Windows 11 to get a new Photos app; Panos Panay shares video on Twitter

Windows 11 is getting a new Photos app, finally! The company’s chief Panos Panay has been showing off Windows 11 features, and he has now given us our first look at the Windows 11 Photos app, which is likely one of the core experiences of Windows 11. The Photos app refresh is a welcome change since the pre-installed app on Windows 10 is plagued with problems. It crashes frequently and has a sub-par video editor. However, the new Photos app seems to give users more control over their photos.

Panay shared a short video on Twitter that reveals a few important changes coming to the Windows 11 Photos app. When you open an image in a folder, you can move your mouse near the bottom of the app to see a carousel with other photos in the folder. Moreover, you can select multiple images simultaneously. They’ll all be displayed on the same screen. It seems like the app will show a timeline of recent snaps across the bottom. The feature seems to be borrowed by the designs on mobile devices.

Additionally, there are tweaked app controls in the top menu. All the options have been aligned at the centre. Further, it is now a floating toolbar instead of a bar that spreads across the whole app window. The company is making a few options more accessible. For instance, you can now view an image’s information, such as date and location, with just one click. Plus, the file info panel has been tweaked with new look and some UI changes. In Windows 11 Photos app, the file info panel is on the right side of the app window. Each piece of information has an associated icon so it’s easier to spot.

The Photos app refresh on Windows 11 will allow you to add a description to images, and when an image is geotagged, you can see its location on a miniature map right there. The app joins MS Paint, Calculator and more in the list of changes coming to pre-installed apps on windows 11.

Windows 11 includes two new features for a better multitasking experience. It comes with Snap Groups and Snap Layouts, which is a collection of apps you are using simultaneously that sits in the taskbar. This can be fired up or minimised at once for easier multitasking. You can now also plug and unplug an extended monitor without issues.