To play a photo slideshow in Windows 11, open Microsoft Photos, select the pictures you want, open a selected picture, and choose Start slideshow. In newer Photos versions, that control is on the viewing toolbar; older layouts may put it in the three-dot menu. Choose your pictures first so the slideshow does not pick up unrelated photos.
This guide covers watching pictures in the current Photos app. Playing a slideshow, creating a video to share, and changing your desktop wallpaper are different tasks. Photos Legacy also has different menus and album tools, so its instructions do not always match the current app.
Before You Start
Find the photos you want to show and make sure they open normally. For a small presentation, copying the chosen files into a separate folder makes them easier to locate without moving the originals. For example, a folder called Birthday Slideshow can keep party pictures separate from receipts and work screenshots.
Photos can bring together pictures from your PC and connected OneDrive or iCloud accounts. Check the selected thumbnails before presenting to other people. You do not need to connect a cloud account just to view pictures already on your computer.
How to Start a Photo Slideshow in Windows 11
1. Open Microsoft Photos
Open Start, type Photos, and select the Microsoft Photos app. You should see its photo collection and navigation controls. If both Photos and Photos Legacy are installed, choose Photos for the method below.
2. Find or Add Your Picture Folder
Browse to the pictures in Photos. If their folder is missing, look in the left navigation for Gallery and choose Add folder, then select the folder containing the pictures. The location of the folder controls can vary with the app layout. Microsoft’s guide to managing pictures in Photos explains adding folders and accessing connected cloud libraries.
Adding a folder makes its contents available to Photos. It is different from importing files from a phone or camera. If you can already see the pictures you need, you can continue without adding anything.
3. Select the Pictures to Include
In the thumbnail view, hold Ctrl while clicking individual photos. To select a consecutive group, click the first photo, hold Shift, and click the last one. Check that the selected group contains only the pictures you intend to show.
These selection methods are documented in Microsoft’s announcement of the Photos slideshow feature. A folder helps you gather pictures; the selection tells Photos which pictures you want in this viewing session.
4. Start the Slideshow
Open a picture from the selected group, then choose Start slideshow in the photo viewer. If you do not see it on the toolbar, check the three-dot menu for a slideshow command. Microsoft described the move from the overflow menu to the main viewing screen in its Photos viewer update.
The viewer should begin advancing through the pictures automatically. Watch the first few changes to confirm that the intended group is playing. If the wrong pictures appear, exit the slideshow and recheck the selection before starting again.
5. Adjust Playback or Exit
Move your pointer over the slideshow to reveal its available playback controls. Use the controls shown in your version to pause, continue, or leave the slideshow. You can also try Esc to return from the viewing screen.
The current Photos slideshow supports transitions, animations, and built-in music. Look at the options offered during playback rather than expecting the old Windows 10 right-click menu. Avoid assuming every version has the same speed, shuffle, or repeat settings. Try the available options before relying on them for a presentation.
If Start Slideshow Is Missing or Pictures Do Not Appear
- Open a photo first. The viewer toolbar is different from the gallery screen. A slideshow command may appear only after entering the viewer.
- Check both the toolbar and three-dot menu. The button’s position changed between Photos releases.
- Update Photos through Microsoft Store. Check for an available Microsoft Photos update, install it, and reopen the app. The Photos app can update separately from Windows itself.
- Check the app edition. Photos Legacy’s Albums and Video Editor belong to the older app. The current Photos app organizes pictures into folders instead.
- Open a missing picture on its own. If it will not open, solve that file or cloud-download problem before trying it in a slideshow. For an offline presentation, check the files while disconnected so you know they are available locally.
- Use a small selection first. Start with three familiar pictures. Once that works, select the full group and check it again.
Viewing Photos, Making a Video, and Desktop Slideshows
For pictures that advance while you watch, use Photos slideshow playback. This does not create a finished movie file you can email or upload. For an exported video with a chosen sequence, titles, and an audio track, use a video editor such as Clipchamp. Microsoft’s Photos help distinguishes the current app, Photos Legacy, and Clipchamp.
Desktop and lock-screen slideshows are separate Windows personalization settings. Changing those settings does not start a presentation inside Photos.
If your computer runs Windows 10 and you want its File Explorer method, see our Windows 10 picture slideshow guide. Its Picture Tools and Manage ribbon instructions should not be used as the Windows 11 Photos steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Add Music Without Installing Another App?
The modern Photos slideshow has built-in music choices. That is different from importing a custom song and exporting a video with it. For that kind of finished project, use a video editor and check the rights to any music you plan to share.
Can I Choose the Order of the Pictures?
Sort the thumbnail view to help you find and select pictures, then check the order during playback. Do not assume an older Photos Legacy album-ordering tutorial applies to the current app. If the sequence must be exact, a video editor gives you an explicit timeline to arrange.
Can I Show the Slideshow on a Second Screen?
Yes, if Windows already recognizes that screen. Move the Photos window to the intended display before starting playback, and check where the slideshow opens. Test it before presenting so private windows or an unintended photo collection do not appear on the audience’s screen.
Which Picture Formats Can Photos Open?
Microsoft lists JPEG, PNG, GIF, BMP, and TIFF among supported photo formats. Opening a file successfully is the useful first check; do not assume every slideshow effect will treat an animated file like a still picture.
Start with a few selected photos, confirm playback, and then expand the selection for your full slideshow.
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
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