- FlyPhotos stands out as an extremely lightweight and fast open-source alternative to Microsoft's Photos app.
- The default applications settings in Windows 11 allow you to associate specific extensions such as .jpg or .png with an external viewer.
- The software optimizes performance by using Win2D and DirectX to avoid delays in loading large folders.
If you use Windows 11, you've probably noticed that the native Photos app has become a bit cumbersome. What used to be a simple tool for quickly viewing an image is now loaded with AI features , cloud syncing with services like iCloud and OneDrive, and editing tools that many find unnecessary and only serve to slow the program down.
When you have folders full of hundreds of screenshots or photos, that slowness becomes very noticeable. That's why many people look for an alternative that's fast and straightforward . This is where FlyPhotos comes in, a free and open-source viewer that recaptures that essence of simplicity and speed that so many of us miss, even bringing back memories of the old days of Picasa.
What makes FlyPhotos a superior alternative?
The biggest difference lies in the user experience. While Microsoft's app sometimes freezes with a loading icon when switching between photos, FlyPhotos feels incredibly smooth . There are no delays or stutters, even in directories full of files, thanks to its use of technologies like Win2D and DirectX for rendering, as well as Native AOT for lightning-fast startup.
In terms of aesthetics, it features a clean design with a transparent background that keeps the view clear. Unlike the native tool, which clutters the screen with editing and sharing buttons that can sometimes be obtrusive, this viewer retains only the essential controls : forward, backward, rotate, and snap to window. Furthermore, it's extremely flexible, allowing you to remove unnecessary interface elements or configure the application to open directly in full screen at startup.
How to set FlyPhotos as default viewer
To stop struggling with the Photos app and make FlyPhotos the dominant app on your PC, you don't need to delete anything; both can coexist without problems. Just follow these steps on your system:
- Enter the menu Configuring Windows and go to the Applications section, then select the Default Applications option.
- In the search box for that section, type the file extension you want to change, for example .jpg or .png.
- Click on the currently assigned application and, in the drop-down list, select FlyPhotos to confirm the change.
It's important to repeat this process with each image format you regularly use for the full experience. If you're looking for the program, remember that it's available for free in its GitHub repository , although your browser might warn you that the installer isn't signed, which is common with open-source projects.
Other options and interesting features of the system
For those who aren't looking for something so modern and prefer nostalgia, there's the option to reactivate the classic Windows 7 Photo Viewer . Although Microsoft has hidden it, it can be enabled by modifying the Windows registry using a .reg file that associates image extensions with the PhotoViewer.FileAssoc.Tiff key. It's a viable option if you're looking for something extremely basic, although FlyPhotos offers a better balance between modernity and performance.
On the other hand, if you need to do in-depth editing, you should know that FlyPhotos is strictly a viewer. It doesn't include cropping or retouching tools, as its philosophy is to be lightweight. For those cases, it's best to use Paint or external editors , which can even be configured as shortcuts within the viewer itself to streamline your workflow.
Having complete control over which program opens each file is essential for improving daily productivity. By replacing the cumbersome native app with an optimized tool that eliminates loading times and unnecessary features, navigating our personal galleries becomes seamless, allowing us to focus on the visual content without the distractions and waiting of Microsoft's pre-installed software.