Software⏱️ 3 min read📅 2026-06-11

How to Fix: Windows 10 “The remote procedure call failed” error when opening image with Photos app

Windows 10 error when opening image with Photos app

Quick Answer: Try updating Windows or reinstalling the Photos app.

📋 Table of Contents

  1. 🛑 Root Causes of the Error
  2. 🚀 How to Resolve This Issue
  3. ✨ Wrapping Up

The 'The remote procedure call failed' error in Windows 10's Photos app can be frustrating and may prevent users from viewing images. This issue typically occurs when the Photos app is unable to connect to the image, resulting in a black window and an error message.

This problem affects users who rely on the Photos app for viewing and editing images. It can also lead to a loss of work if files are not properly saved before the app crashes.

🛑 Root Causes of the Error

  • The primary cause of this error is related to the RPC (Remote Procedure Call) services, which are responsible for connecting the Photos app to the image file. If these services are not functioning correctly or are blocked by the firewall, it can lead to the 'The remote procedure call failed' error.
  • Another possible cause could be issues with the RPC Locator service, which is used to locate and connect to the RPC services. If this service is not running or is set to Manual startup type, it may prevent the Photos app from connecting to images.

🚀 How to Resolve This Issue

Enabling RPC Services

  1. Step 1: Open the Command Prompt as an administrator. You can do this by right-clicking on the Start button and selecting 'Command Prompt (Admin)'.
  2. Step 2: Type the command `net start rpcss` and press Enter to start the RPC services.
  3. Step 3: Verify that the RPC services are running by checking their status. You can do this by typing `net start /status rpcss` in the Command Prompt and pressing Enter.

Configuring Firewall Rules

  1. Step 1: Open the Windows Defender Firewall settings by typing `defenderFirewall.cpl` in the Run dialog box (Windows key + R).
  2. Step 2: Click on 'Inbound Rules' and then click on 'New Rule'.
  3. Step 3: Select 'Rule Type' as 'Port' and 'Protocol' as 'TCP', and enter the port number 135. Click 'Next'.
  4. Step 4: Select 'Allow the connection' and click 'Next'.
  5. Step 5: Name the rule, select 'Enabled', and click 'Finish'. Repeat this process for the other RPC-related ports (139 and 445).

✨ Wrapping Up

To resolve the 'The remote procedure call failed' error in Windows 10's Photos app, try enabling the RPC services and configuring firewall rules. If these steps do not work, it may be necessary to perform a clean install of Windows or seek further assistance from Microsoft support.

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