Editing videos on Windows 11 should be pretty straightforward, especially with the built-in video editor in the Photos app. But let’s face it, sometimes things don’t go to plan. You might find media not importing, features playing hard to get, or the app crashing out of nowhere. If you’ve been there, you’ll know how frustrating it is to kick off a project only to have the tools throw a tantrum. The good news is, a lot of these issues come down to a few common hiccups that have legit fixes. With a bit of tinkering, you can generally get things back on track and start editing without the drama. This guide walks through some practical steps that helped clear the ruckus and get the video editor humming again, so you can get stuck into making those epic edits.
How to Fix Windows 11 Video Editor Not Working or Crashing
Method 1: Make sure the Photos app and its bits are up-to-date
First off, Windows 11 gets regular updates that sort out bugs and improve app stability. If your Photos app (which runs the video editor) is out of date, it might act up or crash. Check for updates in the Microsoft Store. Head to Start Menu > Microsoft Store, then click on the three-dot menu in the corner and select Downloads and updates. Hit Get updates and let everything update. A quick restart afterwards helps too. Sometimes, the video editor still plays silly buggers after this, but it’s worth a shot. Keeping the app current helps prevent bugs that cause crashes or glitches. Plus, you might get some new features or fixes along the way.
Method 2: Repair or reset the Photos app via Settings
If updating didn’t do the trick, try repairing or resetting the Photos app. It’s a bit tucked away: go to Settings > Apps & Features. Scroll to find Microsoft Photos. Click on it, then choose Advanced Options. Here, you’ll see options to “Repair” or “Reset.” Repair is safer; it tries fixing minor issues without wiping your data. Reset basically reinstalls the app from scratch, which can clear out stubborn bugs but might delete some local settings. After resetting, open the app again and see if the video editor behaves better. Sometimes, Windows makes things unnecessarily complicated, but resetting can clear out corrupted files causing crashes or weird behaviour.
Method 3: Clear Media Cache and Reinstall Features
Sometimes, cache or leftover media files cause grief. The fix? Clearing the media cache. Open File Explorer and go to C:\Users\Your Username\AppData\Local\Packages\MicrosoftWindows.Client.WebExperience_cw5n1h2txyewy\LocalState\Assets. Delete everything inside (back up first if you’re worried). Another way is to re-register the Photos app: open PowerShell as Administrator and run:
Get-AppXPackage *Microsoft.Windows.Photos* | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}This re-registers the app, which often sorts out weird glitches. If that sounds like a bit much, you can also try uninstalling and reinstalling the Photos app from the Microsoft Store. It’s a pain, but sometimes, that’s the missing link.
Method 4: Check Windows Features and Optional Updates
In some cases, the video editor needs specific features turned on or updated. Jump to Start Menu > Settings > Windows Update and make sure your system’s fully up-to-date. Also, look for optional features like “Media Feature Pack” (especially if you’re on Windows 11 N or KN editions). Go to Settings > Apps & Features > Optional Features and see if things like “Media Player” or “Media Feature Pack” are installed. Installing or enabling these can fix missing codecs or media playback issues, which sometimes cause the video editor to throw a wobbly.
Method 5: Use Alternative Software or Run Some Commands (if you’re desperate)
If none of the above work, some folks find a fix by using third-party tools or command-line tweaks. Apps like Winhance (check out their GitHub here) can repair corrupt media files or tweak registry settings to sort out media handling woes. Or, you can run a System File Checker scan: open PowerShell or Command Prompt as Admin, then type sfc /scannow and hit Enter. This scans your system for missing or corrupted files and attempts to fix them. Usually, this sorts out odd app crashes or glitches.
Wrap-up
Getting the Windows 11 video editor to behave isn’t always a quick fix. It’s more like a process of elimination—checking that the app’s up-to-date, clearing caches, repairing parts, and making sure Windows itself is fully patched. Sometimes, a reset or reinstall is the ticket, even if it feels a bit over the top. Oh, and don’t forget, if everything falls over again, there are other free options like Shotcut or DaVinci Resolve that are pretty solid backups. Keep trying different tricks, and hopefully, you’ll be back to editing those epic vids in no time. Fingers crossed!
Summary
- Update the Photos app via Microsoft Store
- Repair or reset the app in Settings
- Clear cache or re-register the app using PowerShell
- Check optional media features and updates
- Use system file checker or third-party tools if needed