You have tried but failed each time to open images through ‘Windows Photo Viewer‘ as well as ‘Photos’. Consequently, it prompts a message that indicates windows photo viewers do not have enough memory.  

This didn’t happen with you before, right? But now, you can’t understand how to fix the error.

Don’t need to be worried. You have come to the right place. I will combine 8 possible fixes to solve the error. 

Why the Error “Windows Photo Viewer Not Enough Memory” Take Place

In most cases, the error does not relate to memory space rather it happens for some other reasons. The possible reasons behind the error can be-

• System File Corruption
• the photo format might not be supported by the Photos.  
• The app may be outdated
• The image file is too large to open
• Internal settings confliction

9 Fixes if Windows Photo Viewer Not Enough Memory

Whatever the reasons stay behind the error, all are reportedly solvable. The great thing is, you can apply them by yourself. You just need to follow the below fixes according to the described process. 

Before diving into the details, let’s have a glimpse at the list first-

• Fix 1: Run the ‘Windows Store Apps’ Troubleshooter
• Fix 2: Customize Color Management
• Fix 3: Change Default App Settings
• Fix 4: Run SFC scan
• Fix 5: Check for Update
• Fix 6: Reset the ‘Photos’ App 
• Fix 7: Reinstall the ‘Photos’ App
• Fix 8: Uncheck Encrypt Contents 
• Fix 9: Block Inheritance

Fix 1: Run the ‘Windows Store Apps’ Troubleshooter

If you face the error, the first thing you can try is to run the ‘Windows Store Apps’ troubleshooter. I will describe the troubleshooting process step by step below.

Step 1

Tap the Windows and ‘I’ keys together. As per the act, the ‘Settings’ window will appear on the screen. From here, scroll down and click on the ‘Update & Security’ section whenever you will find it.

Step 2

Consequently, you have to find the ‘Troubleshoot’ from the left sidebar and select it.

Step 3

Look at the right sidebar. Scroll down and click on the ‘Additional troubleshooters’ to get entrance.

Step 4

Inside the ‘Additional troubleshooters’, you need to scroll down at the bottom of the interface to find the ‘Windows Store Apps’ troubleshooter. Tap on it. Then click on the ‘Run the troubleshooter’ option to execute troubleshooting.

Step 5

After that, you have to wait for a while to complete the process. At the end of the process, you will get the findings with fixing suggestions. Whatever, you need to follow the on-screen direction. 

Finally, try to open the image through the Photos. If it still prompts the error message, you have to follow the next fixes.

Fix 2: Customize Color Management

The fix works like a magic for solving the error. Hopefully, you will be benefited by following it. Here I will give the process below in detail. 

Step 1

Here you again need access to the ‘Settings’ window. So, tap the Windows and ‘I’ keys together. Find and select the ‘System’ section. 

Step 2

After that, tap the ‘Display’ option that appeared in the left sidebar.

Step 3

Then you have to look at the right sidebar. Scroll down to find the ‘Advanced display settings’ option. While getting it, you need to click to enter inside.

Step 4

From here, you have to click on the ‘Display adaptor properties for Display’ option.

Step 5

Consequently, the ‘Properties’ window will appear. You need to tap the ‘Color Management’ tab and click on the ‘Color Management’ from inside the window.

Step 6

After that, you will get the ‘Color Management’ window. Here you need to tap ‘Identify monitors’ to get primary monitor selection. Checkmark the ‘Use my settings for this device. 

Then you have to check the ‘Profile associated with this device:’ box. If you see any option, select it and click on the ‘Remove’ tab. Then click on the ‘Profile’ option from the bottom of the ‘Color Management’ window.

Step 7

As per click on ‘Profile’, you will get some options to execute. From here, you need to select ‘Reset my settings to the system defaults’.

Step 8

After that, you need to tap the ‘Advanced’ tab from the upper side of the ‘Color Management’ window. At the end, you have to confirm that all the options from ‘Device Profile’ to ‘Business Graphics (charts and graphs)’ will be set to ‘System Default’.

Finally, restart the PC and try to open the image via Photos. Hopefully, you will open it. By any chance, if the error still prompts, you need to follow the other fixes. 

Fix 3: Change Default App Settings

Changing ‘Default apps’ settings can be a better option to fix the described error. To apply it, you need to follow the below steps one by one.

Step 1

Press the Windows key and type ‘default apps’. Then look at the top of the newly appeared interface. You will see the ‘Default apps’ system settings option. You have to click on it.

Step 2

As per action, the ‘Settings’ window will become evident. From the right sidebar, you need to scroll down and find out ‘Choose default apps by file type’ option. While tracing it, click on the option.

Step 3

From here, you need to check some settings. Look at the left side. You have to find the image file options like .jpeg, .jpg, .png and so on one after another. 

