Today we are beginning to roll out a Microsoft Photos app update to Windows Insiders on Windows 11 across all Insider Channels and also to Windows Insiders on Windows 10 in the Release Preview Channel. Not all Insiders will see this update right away or the features noted below as we roll things out to more Insiders over time. Here are some highlights of what is new and improved in this update!
Search the web with OCR-extracted text
The Photos app now comes with a powerful Optical Character Recognition (OCR) feature which supports over 160 languages, which began rolling out again for Windows Insiders on Windows 11 and Windows 10 at the end of January. To use OCR, simply click the Scan Text button in the Photos Viewer. The app will highlight the recognized text with an overlay, allowing you to easily select and copy it to your clipboard. With this update, we’re adding “Search in Web” functionality so you can quickly search for any selected text from your images right from the app.
This enhancement makes it easier than ever to extract and find online results of text from documents, notes, screenshots, and more. Whether you’re capturing text from a document or simply exploring the contents of an image, the Photos app’s OCR and online search features streamline your workflow and boost your productivity.
Quick access to AI editing and visual search from File Explorer and your desktop
Introducing new File Explorer shortcuts that give you direct access to AI editing and Visual Search without needing to open the Photos app.
Right-click an image in File Explorer and select “Create with Designer” to add rich text, adjust composition with object selection, or enhance colors with color pop.
Plus, use the “Erase Object” shortcut to quickly remove unwanted elements. And with “Visual Search with Bing” shortcut, you can easily look up similar images, related products, and more right from your desktop.
Show subfolder images and videos in the Photos Gallery
Now you can use filters to adjust how your subfolder and gallery content show up. By enabling “Show subfolders”, you can now see all the images and videos from subfolders in the Gallery, making it a richer navigation experience.
Introducing the new Copilot button in the Photos app
We are excited to unveil the Copilot button in the Photos app that brings AI directly to your fingertips.
This Copilot integration is rolling out soon and with this new feature, you can effortlessly share your photos with AI to receive:
- 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.
To get these new features, update your app to version 2025.11030.20006.0 or higher via the Microsoft Store. This update is currently rolling out, so it may not be available right away. As always, we love getting your feedback so please share your thoughts in Feedback Hub (Win + F) under Apps > Photos.
Lydia Ko,
Senior Product Manager, Microsoft Photos
