The Microsoft Photos app, while perhaps not as widely recognized as its productivity counterparts, continues to evolve with features designed to enhance user experience and streamline workflows. With the latest update, Microsoft has introduced a suite of new tools aimed at improving photo organization and editing capabilities for both Windows 11 and 10 users.
Microsoft Photos has a new tool to search the web, a new Copilot button
One of the standout features of this update is the integration of web search functionality. Users can now leverage the Optical Character Recognition (OCR) feature to extract text from images. If you encounter text that requires further clarification, simply select it, right-click, and choose the “Search in web” option from the context menu. This addition simplifies the process of obtaining information directly from your photos.
Additionally, the introduction of a Copilot button enhances the editing experience. Positioned at the top of the Photos Viewer, this feature offers expert advice on image enhancement, provides insights about your photos, and assists in honing your photography skills.
You’ve more reasons to love the latest Photos app update
Beyond the new web search and Copilot features, the update facilitates quick access to AI editing tools and visual search directly from File Explorer. Users can right-click on a photo and hover over the “Photos” option to reveal a variety of new functionalities, including “Create with Designer,” “Erase object,” and “Visual Search with Bing.” These options, previously confined to the Photos app, are now conveniently accessible from the File Explorer context menu.
For those less inclined towards AI features, the update also allows users to customize the display of subfolder and gallery content. By enabling the “Show subfolders” option via the filter button, users can tailor their viewing experience to better suit their needs.
These changes aren’t available to all
It’s important to note that these enhancements are currently being rolled out to Windows Insiders. To access the new features, users must update their Photos app to version 2025.11030.20006.0 or higher. However, as indicated in Microsoft’s official communications, the rollout may not be immediate for all Insiders, meaning some users might need to exercise a bit of patience as they await the update.
