Microsoft rebuilds Windows 11 Photos app with native editor, AI object removal
Microsoft published a blog post on October 15 announcing a major rebuild of the built-in Windows 11 Photos app, now rolling out to Windows Insiders with a wider release to all Windows 11 users expected later this year. The redesigned gallery browses local, OneDrive and Apple iCloud photos and videos in one interface and supports natural-language searches such as "sunset on the beach"; the editor is rebuilt on WinUI 3 and Microsoft says it launches about 25% faster than the old version. It adds improved AI object removal by painting or circling an area, a Relight feature with up to three adjustable virtual light sources, and support for editing HDR, HEIC and WebP files, while Microsoft says the viewer opens photos 15% faster on average and HEIC images up to 30% faster. TechSpot reported that the new gallery is a WebView2 web wrapper replacing the previous native WinUI 3 gallery, drawing criticism from power users on Reddit and X.
Photos is a default Windows 11 app, and TechSpot describes the update as part of Microsoft's push to make Photos the default editor for most Windows 11 users.
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First look: Microsoft has unveiled an updated Photos app for Windows 11 featuring a new native editor and image viewer, and an all-new gallery. The update is part of the company's ongoing effort to make Windows 11 faster and more user-friendly by fixing long-standing bugs and trimming resource usage. It is rolling out to Windows Insiders first, with a wider release to all Windows 11 users expected later this year.
The new editor includes several useful tools. Crop helps adjust framing, composition, and aspect ratio, while Enhance fine-tunes light, color, and the overall look of a photo. Repair lets users fix flaws and imperfections, and Stylize changes the look and feel of an image.
– Rudy Huyn (@RudyHuyn) October 15, 2026
The editor also introduces Relight, which can correct the lighting and exposure of a photograph during post-processing. It supports editing HDR, HEIC, and WebP images as well, along with AI-powered removal of unwanted objects from the background.
Microsoft says the next-generation AI model behind the object removal tool delivers "higher-quality results and faster processing than ever before." To use it, select Repair from the edit options in the right pane, then circle or paint over the object with the brush.
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