Viewing 360-degree photos on Windows 11 isn’t as straightforward as just opening any image — especially if you want to do it without mucking around with third-party apps. Luckily, the built-in Photos app can handle these images pretty well, but there are a few quirks. Sometimes, it doesn’t recognise the photo as 360, or the view mode doesn’t kick in properly. Basically, you might get a bit frustrated if your settings aren’t right or your app’s out of date. So, yeah, getting these immersive images to look right depends on making sure a few things are sorted: recent updates, supported file types, and the correct steps. Here’s how to get around that and actually *see* your 360 photos in all their glory.
How to View 360 Photos on Windows 11 (the right way)
This method works when your photo is a genuine 360 shot — not just a panorama or stitched image. If the app won’t switch into 360 mode when opening such pics, it might be because your Photos app’s a bit behind the times or the image isn’t fully supported. Also, the “view in 360” option can be hidden or not enabled by default. It’s worth ticking off all the bases first, then following these steps to make sure you’re seeing the full immersive experience.
Make sure your Photos app is up-to-date and your image is compatible
- Open the Microsoft Store (click Start and search for it).
- Search for “Photos,” then see if there’s an update waiting. If there is, hit Update.
- Check your image’s format — usually JPEG, PNG, or the special 360 types like equirectangular pics. If you’re not sure, try opening it in apps like HoloPlay or online viewers first.
- Save your photos in a clear folder, like Pictures/360Photos, so things stay tidy.
Open your 360 shot the right way
- Navigate to where your photo is using File Explorer.
- Right-click on it, then choose Open with > Photos. Or if it opens in a different app, right-click again and pick Edit with Photos.
- Once it loads, see if the app detects it as 360 — sometimes a globe icon pops up at the bottom or a message says “View in 360.”
Turn on the 360 View Mode
- If you see the globe icon or a “View in 360” button, click it. This should switch the app into immersive mode if supported. Sometimes, Windows hides this feature a bit, so have a good look at the interface, especially near the bottom or sidebars.
- Usually, the image’s metadata needs to say it’s a genuine 360 for the feature to work — verified 360 images often have specific info in their EXIF data.
- If nothing happens after clicking, double-check that your Photos app is up-to-date and that your image is decent quality (not corrupted or very low-res). Sometimes, a quick restart of the app or the PC itself does the trick.
Navigate the 360 Photo Using Mouse or Touch
- If you’re in the right mode, click and drag with your mouse, or swipe around on a touchscreen. It’ll feel like you’re standing right inside the scene.
- Change the view — look up, down, left, right — just like in VR, but without needing any headset.
- Quick heads-up: performance can vary, and sometimes the app can lag if your PC’s a bit old or if the image is massive.
Getting Out of 360 Mode
- When you’re finished, click the back arrow or just close the app. The photo will go back to normal view.
If it doesn’t switch back properly, just reopen the photo and set it to normal mode again.
Honestly, this whole process can be a bit hit-and-miss — Windows’ native support for 360 photos isn’t perfect, and the Photos app sometimes doesn’t pick up that a shot is truly 360. But if you do it right, you’ll get a pretty bloody good experience, letting you look around your panorama without needing any extra downloads. It’s not flawless, but it beats just scrolling around a flat image wondering what you’re missing, right?