Do you keep seeing a message labeled “File system error (-2147219196)” while opening images with the Photos app in Windows 10? Despite sounding like a disk error, it’s an issue that mainly stems from file corruption or broken permissions.
Work your way through the fixes that follow to fix “File system error (-2147219196)” in Windows 10 and start using Photos as usual again.
Run the Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter
Windows 10 includes a built-in troubleshooter that automatically deals with errors related to apps belonging to the Microsoft Store (such as Photos). We strongly recommend running it before diving into the rest of the fixes.
1. Vula Qala imenyu kwaye ukhethe izicwangciso.
2. Select the option labeled Uhlaziyo kunye noVuselelo.
3. Khetha Iingxaki kwicala elisecaleni.
4. Khetha Iingxaki zokusombulula ezongezelelweyo.
5. Khetha Usetyenziso lweWindows kwi- Ivenkile yeWindows > Qalisa i-troubleshooter.
Repair the Microsoft Photos App
If the Microsoft Store troubleshooter fails to fix “File system error (-2147219196)” in Windows 10, the next course of action involves repairing the Photos app.
1. Vula izicwangciso usetyenziso kwaye ukhethe apps.
2. Scroll down the list of apps and select Izithombe zeMicrosoft > Izinketho eziphambili.
3. Khetha Ukupheliswa to shut down all live processes related to the Photos app. Then, select Lungisa.
Reset the Microsoft Photos App
If repairing Photos also didn’t make a difference, try resetting the app to its defaults. To do that, simply follow the instructions in the section above but select Ukupheliswa > Cwangcisa kwakhona endaweni yoko.
Install Microsoft Store Updates
Assuming that the fixes above didn’t make the “File system error (-2147219196)” pop-up go away, it’s best to check for and install any updates related to Photos and other Store-related apps.
1. Open the Microsoft Store.
2. Khetha Uphawu lwethala leencwadi at the lower left of the window. On older versions of the Microsoft Store, open the ivenkile menu (icon with three dots) and select Ukhuphelo kunye nohlaziyo endaweni yoko.
3. Khetha Fumana izibuyekezo to update all Microsoft Store apps in Windows 10.
Re-Register the Photos App
The following fix involves re-registering the Photos app with Windows 10. The procedure consists in executing a command via an elevated Umyalelo oboqayo console.
1. Uhlobo cmd kwi Qala menu kwaye cinezela Ctrl + ukutshintsha + faka to open Command Prompt with administrative rights.
2. Copy and paste the following command:
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command “& {$manifest = (Get-AppxPackage *Photos*).InstallLocation + ‘AppxManifest.xml’ ; Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $manifest}”
3. Cinezela faka.
Re-register All Microsoft Store Apps
If re-registering the Photos app didn’t help, try re-registering all Microsoft Store apps on your PC via an elevated Windows PowerShell console.
1. Cinezela Windows + X (or right-click the Qala button) and select PowerShell (i-Admin).
2. Copy and paste the following command:
Get-AppXPackage | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)AppXManifest.xml”}
3. Cinezela faka.
Reinstall the Photos App
If file corruption is the cause of the “File system error (-2147219196),” completely removing and reinstalling the Windows Photos app may fix the issue. However, the procedure requires running a command as the SYSTEM user. For that, you need a tool called PsExec.
1. Intloko kwi PsExec page on Windows Sysinternals kwaye ukhethe Download PsTools.
2. Right-click the downloaded ZIP file and select Khipha iifayile. Then, set the folder path as C:/PSTools kwaye ukhethe Ukukhupha.
3. Open an elevated Windows PowerShell console and execute the following command:
Fumana-AppxPackage * iifoto * | Susa-AppxPackage
4. Open an elevated Command Prompt console and execute the following command:
C:PSToolsPsExec.exe -sid C:WindowsSystem32cmd.exe
5. Agree to the SysInternals software license terms. A separate Command Prompt console will automatically launch.
6. Execute the following command:
rd /s “C:Program FilesWindowsAppsMicrosoft.Windows.Photos_2021.21090.10008.0_x64__8wekyb38bbwe
Phawula: The Photos app’s directory changes with each Windows update. To auto-fill the command with the correct name, press the Ithebhu key right after rd /s “C:Program FilesWindowsAppsMicrosoft.Windows.Photos_. You may have to cycle through matching entries (repeatedly press Ithebhu) until you see x64 included as part of the file name.
7. Exit all Command Prompt windows and reinstall Photos via the Microsoft Store.
Change Photos App Ownership to TrustedInstaller
If the issue persists, change ownership of the Photos app to U thembileKu (a special user account in Windows 10) and see if that helps.
1. Open an elevated Windows PowerShell console and execute the following command:
takeown /F “%ProgramFiles%WindowsApps” /r /d y
2. Open File Explorer and select View > Izinto ezifihlakeleyo kwimenyu yebar.
3. Head over to the following location:
IDiski yeNgingqi C > Iifayile zeNkqubo > IiWindowsApps
4. Right-click on the folder labeled Microsoft.Windows.Photos_[version number] kwaye ukhethe Properties.
Phawula: If you see multiple similar-looking folders, pick the directory that contains x64 as part of its file name.
5. Tshintshela kwi ukhuseleko ithebhu kwaye ukhethe Advanced.
6. Khetha utshintsho ecaleni kwe Umnini.
7. Uhlobo INKONZO NT into the vacant box and select Kulungile.
8. Jonga ibhokisi ecaleni kwe Faka endaweni yomnini kwizikhongozeli kunye nezinto.
9. Khetha Faka, ngoko OK. Follow that by exiting the folder’s Properties window.
10. Re-register the Windows Photos app (instructions above).
Install Pending Windows 10 Updates
Windows 10 updates can improve the stability of apps and the operating system. If you still keep seeing the “File system error (-2147219196)” message, it’s time to use Windows Update.
1. Vula izicwangciso usetyenziso kwaye ukhethe Uhlaziyo kunye noKhuseleko or Update Windows.
2. Khetha Jonga uvuselelo.
3. Khetha Khuphela uze ufake to apply any pending updates.
Uninstall the Most Recent Windows Update
Rarely, Windows 10 updates can end up breaking things. If the issue with the Photos app occurred right after installing an operating system update, you might want to consider uninstalling it.
1. Vula izicwangciso usetyenziso kwaye ukhethe Uhlaziyo kunye noKhuseleko or Update Windows.
2. Khetha Jonga imbali yokuhlaziya.
3. Khetha Khupha uhlaziyo.
4. Select the most recent update (skip any security or servicing stack updates).
5. Khetha Khipha.
Run an SFC and DISM Scan
If none of the fixes above helped, it’s time to run the Isikhangeli seFayile yeNkqubo (SFC) and the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool. That resolves corruption issues with the operating system.
Isikhangeli seFayile yeNkqubo (SFC)
Open an elevated Windows PowerShell console and run the following command:
sfc / scannow
Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) Tool
After the System File Checker finishes scanning Windows 10 for issues, restart your computer and execute the following command:
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /Restorehealth
Fully Fix File System Error (-2147219196) in Windows
The fixes above should’ve helped you resolve the “File System Error (-2147219196)” issue with the Photos app in Windows 10. If not, try using an alternative Windows photo viewing app until Microsoft fixes the problem in a subsequent update. If you can’t wait, your remaining options involve ukwenza inkqubo yokubuyisela kwaye reverting Windows 10 to factory defaults.