Microsoft is rolling out a redesigned Photos app for Windows 11 that merges images and videos from a user's PC, OneDrive, and iCloud into one gallery. The update overhauls both the editor and the image viewer, and Microsoft says it also improves how quickly the app launches and scrolls. The company positions the combined gallery as a way to manage and view photos without switching between apps or devices. The new experiences arrive first for Windows Insiders on Windows 11, with a full release for all Windows 11 users expected later this year.
Setting up the combined gallery requires action outside the Photos app. Users must enable Camera Backup in the OneDrive mobile app on iOS or Android, and follow Apple's instructions to configure iCloud for Windows. Once the galleries are merged, users can browse by date, organize and share albums, and search for photos using descriptions or the people pictured in them. Files can be browsed online or offline, and Microsoft says photos will remain available on a user's device even without a connection.
Microsoft says the editor was rebuilt from the ground up and now opens 25 percent faster. Its tools are grouped into four categories: Crop, Enhance, Repair, and Stylize. The app preserves HDR quality throughout editing and can edit and save HEIC and WebP images without changing their original format. Those changes are aimed at users who want to adjust photos without converting files or losing image quality.
The viewer received a cleaner layout along with performance improvements, according to Microsoft. It launches 15 percent faster and opens HEIC images up to 30 percent faster than before. Media type support has also been expanded to include SVG files.
The update continues Microsoft's effort to make Windows 11 a central hub for photos that users store across multiple services rather than a single device. By pulling OneDrive and iCloud content into one place, the company is addressing a common complaint among consumers who keep pictures spread across phones and computers. The Redmond, Washington-based software maker has not said when the full release will reach every Windows 11 user beyond its expectation of later this year.
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