 3: Uncheck the ‘Encrypt contents to secure data’ option and click ‘OK’ to apply the changes.

Solution 10: Run an SFC Scan

This method only works when you encounter the ‘Windows Photo Viewer can’t display this picture’ error due to a corrupted file system.

Step 1: Select ‘Command Prompt (Admin)’ after pressing Windows + X on your keyboard.

Step 2: Type ‘sfc /scannow’ and hit Enter to execute.

Part 3: Other Scenarios about the ‘Windows Photo Viewer Not Working’ Issue

In addition to the common ‘Windows Photo Viewer not enough memory’ issue, you may also encounter the following error messages:

  • Windows Photo Viewer can’t open this picture because either the picture is deleted or it’s in a location that isn’t available.

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Method: You can use backup or professional data recovery software to recover deleted or lost files effortlessly.

  • Windows Photo Viewer can’t open this picture because you don’t have the correct permissions to access the file location.

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Method: To address this issue, you need to right-click on the Windows Photo Viewer and choose ‘Run as administrator.’

  • Windows Photo Viewer can’t open this picture because the file appears to be damaged, corrupt, or too large.

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Method: If it’s a very large file, you might want to consider resizing or compressing it using an image editing tool or converter.

Bottom Line

Now, you have acquired enough skills and knowledge to resolve the error message: ‘Windows Photo Viewer can’t display this picture, not enough memory.’ Whether converting photos to supported formats or repairing damaged files using the user-friendly 4DDiG file repair tool, these methods have proven to be highly effective. So, give it a try!

Disclosure: This Post is Sponsored by Tenorshare.

Zaid is a tech writer at DealNTech, passionate about exploring and researching new gadgets and helping readers easily understand their features. He specializes in testing PC issues and staying up-to-date on the latest PC news. Email: [email protected].

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