Microsoft updates Photos app: more cloud connectivity

Microsoft is distributing a new preview version of the Photos app for Windows 10 and Windows 11. Participants in the Insider Program will gradually receive the new version. Essentially, it will have more online functions.

As Microsoft explains in a blog post, Photos will now also be able to access iCloud photos under Windows 10. To do this, interested parties must go to "iCloud Photos" and install the latest version of iCloud for Windows from the Microsoft Store. After logging in with your Apple ID, all you have to do is activate the option to synchronize with iCloud Photos. After a few minutes, the pictures from iCloud should appear in the Photos app.

Gallery makes local and cloud content accessible

The navigation area in the gallery is designed to improve usability and make it easier to find local and cloud content. The gallery option now allows access to all photos in one place, regardless of whether they are on your PC or in the cloud on iCloud or Onedrive. To view the synchronized photos, simply click on "Onedrive - Personal", "Onedrive - Business" or "iCloud Photos". As expected, the folders and content from the computer that have been added to the Photos app can be found under "This PC" at the bottom of the navigation bar. Click on "Add folder" next to "Gallery" to add further directories.

You can now start a visual online search with "Visual Search with Bing" from the Photos app. Below the image, the Photos app shows a "Visual Search with Bing" icon, which can also be called up with the right-click context menu if necessary. This opens the search results in Bing, which should provide similar images, related products or related content.

The Photos app can now optionally be kept in the background. The function uses the minimum number of processes and causes the app to start faster. This is activated by default and can be deactivated by switching off the "Performance" option in the settings. Images also have a new context menu entry "Edit in Photos" in File Explorer or on the desktop. This opens the photo editor, which allows you to crop, rotate or revise the image –, including adjustments and AI-supported changes –.

The update to the Photos app 2024.11080.30001.0 or newer brings the new functions. Microsoft has started the distribution process, so the app has not yet reached all insiders. However, this should happen shortly.

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Microsoft improves Photos app

Microsoft last provided detailed improvements in June. Access to frequently used functions was to be simplified, and a dedicated area was added with links to other Microsoft apps, such as Clipchamp video editing or Onedrive.

(dmk)