PNG is one of the most common image formats on the internet. Screenshots, graphics, logos, and downloaded images are frequently saved as PNG files. Opening them on Windows 11 should be simple, and for the most part it is. But Windows occasionally opens PNG files in the wrong app, or you might want to open an image in a specific program for editing rather than just viewing.
This guide covers every practical way to open a PNG file in Windows 11, how to permanently change which app handles PNG files, and what to do when a PNG file refuses to open at all.
What Windows 11 Uses to Open PNG Files by Default
Out of the box, Windows 11 opens PNG files with the Photos app. Photos is a clean, fast image viewer with basic editing tools. It handles zooming, cropping, colour adjustments, and simple filters. For most everyday viewing tasks it is perfectly adequate.
If you have installed other image software, Windows may have reassigned PNG files to that app instead. Adobe Photoshop, GIMP, and similar programs sometimes take over file associations during installation. The method you use to open a PNG file determines whether Windows uses the default app or a different one.
Method 1: Double-Click to Open
This is the obvious starting point and the right method for everyday use.
Step 1: Find Your PNG File
Open File Explorer by pressing Windows and E, or click the folder icon in the taskbar. Navigate to the folder containing your PNG file.
Step 2: Double-Click the File
Double-click the PNG file. Windows opens it in whichever app is currently set as the default for PNG files, which is Photos unless you or an installed application changed it.
If the wrong app opens, the next two methods give you more control over which app is used.
Method 2: Open With a Specific App
Right-clicking a PNG file gives you the option to choose exactly which app opens it, without changing your default setting permanently.
Step 1: Right-Click the PNG File
Right-click the PNG file in File Explorer. A context menu appears.
Step 2: Select Open With
Hover over Open with in the menu. A submenu appears showing available apps that can open image files.
Step 3: Choose Your App
Click the app you want to use. Windows opens the PNG in that app immediately. The next time you double-click a PNG file, it still opens in the default app. The Open with choice is a one-time selection unless you choose to make it permanent in the next step.
If the app you want is not listed, click Choose another app at the bottom of the submenu. A dialog box appears showing more installed apps. Select the one you want from the list.
Method 3: Change the Default App for PNG Files Permanently
If you always want PNG files to open in a specific app, changing the default saves you from using Open with every time.
Step 1: Right-Click Any PNG File
Right-click a PNG file and hover over Open with, then click Choose another app.
Step 2: Select Your Preferred App
In the dialog that appears, click the app you want to use as your new default.
Step 3: Check the Box to Make It Permanent
Before clicking OK, check the box that says Always use this app to open .png files. Then click OK.
From this point, every PNG file you double-click opens in the app you selected. If you want to change it again later, repeat the same process and select a different app.
You can also change the default through Settings. Press Windows and I to open Settings, go to Apps, then Default apps. Type PNG in the search box. Click the current default app shown next to the PNG file type and select a new one from the list.
The Built-In Apps That Can Open PNG Files
Windows 11 includes several apps capable of opening PNG files, each suited to different situations.
Photos is the best choice for viewing. It is fast, supports zooming with scroll wheel and keyboard shortcuts, and displays PNG transparency correctly. It also has basic editing tools if you need to make quick adjustments.
Paint is the right choice for simple editing. If you need to crop, resize, draw on, or annotate a PNG file, Paint opens it quickly and saves the result without any complications. It does not support layers but is ideal for basic tasks.
Microsoft Edge can open PNG files as if they were webpages. This sounds unusual but is genuinely useful for quickly viewing a PNG at its actual size without any app chrome, or for inspecting how an image with transparency looks against a white background. Right-click the PNG and select Open with, then choose Microsoft Edge.
Paint 3D provides slightly more advanced editing than standard Paint. It supports working with transparency and creating layered compositions, though its interface is less intuitive than Paint for basic tasks.
Opening a PNG File in a Third-Party App
If you use Adobe Photoshop, GIMP, Lightroom, IrfanView, or any other image software, you can open PNG files in those apps using the same right-click Open with method described above.
For apps that do not appear in the Open with submenu, you have two options. The first is to drag the PNG file directly from File Explorer into the open application window. Most image editors accept files dragged onto them. The second is to open the app first, then use its File menu and Open option to navigate to the PNG file.
If you want the third-party app to permanently handle PNG files, follow Method 3 above and select it from the list. If it does not appear in the list, click More apps at the bottom of the dialog to see a fuller list of installed applications.
What to Do When a PNG File Will Not Open
If a PNG file produces an error or fails to open in any app, a few things are worth checking.
Try a different app first. Right-click the file and choose a different app from the Open with menu. If one app fails but another opens the file successfully, the problem is with the first app rather than the file itself.
Check if the file is corrupted. A PNG file downloaded from the internet or transferred from another device can become corrupted during the process. If no app can open it and it was downloaded from the web, try downloading it again. If it came from a USB drive or memory card, try copying it again from the source.
Repair or reset the Photos app. If the Photos app specifically is failing to open PNG files, repairing it often fixes the issue. Press Windows and I to open Settings. Go to Apps, then Installed apps. Find Microsoft Photos in the list, click the three-dot menu next to it, and select Advanced options. Click Repair first. If that does not resolve the issue, click Reset. Resetting the app restores it to its factory state and resolves most Photos-related opening failures.
Check the file extension. Occasionally a PNG file is saved without the .png extension or with an incorrect extension. In File Explorer, right-click the file and select Properties. Under the General tab, look at the file type listed. If it shows something other than PNG Image, the file may have been saved with the wrong extension or may not actually be a PNG file.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my PNG file open in the wrong app?
Another application installed on your PC, such as an image editor or design tool, may have changed the default app for PNG files during its installation. To fix this, right-click any PNG file, select Open with, choose your preferred app, and check Always use this app to open .png files before clicking OK.
Can I open a PNG file without installing anything?
Yes. Windows 11 includes Photos, Paint, and Microsoft Edge, all of which can open PNG files without any additional installation. Double-clicking a PNG opens it in whichever of these is set as the default.
What is the difference between a PNG and a JPEG file?
PNG files support transparency, meaning parts of the image can be fully or partially see-through. JPEG files do not support transparency and use lossy compression that slightly reduces image quality to produce smaller file sizes. PNG uses lossless compression, preserving every detail at the cost of larger file sizes. For photos, JPEG is typically used. For graphics, logos, and images requiring transparency, PNG is the standard choice.
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