Next or Previous arrows missing in Photos App of Windows 11/10

This post features different solutions to try if Next or Previous arrows are missing in the Photos App. The latest Windows OS comes with a complete revamp and a new photo viewing application called Microsoft Photos. It is a great upgrade over its predecessor and offers many new editing options. However, like any other Windows application, it has its share of problems. Many users have reported that Next or Previous Arrow is missing from the Photos app. Because of this, users are not able to scroll through the photos. Worry not if you are also struggling with the same problem. Just try the solutions below to get rid of the issue.

Some users have reported that the problem started after updating to Windows 11. As a result, they can’t switch to their photos. Apart from arrows missing from the Photos app, they are not able to use the keyboard arrow keys to switch to the next and previous photos. The problem could also be with the Photos app itself.

Next or Previous arrows missing in Photos App

Below is the list of effective solutions to try if Next or Previous arrows missing in the Photos App of Windows 11/10.

Reboot the system
Run Windows Store App troubleshooter
Repair or Reset the Photos app
Clear the Microsoft Store cache
Set Microsoft Photos as default
Change Photos loaction
Reinstall the Photos app

Now, let’s check out all these solutions in detail.

1] Reboot the system

The first step you should take whenever you encounter this problem is to reboot your system. As it turns out, the problem can be temporary and can be caused due to a minor bug. The best thing you can do in this situation is to reboot your system.

Check if it makes any difference. If yes, you are good to go. But in case the problem continues, try the below technical solutions.

2] Run Windows Store App troubleshooter

Microsoft Photos is a UWP, aka Universal Windows Platform app; thus, any issue with it can be resolved by performing a Windows Store App troubleshooter. You can run the Windows Store App troubleshooter by following the below steps.

To begin with, open the Settings window by pressing the Windows + I shortcut key.
Under the System tab, click on the Troubleshoot option.
Choose Other troubleshooters.
Click on the Run option next to Windows Store Apps in the following window.

That’s it. Windows will look for any available problem. If found, it will give you suggestions to get rid of it. Follow the on-screen instructions to fix the issue.

See: Photos app not working, is missing, or keeps crashing

3] Repair or Reset the Photos app

There can be an ongoing issue with the Microsoft Photos app, causing the error in the question. You can use the built-in Repair feature to eliminate any minor bug causing the problem. You can repair the application by following the below steps.

First off, Open Settings on your system.
Click on Apps present on the left panel of the screen.
In the following window, choose Apps & features.
Locate Microsoft Photos, click on the three-dots present next to it, and choose the Advanced option.
In the following window, click on the Repair option.

Wait until the Repair process is complete. Once done, check if the problem continues. If not, you are good to go. But in case the problem continues, you will have to reset the Microsoft Photos app. You can do so by clicking on the Reset option present under the same window.

See: Stop Photos App from opening when connecting your Phone to a PC

4] Clear the Microsoft Store cache

When the next and previous icon is missing in the Photos application, the possibility is high that it is being caused due to associated corrupted cache. If this is the case, the application will not perform properly and throw different issues. You will have to clear the Microsoft Store cache data to solve the problem. You can do it by following the below steps.

Launch the Command Prompt in administrator mode.
Type wsreset.exe and press the enter key.
Wait until the command is executed.
Once done, Microsoft Store will pop up automatically.
You may or may not see the following message.

The cache for the Store was cleared. You can now browse the Store for apps.

You can also open the Start menu, type wsreset.exe, and press the enter key to clear the Microsoft Store cache.

5] Set Microsoft Photos as default

You are most likely to face the problem if Microsoft Photos is not set as the default photo viewer. You can get rid of the issue by setting Microsoft Photos as default. To do so, follow the below steps.

Navigate to Settings > Apps > Default apps > Photos.
Click on all the image formats, and choose Photos as default.

Check if it solves the issue.

Read: Photos app is slow to open or not opening

6] Change Photos location

The problem can be in the location where the photos is associated. So, change the photos location and try to preview it. Check if it solves the problem.

Read: Photos App Slideshow option missing in Windows

7] Reinstall the Photos app

If none of the steps was helpful, you could go with uninstalling the application, followed by reinstalling it. You can do it by following the below steps.

Open Windows PowerShell in administrator mode.

Copy-paste the following command and press the enter key to uninstall the Microsoft Photos app.

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

Wait until the command is executed.

Once done, reinstall the Microsoft Photos app on your system from the Microsoft Store.

How do I fix the Microsoft Photos app?

If the Photos app is not opening or it takes a long time to open on your Windows 11/10 computer, then repair the Photos app. To do so, navigate to Settings > Apps > Apps & features > Microsoft Photos. Click on the three dots, and choose Advanced options. Click on the Repair option. If this doesn’t solve the problem, then you need to reset or reinstall the Photos app.