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There are lots of things to like about the Windows OS. It comes with great customization options, a user-friendly interface and a generally pleasant user experience. These are just some of the reasons that make Windows one of the most popular operating systems in the world.

This doesn’t mean that the Windows OS is absolutely problem-free. And if you are a Windows user, you’ve probably run into a number of issues when using the system. To help users deal with minor issues on the Windows OS, there are built-in troubleshooters that are capable of dealing with most system glitches and bugs automatically. Unfortunately, however, while the built-in troubleshooters are quite good at dealing with small stuff, they typically won’t be able to fix more serious problems. In this case, users often need to search for answers to their problems online.

One of the most frequent issues that users run into on a Windows PC is the File System error 2147219196, which typically occurs when they try to open Microsoft Photos. If you are one of the users who have to deal with the 2147219196 error and are wondering about the best way to fix it, you’ve come to the right place. In today’s post, we are looking into the origins of the 2147219196 error and what you can do to fix it.

What Is the Error 2147219196?

As we’ve mentioned above, the 2147219196 error typically occurs when you try to open Microsoft Photos. So, what causes the file system error 2147219196 when opening the Windows Photos app? It’s actually hard to say.

The most common reasons for this issue are corrupted system files, changes in settings, failed Windows updates, and more.

Below, we will look into some of the most workable solutions to the 2147219196 issue.

How to Fix the Error 2147219196 on Windows

As there may be several causes of the 2147219196 error, there are also several possible solutions. In this article, we will look into a number of fixes. We suggest you start at the top of the list as we will list the quickest and simplest solutions first. If the first fix doesn’t work for you, move on to the next solution. Let’s get started.

Fix 1: Try the Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter

As we’ve mentioned above, Windows comes with capable built-in troubleshooters that can help you solve multiple issues. And as Photos is a Microsoft Store app, the thing you should try first is running the built-in Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter. Here’s how to proceed:

  1. Go to Windows Search.
  2. Type “troubleshooter” and press the Enter key.
  3. On the right, go to “Additional troubleshooters”.
  4. Find Windows Store Apps and select “Run the troubleshooter”.
  5. Wait for the scan to complete and apply the suggested fixes.

Now, try running the Photos app again and see if the issue has been fixed. If you are still seeing the same error, move on to the next fix.

Fix 2: Update the Photos app

Among the reasons for the 2147219196 error are issues within the Photos app itself. So, updating the app may help you get rid of the error. Here’s how to update the Photos app on Windows:

  1. Go to the Microsoft Store on your PC.
  2. Search for Windows Photos.
  3. Select Update.

Wait as the app updates and then launch the Photos app again. If the error message still shows up, move on to Fix 3.

Fix 3: Update Windows

Updating your OS can help solve lots of errors and glitches as every new version of Windows comes with fixes for previously reported problems. Here’s how to update your Windows:

  1. Go to Windows Search.
  2. Type “update”.
  3. In the new window, select the “Check for updates” option.
  4. If any updates are available, they will be installed automatically.

Once the update process is complete, restart your computer and go to the Photos app again. If the error persists, try the next solution.

Fix 4: Repair/reset Microsoft Photos

If none of the above solutions have worked, try repairing or resetting your Microsoft Photos app. Here’s how:

  1. Right-click the Start button.
  2. Go to Apps and Features.
  3. Locate Microsoft Photos and click it.
  4. Go to “Advanced options”.
  5. Scroll down until you find Terminate.
  6. Go on to select Repair.

Once the process is complete, check if the error has been fixed. If not, use the Reset option.

If none of these have worked, move on to the next fix.

Fix 5: Repair corrupted system files

Corrupted system files are another reason why you might be running into the error. To fix this issue, try running SFC and DISM via an elevated Command Prompt. Here’s how to proceed:

  1. Go to the Windows Search bar.
  2. Type “cmd” and press Enter.
  3. Right-click Command Prompt and select “Run as administrator”.
  4. You will see the User Account Control (UAC) pop-up. Click Yes to agree.
  5. In the new window, type “sfc /scannow” and press the Enter key.
  6. Wait for the scan to complete.
  7. If the scan reveals damaged files, let them get fixed.
  8. Then, restart your PC.

If this doesn’t work, go on to enter the following commands into the Command Prompt and press Enter after each one:

  • DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
  • DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
  • DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Next, restart your PC. Once it has restarted, check if the error message has disappeared.

Fix 6: Clean your Registry

The Registry is a database that holds lots of key information about the way your computer works. Over time, as you install and uninstall lots of different programs, tools and apps, some keys and values may get left behind. If this happens, you may start running into a variety of glitches and errors on your PC — like the 2147219196 error.

If you’ve noticed that you are often looking at error messages on your PC, consider cleaning your Registry. In most cases, it is recommended that you do that by using a specialized tool, such as Auslogics Registry Cleaner. Auslogics Registry Cleaner is free to download and use and can help you solve lots of Registry issues. The program will clean, repair and optimize your Registry and rid it of crashes and glitches in just a few clicks.

Fix 7: Reinstall the Photos app

Finally, if none of the above solutions have worked, you may need to go ahead and reinstall your Photos app. When removing the app, make sure that you are very careful — making a mistake during this process can come with serious consequences. This is why we also recommend you create a system restore point before proceeding.

First, you will need to make sure that you have System Restore enabled on your PC. In most cases and on most PCs, this option is enabled by default. However, there is also a chance that you may have accidentally disabled it. Here’s how to bring it back:

  1. In Search, type “system restore”.
  2. Go to “Create a restore point”.
  3. Find System Protection and click it.
  4. Choose a drive and click Configure.
  5. In the new window, toggle on this option: “Turn on system protection”.

Next, go on to create a system restore point:

  1. Right-click the Start button.
  2. Go to the Control Panel.
  3. Click System and Maintenance > System.
  4. On the left, go to “System protection”.
  5. On the System Protection page, click Create.
  6. You will need to enter a description for your new system restore point: it can be the date/time when you are creating it, or you can be more specific and describe it as “before reinstalling Photos”.
  7. Click Create.

Once you have your restore point set up, you can go on to reinstall the Photos app. Should anything go wrong, you will be able to simply go back to the restore point you’ve created, and it will take you back to the time before the mistake was made.

Here’s how to reinstall Microsoft Photos:

  1. Press the Windows key and the S key at the same time.
  2. In the search bar, type “powershell”.
  3. Right-click PowerShell and select “Run as Administrator”.
  4. Type “get-appxpackage *Microsoft.Windows.Photos* | remove-appxpackage command” and press Enter.
  5. Go to the Microsoft Store and download the new Photos app.
  6. Open the setup file and follow the on-screen prompts to install it.
  7. Once this is done, you should be able to use the Photos app without any issues.

And these are all the fixes we have for you today. We hope you have found this article helpful — and we hope you are no longer running into any error messages when using your Photos app on Windows. Which of the above solutions has worked for you? Please share in the comments below.