How to Fix the “These Files Have Properties That Can’t Be Read” Photos Error in Windows 10 & 11
The Microsoft Photos app (Photos Legacy in Windows 11) is an image viewer that also incorporates a video editor. That editor usually enables Photos users to set up video projects. However, some users see this error message when they try to add MP4 files in that video editor, “These files have properties that can’t be read.”
Users can’t add and edit their MP4s in the Photos video editor because of that error. Does the same error pop up when you try to add MP4s in Photos? If it does, this is how you can fix the “properties that can’t be read” issue in Windows 10 and 11.
1. Select the Repair and Reset Options for Photos
The Apps & features tool in Settings includes two troubleshooting options for apps that aren’t working right. ThoseRepairandResetoptions available for the Photos app are worth a try. This is how it’s possible to select to repair and reset the Photos app in Windows 11/10.
2. Delete Previous Video Projects
The “properties that can’t be read” error can arise because of corrupted data from previous video projects in Photos. Some users have resolved that issue by erasing previous video projects in their Photos apps. Delete previous video projects in Photos as follows:
3. Manually Select a Source Folder for the Required Videos
Other Photos users have been able to work around the “properties can’t be read” error by manually selecting a source folder in Photos. Those users selected to add folders that include their clips outside of Photos’ video editor. These are the steps for manually selecting a video source folder:
4. Reregister Photos
You might need to fix the “properties that can’t be read” error because the Photos app has been deregistered. Reregistering the app will likely resolve the issue if that’s the case. You can reregister Photos with PowerShell like this:
Windows 11 users will need to input a different command for the Photos Legacy app. To reregister Photos Legacy in Windows 11, you’ll need to replaceMicrosoft.Windows.Photosin that command withMicrosoft.PhotosLegacy_2022.31100.20005.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe. That command looks like this:
5. Reinstall the Photos App
Reinstalling Photos will give you a fresh new copy of the app. it’s possible to’t uninstall Windows 10’s Photos app via Settings, but a PowerShell command will do the job. This is how to reinstall Photos with PowerShell in Windows 10:
Windows 11 users with Photos Legacy can uninstall that app via Settings. To do so, open Apps & features; and click theUninstalloption for Photos Legacy. Then reinstall that app by clickingGet in Storeon thePhotos Legacy Microsoft Store pageand selecting theInstalloption.
6. Repair the Video File You Can’t Add in Photos
If none of the other potential fixes in this guide work, there might be an issue with one, or more, of your MP4 files. The MP4 files it’s possible to’t add in Photos could be corrupted or damaged. To check if that’s the case, try adding other videos in Photos to see if the same happens for all MP4s. If not, try repairing the broken MP4s the issue arises with the Fix.video web app in the following steps:
There are plenty of other video repair tools, but Fix.video is a freely available one. However, not all the most effective Windows video repair software packages are freeware. Ourbest video repair apps guidetells you about some of the best Windows software for repairing MP4s and other clip formats.
7. Roll Back Windows With System Restore
System Restore is a tool that rolls Windows back to a system snapshot for a previous date. That utility might help you fix the “properties that can’t be read” if it’s enabled on your PC. Selecting a restore point that predates that Photos error on your PC could resolve the matter. Your best bet is to choose the oldest restore point available. You can roll back Windows as covered in our guide onutilizing System Restore for Windows.
Set up Exciting Video Projects in Photos Again
The “properties that can’t be read” error isn’t always straightforward to fix. However, the potential resolutions in this guide have resolved that video-editing issue for some Photos users. So, maybe one will fix the video editor in your Photos app as well. However, remember that there are also plenty of other alternative video editors (both freeware and proprietary software) you’re able to use instead of Photos.
Here, we’ll go over the best free video editors on both desktop and mobile devices.
So much time invested, and for what?
Your iPhone forgets what you copy, but this shortcut makes it remember everything.
Your phone is a better editor than you give it credit for.
I gripped my chair the entire time—and then kept thinking about it when the screen turned off.
Don’t let aging hardware force you into buying expensive upgrades.
