Designer not available for editing photos

Kathy 0 Reputation points
2026-09-06T11:53:07.68+00:00

Yesterday afternoon I was editing photos - adding text, erasing people/objects. The cropping facility within Designer hasn't worked for me recently and the screen sometimes freezes when trying to add text.

The screen froze yesterday when I was trying to add text to a photo. I then chose another photo and managed to add text to it. However, when I chose the next photo to edit, the designer icon was missing from the top of the screen and has been replaced by a drop down stating 'Open with'. The options on the drop down are File explorer, Gallery and Clipchamp with an option to choose another app, which doesn't include designer.

The problem is still the same this morning which is frustrating as I was hoping to do more photos today.

What can I do please to resolve this problem?

Microsoft 365 and Office | Clipchamp | Other
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  1. Robin Jones 5 Reputation points
    2026-09-07T06:17:27.92+00:00

    I also found that Designer was no longer avaliable through Microsoft photos. The AI answer on this page did not work.

    But if you log in to designer through Google it is fine.

    Type Microsoft Designer in to Google. Click on "sign in to see your projects". Top right hand corner click on "Create" , "edit image" and "this device" and you will find your photos.

    You can then save Microsoft Designer in to your short cuts on your desk top.

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  2. Alex-L 12,570 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-09-10T12:58:08.42+00:00

    Hi Kathy

    Based on recent reports from other users, you may not be the only one seeing the Designer option disappear from the Photos app after a recent update. If updating and repairing Photos/WebView2 does not help, try opening Microsoft Designer directly from the Start menu or through the web version to confirm that Designer itself is still working. Several users have reported that Designer works normally when launched directly even when the Photos integration is missing. If the issue persists, I recommend sending feedback from Photos so the Photos/Designer team can investigate whether this is a regression in a recent app update.

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  3. AI answer

    2026-09-06T11:53:24.82+00:00

    Try these steps in order:

    1. Open Designer from Photos the supported way:
      • Open Microsoft Photos.
      • Double-click a single photo so it opens by itself.
      • Select Edit > Edit with Designer.
      • Make sure there is an internet connection and that a personal Microsoft account is signed in.
    2. Repair the component Designer depends on:
      • Go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
      • Find Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime.
      • Select Modify > Repair.
      • Restart the PC.
    3. If Designer still does not appear or open:
      • Uninstall Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime.
      • Reinstall it using the WebView2 Evergreen Standalone Installer.
      • Run the installer as administrator.
      • Restart the PC and test again.
    4. Install app updates:
      • Open Microsoft Store > Library.
      • Install any available updates for Photos, Paint, and Microsoft Designer.
    5. Use a workaround for editing today:
      • For cropping, open the image in Photos and use Edit image > Crop, then save it as a copy.
      • If Photos is difficult to view because the image is too small or too large, use the zoom controls or hold Ctrl and scroll the mouse wheel.
      • Paint is also a fallback if Photos does not behave correctly.
    6. If the issue is specifically freezing when adding text:
      • Try the web version of Designer or the mobile app as a temporary workaround.
      • If Designer on the web also has text issues, test in an InPrivate/Incognito browser window, clear site data for Designer, and temporarily disable extensions.
    7. Report the crop/save issue from Designer:
      • In Microsoft Designer, select Send feedback.
      • Include the Designer version and, if possible, a short screen recording.

    Based on the symptoms, the most likely path is: repair WebView2, update Photos/Designer, then test Edit with Designer on a single photo.

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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