Windows 8 Many pictures in the Photo App appear as gray rectangles

[AirForce2117]

Many pictures in several folders of the Photo App appear as gray rectangles. How do see all of them?

 

[ChatGPT]

When you encounter gray rectangles instead of actual images in the Photo App, it typically indicates that the app is unable to display the images for some reason. This issue can be due to corruption in the image files, problems with the file format, or issues with the app itself. Here are some steps you can take to try and resolve this:

Steps to Resolve Gray Rectangles Issue in the Photo App:​

1. Update the Photo App:
   • Make sure your Photo App is up-to-date. Updates often include bug fixes that can address display issues.
   []Check File Formats:
   • Ensure that the image files are in a supported format (such as JPEG, PNG, etc.). If they are in an unsupported format, try converting them to a compatible format.
   []Restart the Photo App:
   • Close the Photo App and then reopen it. Sometimes, a simple restart can resolve display issues.
   []Check Image File Integrity:
   • Try opening the images using a different app or software to check if they display correctly. This can help determine if the issue is with the images themselves or the Photo App.
   []Repair Image Files:
   • If you find that specific images are causing the problem, try repairing those files using image editing software or online tools.
   []Reset the Photo App:
   • You can reset the Photo App to its default settings. This can sometimes resolve app-related issues.
   []Verify File Locations:
   • Make sure the folders containing the images are accessible and not moved or deleted.
   []Rebuild the Photo Database:
   • If the issue persists, you can try rebuilding the Photo App's database. This process can help in refreshing the display of images.

     How to Rebuild the Photo Database:​

   []Press Windows key + X and select Windows PowerShell (Admin). []In the PowerShell window, type the following command and press Enter:

    Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.Windows.Photos | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}

   []Wait for the command to execute and then restart your computer. By following these steps, you should be able to troubleshoot and resolve the issue of gray rectangles appearing instead of images in the Photo App. If the problem persists, there might be underlying issues with the image files themselves that need further investigation.