How do I stop Chrome launching the Photos app?
QI’ve used Google’s Chrome web browser for years without problem. Recently, though, whenever I download an image from the web the Windows 10 Photos app opens to display it the moment the download has finished. I’m sure Google thinks this is helpful but it’s absolutely not what I want. I want to be able to move the file to my preferred location first, and then open it when I want — not because Chrome thinks I want to see it right away! I assume this happened with a recent update, because I know that Chrome is like Windows 10 in that it likes to update itself. Is there any way to stop this annoying new behaviour?
AThis isn’t because of a Chrome update, and nor is it a new feature. Instead, it’s an option that’s all too easily activated by accident.
When you download an image (or any other type of file), Chrome places an icon on the downloads bar at the foot of the browser. Clicking on the icon will open the file in the associated program but, if you click the little arrow on the right-hand side of this icon, you’ll see an option called ‘Always open files of this type’. It takes just one slip-up to tick this, and then the files of that type will always open in the associated program — and that’s what’s happening here.
Stopping this behaviour is straightforward when you know how. First open Chrome’s menu (three dots, top right) then choose Settings. Now scroll down to find and then click Advanced. Scroll down some more to find the Downloads section. Finally, alongside ‘Open certain file types automatically after download’, just click Clear (see screenshot).