Ok, bear with me. I have never knowingly downloaded photos onto my computer. My “downloads” file is a hopeless mess. As you suggested, I have opened google photos in my computer and clicked the download. It tells me it has downloaded the photos in “This PC > Downloads > Photos-001 (2)zip. (The (2) probably reflects the fact that this is the second time I have tried to do it).
So the photos are apparently downloaded, but when I try to open them it tells me I will need a new app, ms-paint.
I have other photos downloaded directly in my downloads file that I can see as pictures, and when I try to click on them it tells me the sme thing - that I need another pp.
I’ve attached a screen shot in case it makes things clearer. I don’t blame you if you get impatient and don’t want to continue this conversation.
View attachment 177319