In a recent development, Microsoft has confirmed that it has force-installed the OneDrive Photos app on Windows 11 PCs, a decision that has sparked considerable debate among users and IT administrators alike. This revelation came after inquiries from Windows Latest regarding the app’s unexpected appearance on devices, even those not utilizing a personal Microsoft account.
The situation has been particularly perplexing for enterprise users, as the OneDrive Photos app is designed to function exclusively with personal Microsoft accounts. Despite this, the app found its way onto enterprise PCs managed through Intune, leaving IT departments grappling with its presence. The only options available to them involve either removing OneDrive entirely or retaining both the sync client and the new app.
Microsoft has acknowledged the unintended rollout to enterprise devices but has refrained from offering further clarification, even after repeated requests for more information. It appears that the company originally intended to limit the installation of OneDrive Photos to consumer PCs, but an oversight led to its deployment across business environments as well. There is hope that Microsoft will soon address this error and communicate transparently with its business clientele.
We’re not training AI on your faces, trust us, says Microsoft
OneDrive has long been a staple of the Windows ecosystem, seamlessly integrated into File Explorer and accessible via the OneDrive sync client. The new OneDrive Photos app, however, introduces an AI-enhanced “People” feature that has raised concerns among users regarding privacy and data usage.
In response to these concerns, Microsoft assured Windows Latest that the People feature is disabled by default and clarified that it does not utilize AI to analyze photos stored solely on users’ PCs. The company emphasized that face grouping occurs only in the cloud and exclusively on images stored in OneDrive. Furthermore, any data collected for this feature is deleted within 30 days if the feature is turned off.
For those who have yet to receive the OneDrive Photos app, it is expected to roll out in the coming days. Currently, users cannot remove the app independently; doing so would require the complete removal of OneDrive, including the sync client. Microsoft has indicated that an update will eventually allow users to uninstall the OneDrive Photos app separately, raising questions about the rationale behind its initial force-installation.
This is a developing story…
