Microsoft is testing a new version of its Photos app for Windows 11 and Windows 10 Insiders. The update brings several changes, including web search using text in images, quick access to AI editing, and support for JXL files.
The Photos app now has a built-in OCR feature that can recognize text in over 160 languages. To use it, click the “Scan Text” button, and the app will identify the text and create a selectable area. You can then copy the text to your clipboard. What’s new is the “Search the Web” option, which lets you search for information on the web using the recognized text.
AI-powered editing
The File Explorer now has options to access AI-powered editing features directly. You can edit images without opening the Photos app first. There are also options to remove objects and find similar images.
The app also shows subfolders in the gallery view. You can use filters to customize how the content is displayed. If you enable the “Show subfolders” option, you’ll see all photos and videos from subfolders, making navigation easier.
New features
The Photos app has a new Copilot button that provides quick access to AI features. However, the Copilot integration is not yet available and will be coming soon. The Copilot AI will offer suggestions, such as expert tips for improving photo quality, image analysis, and cropping suggestions.
The app also supports JXL files, a new version of JPEG. You can learn more about JXL files here. The update fixes bugs in the Image Creator and Restyle Image features and allows users to name files before saving created images.
These features will be available in Windows 11 and Windows 10 Insider builds before rolling out to the general public in the future.