The options will be arranged alphabetically. here you have to ensure the ‘Photos’ app will be selected as the default app for the image files format.

After completing the checking, try to open the images through the ‘Photos’ app. If it does not work, don’t worry, you will have some other fixes to apply.

Fix 4: Run SFC scan

Run SFC scan command is a common and useful fix for any kind of system error. You can try the fix to solve the error I discuss in this article. The process will be described below.

Step 1

Tap the Windows key and type ‘cmd’. Consequently, the ‘Command Prompt’ app preview will be visible. Click on the ‘Run as administrator’ option.

Step 2

While the ‘Command Prompt’ window will become evident, you have to copy the following command and paste it into the window.

‘sfc/ scannow’

Then press ‘enter’.

Step 3

After that, you have to wait for a while until the process will finish. The running command will scan the system and fixes the error automatically if it finds any.

After the process will complete successfully, you need to check the error’s existence. 

Fix 5: Check for Update

The error can take place for lack of update and the system apps relatively need to be updated regularly. It totally depends on the Windows update. So, you need to check the possible availability of the windows update. To do so, you have to follow the below steps.

Step 1

Again tap the Windows and ‘I’ keys together to access the ‘Settings’ window. From here, you need to click on the ‘Update & Security’ option. 

Step 2

Then you have to select the ‘Windows Update’ section from the newly appeared interface.

Step 3

After that, look at the right sidebar of the window. Here you will see the ‘Check for updates’ tab. Once you click on it, the system will automatically start searching for available updates. 

You have to wait for a while. After checking, if any update is available, you will click on the ‘Download and Install’ option. 

On the other hand, if no update requires, you will move to the next fix.

Fix 6: Reset the ‘Photos’ App 

Resetting the ‘Photos’ app is a basic solution to the error. You can try it if the upper technical fixes fail to solve the error. I will attach the reset process with some chronological steps.   

Step 1

For one more time, you need to work with the ‘Settings’ window. Right-click on the start menu and select ‘Settings’ will be another way to get access the window. Once it appears, you need to find and click on the ‘Apps’ options. 

Step 2

Then click on the ‘Apps & features’ option from the newly appeared interface. 

Step 3

After that, you need to scroll down the right sidebar to find out the ‘Photos’. While finding it, click on the ‘Advanced options’. 

Step 4

Next, you will see the ‘Reset’ tab. You have to press it to execute the app reset. 

At the end of the execution, restart the PC and try to open the image through the ‘Photos’.

Fix 7: Reinstall the ‘Photos’ App

Another basic level fix of the error is reinstallation of the ‘Photos’ app. To reinstall the app, you need to apply the following steps.

Step 1

Right-click on the ‘start’ menu. As per action, you will see the ‘Windows PowerShell (Admin)’. You have to click on it.

Step 2

Consequently, the PowerShell window will become evident. You need to copy the below text and paste it into the window.

‘get-appxpackage *Microsoft.Windows.Photos* | remove-appxpackage’

Then hit the ‘enter’ button and wait for the process completion. Once it finishes, you have to download and install the ‘Photos’ app from the ‘Microsoft Store’. Somehow, the error still appears while trying to open an image, you need to work individually with the problematic image.

Fix 8: Uncheck Encrypt Contents 

Here you have to change some settings to fix the described error. I will attach the changing process below.

Step 1

Right-click on the problematic image. Then you need to select ‘Properties’.

Step 2

Tap the ‘General’ tab and look at the bottom. Here you will see the ‘Advanced’ option. Click on it.

Step 3

Consequently, the ‘Advanced Attribute’ interface will become evident. You have to uncheck the ‘Encrypt contents to secure data’ option from here. In the end, press ‘Ok’ to complete the task.

Finally, you need to check the existence of the error. Somehow, if it still exists, you will have one more option to apply.

Fix 9: Block Inheritance

This the today’s last fix. This is rarely applied to fix the error. You can apply if somehow other fixes will not work. Here I will give the process below.

Step 1

Again, you need to get access to the ‘Properties’ window. So, right-click on the problematic file and select ‘Properties’. While the window will appear, you have to tap the ‘Security’ tab. Then click on the ‘Advanced’ option. 

Step 2

After that, look at the bottom of the newly appeared interface. You will find the ‘Disable inheritance’ option. Tap on it.

Step 3

Then click on the ‘Convert inherited permissions into explicit permissions on this object’ option.

Step 4

As a result, ‘Inheritance’ will be blocked. You have to tap ‘Apply’ first and then ‘Ok’ at the end. 

Final Words

In addition, fix no. 2 is a specialized solution whereas fix no. 1 is the most common one for not only the windows photo viewer, not enough memory error but also for other apps related problems.

Furthermore, fix no. 3 to 5 are system settings-related fixes and fix no. 6 and 7 are considered as basic settings fixes. Moreover, you have to work directly with problematic images in fix no. 8 and 9.