Photos.exe

Application ProcessMicrosoft Corporation

Also called photos, photosapp, microsoft photos

WindowsApplication

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

Photos.exe 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

Photos.exe technical details
Image name	Photos.exe
Package	Microsoft.Windows.Photos

Sources and verification

Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Feex Reviewed. How we research.

Microsoft Support: Photos · Photos app
Microsoft Store: Photos · Microsoft.Windows.Photos package
Foxhole process map · First-party samples on Windows PCs. Not a lab benchmark.

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