On Windows 11, the Photos app is set to receive a significant upgrade. Windows Insiders within the Release Preview Channel are now able to trial various novel features, such as the ability to search the web using OCR-extracted text and swift access to AI functionalities via the File Explorer context menu.
Within the Photos app, Microsoft is adding a new Copilot button as well. This feature offers suggestions for improving image quality and provides guidance on framing photos effectively.
For some time now, several key features have been under development and subjected to testing by Insiders for months. Moving into the Release Preview Channel represents one of the last stages before a full public launch.
On April 4, 2025, Microsoft will host an AI-focused celebration marking its 50th anniversary. It’s possible that during this event, they will unveil innovative AI functionalities planned for Windows 11 and their various applications.
I’ve just taken a glance at the comprehensive rundown of alterations Microsoft has unveiled for their newest Photos app upgrade, which is currently being evaluated by Release Preview Channel Insiders. Here’s a brief overview:
1. Improved search functionality: It now allows you to find photos more quickly and easily.
2. Enhanced memory management: This ensures smoother app performance even with large collections of images.
3. New editing tools: These include adjustments for shadows, highlights, and whites, as well as a new ‘Vibrance’ tool to enhance colors in your photos.
4. Video editing improvements: You can now trim videos more precisely and apply the same editing effects across multiple clips.
5. Additional accessibility features: For users with visual impairments, there are improvements to the app’s support for screen readers and high contrast modes.
6. Bug fixes and performance enhancements: These aim to improve overall app stability and speed up certain processes.
March 2025 Microsoft Photos update
Search the web with OCR-extracted text
Starting from late January, the Photos application now offers a robust Optical Character Recognition (OCR) function that supports more than 160 languages across Windows 11 and Windows 10. This feature is being reintroduced for Windows Insiders. To utilize OCR, just hit the “Scan Text” button within the Photos Viewer. The software will then highlight the detected text with an overlay, making it simple to select and copy the text to your clipboard. With this update, we’re introducing a new “Search in Web” feature so you can swiftly search for any selected text directly from the app.
This upgrade simplifies the process of retrieving and locating text from various sources such as documents, notes, screenshots, and more. Be it extracting text from a document or examining an image’s contents, the OCR (Optical Character Recognition) and online search functions in the Photos app will optimize your workflow and increase your efficiency.
Quick access to AI editing and visual search from File Explorer and your desktop
We are introducing some handy shortcuts for File Explorer! Now, you can quickly jump to AI editing tools and visual search features without even having to open the Photos app directly.
Click an image in File Explorer, then choose “Design it” to insert text, modify the layout by selecting objects, or intensify colors using color correction.
Additionally, utilize the “Delete Object” shortcut for swiftly getting rid of unnecessary items. Furthermore, by employing the “Bing Visual Search” shortcut, you can effortlessly scan for comparable photos, associated products, and much more directly from your computer.
Show subfolder images and videos in the Photos Gallery
From now on, you have the option to apply filters to customize the appearance of your subfolder and gallery content. Enabling the “Display Subfolders” feature will allow you to view all pictures and videos within subfolders in the Gallery, enhancing your browsing experience by providing a more comprehensive navigation layout.
Introducing the new Copilot button in the Photos app
We’re thrilled to introduce the “Copilot” button within the Photos app, putting artificial intelligence at your convenient reach!
With the upcoming rollout of the Copilot integration, you’ll be able to conveniently share your images with AI for the following benefit: receiving suggestions or interpretations.
- Photo Editing Tips: Get expert advice on enhancing your images.
- Image Insights: Discover interesting details about your photos.
- Framing Suggestions: Improve your photography skills with personalized recommendations.
New Copilot button at the top of Photos Viewer highlighted in a red box.
Other fixes and improvements
- Due to popular requests, the Photos app now supports JXL files.
- We implemented bug fixes for the Image Creator and Restyle Image features on Copilot+ PCs to improve overall quality and performance. This includes successfully loading Image Creator in the Photos app on the initial launch of Photos and being able to Save generated images under a different file name.
Extending Copilot across apps
On Windows 11, the Photos app has long proved useful for quick editing tasks. Over time, Microsoft has expanded the app’s capabilities by adding numerous features.
Although the Photos app may not rival heavy-duty editors like Photoshop, I still find it quite handy. In certain situations, a simpler editing tool can be more effective.
As a tech enthusiast, I believe making it easier for users to access AI-powered editing features within applications like Photos could open up a whole new world of possibilities. Many folks might think Photos is just a simple tool for cropping images, unaware of the advanced AI editing capabilities hidden beneath the surface.
The new Copilot button continues Microsoft’s quest to push Copilot as a tool across services.
Microsoft seems to be showing great enthusiasm in their endeavors, like the Microsoft 365 app rebranding. However, there’s no question about Microsoft’s full commitment towards supporting Copilot.
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2025-03-25 17:10