Open with - Microsoft WinRT Storage API

Question

Hi,

Since my PC updated to Win 11 22H2 Pro, right-clicking on a JPG, one of the options is "Microsoft WinRT Storage API", clicking on this just brings up the error message "Element not found". I can find no way of removing this "open-with" item.

Just to clarify, I have seen posts referring to this where it has taken over as the Default app, this isn't the case here, all the files open in the correct default programs as they should. The problem is removing Microsoft WinRT Storage API altogether from the open-with menu.

Finally, I had the same issue with a laptop - rolling back and new Windows install [21H2 Home] corrected the problem - suggesting it isn't system specific.

Thanks.

Answer 1

Mike,

I'm wondering if this has something to do with Paint3D. The shell seems to be enumerating the program's registry location, and Paint3D's Package ID is wrongly assigned; it's pointing to the regular Paint app.

Please try these two commands from Admin PowerShell window:

• get-appxpackage *paint* -allusers | remove-appxpackage
• get-appxpackage Microsoft.Windows.Photos -allusers | remove-appxpackage

Install Paint 3D from Microsoft Store.

(Don't install the Photos app yet.)

See if the erroneous Open With entry is gone. Let's know how it goes.

Answer 2

Thanks.

Please try:

reg query "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AppModel\Repository\Packages" /s /v .jpg

Copy the output and include it in your reply.

The above command shows the list of apps that have registered themselves as .JPG file handlers (w.r.t Default Apps registration).

Answer 3

Hi Mike,

One of those entries in your screenshot will be causing that entry on the context menu, please re-enable the one you disabled, then from the top down, disable one of the entries, restart your PC and check if the context menu is gone, if not, re-enable that one and disable the nest one... and so on for each of those entries referencing 'Microsoft WinRT Storage API'

Dave, No luck

I tried as you said and restarted between each attempt - as a final test I disabled all instances. Interestingly some of the lines I couldn't disable individually, whichever line I clicked on multiple (but all Microsoft WinRT Storage API) were selected.

Mike

Answer 4

Hi Ramesh - as requested:

Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.22621.521]

(c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

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C:\Windows\System32>reg query "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AppModel\Repository\Packages" /s /v .jpg

---

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AppModel\Repository\Packages\Microsoft.Paint_11.2206.6.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe\App\Capabilities\FileAssociations

**.jpg    REG\_SZ    AppXcesbfs704v2mjbts9dkr42s9vmrhxbkj** 

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HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AppModel\Repository\Packages\Microsoft.ScreenSketch_11.2206.13.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe\App\Capabilities\FileAssociations

**.jpg    REG\_SZ    AppX2jm25qtmp2qxstv333wv5mne3k5bf4bm** 

---

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AppModel\Repository\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.Photos_2022.31070.26005.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe\App\Capabilities\FileAssociations

**.jpg    REG\_SZ    AppX43hnxtbyyps62jhe9sqpdzxn1790zetc** 

---

End of search: 3 match(es) found.

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C:\Windows\System32>reg query "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AppModel\Repository\Packages" /s /v .jpg

Answer 5

Hi Mike,

That entry on the context menu is a corrupt entry for the photos app, it is definitely in the registry somewhere, but can be very hard to find,

You could search the registry from the top down for Microsoft.Windows.Photos

You would be looking for a list that looks the exact same as the list shown below, if you can find a list like that please provide a screenshot of what you find.

.