Microsoft Windows 11 Photos app getting a makeover; exciting features on cards

Microsoft Windows 11 Photos app is being tested and it will come with a new gallery view and other improvements.

New Windows 11 photos app to roll out to Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel from next week. (Amritanshu Mukherjee / HT Tech)

Microsoft is reportedly testing a new version of Windows 11 Photos app. Not only does it boast an exciting new look, it also has quite a few other improvements. The most noticeable change is a fresh gallery view that will offer a new way to browse through your photos. Microsoft's Dave Grochocki in a blog post, stated that the new redesigned view will simplify the browsing, finding, managing, and consuming the way users access photos in the app. The new update will also bring improvements to the “Memories” feature.

While these features are exciting, it has also come with one drawback i.e, you won't be able to use the legacy app's video editor. Instead, users can use Clipchamp, the video editing app Grochocki recommended. It was added to Windows 11 in March. However, if you want to access legacy apps i.e, video editor, it is available on the Microsoft Store as “Microsoft Photos Legacy.”

Currently, the redesigned photos app will first roll out to Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel from next week and will be available to everyone in October, according to Microsoft's head of devices and Windows Panos Panay. We expect it to arrive at Microsoft's just-announced October 12th event.

Meanwhile, Microsoft's big update to Windows 11 is rolling out for all that added things like improved Snap layouts, system-wide live captions, voice access to control PCs, Smart App control for added security and much more. The version also has system wide live captions to automatically generate captions from any form of audio content on Windows 11. Additionally, it has voice access which allows users to control their PC and author text by using their voice. There is also a Natural Voices for Narrator feature. The new Windows 11 2022 Update is rolling out in 190+ countries. Windows laptop and PC users running Windows 11 can update their devices by opening the Windows Update settings screen.