How To Use The New Photos App In Windows 11

The Photos app in Windows 11 has received a significant update, bringing a sleek interface and enhanced functionality to improve your photo viewing and editing experience. The new Photos app offers a user-friendly environment for organizing, viewing, editing, and sharing your pictures. It also integrates with OneDrive, making it easier to back up and access photos across devices.

In this guide, we will explore all the key features of the new Photos app in Windows 11 and show you how to use it effectively for managing your media.

1. Opening the Photos App in Windows 11

The Photos app comes pre-installed in Windows 11, and there are several ways to access it:

Option 1: Using the Start Menu

1. Click on the Start Menu (Windows icon) in the taskbar.

2. Type Photos into the search bar.

3. Select the Photos app from the search results.

Option 2: Using the Taskbar or Shortcut

1.If you frequently use the Photos app, you can pin it to the taskbar for quick access:

 2.Right-click on the Photos app in the Start Menu and select Pin to taskbar. 

2. Navigating the Photos App

The redesigned Photos app in Windows 11 offers a cleaner, more streamlined interface. The main window is divided into several sections to help you navigate through your photo collection easily.

 Main Sections of the Interface:

1.Collections: Displays all of your photos and videos organized by date. You can scroll through your media timeline or jump to a specific date using the navigation bar on the right.

2.Albums: Lets you create and view custom photo albums.

3.People: Uses facial recognition to group photos of people together for easy access.

4.Folders: Shows photos based on the folder structure on your hard drive or OneDrive.

5.Video Editor: Offers basic video editing features, allowing you to create short movies or slideshows with photos and videos.

At the top of the app, you will see options like Import, Add to Favorites, and Edit which allow you to manage and manipulate your photos easily.

3. Importing Photos and Videos

To add new photos or videos to the Photos app, you can either import them from an external device, such as a camera or phone, or manually add them from local storage.

Importing from a Device

1. Connect your external device (phone, camera, USB drive) to your PC.

2. Open the Photos app and click on the Import button at the top right corner.

3. Select From a connected device.

4. Choose the device you want to import from, and the Photos app will display a list of available photos and videos.

5. Select the items you want to import, then click Import selected.

Adding Photos from Local Storage

1. If you want to add photos from a folder on your computer, click the Add folders button in the Folders section.

2. Browse to the folder where your photos are stored and select it.

3. The Photos app will automatically include the images and videos in its library and categorize them by date.

4. Organizing Photos

The Photos app helps you organize your pictures for easy access and management. You can create albums, sort pictures by date or folders, and use facial recognition to group images of specific people.

 Creating an Album

1. In the Albums section, click New album.

2. Select the photos you want to include in the album by clicking on each image.

3. Once you've made your selections, click Create.

4. Name the album and click Save. Your album will now appear in the Albums section for easy access.

Using Tags and Search

1. The Photos app automatically analyzes your images and assigns tags based on their content, such as landscapes, animals, or events.

2. You can search for specific images by typing keywords (e.g., "beach" or "wedding") into the search bar at the top of the app.

3. Additionally, you can search for photos by date, location, or by using the facial recognition feature to search for specific people.

Adding to Favorites

To quickly access your most important or frequently viewed photos, you can add them to your Favorites:

1. Open a photo by clicking on it.

2. Click the Heart icon at the top of the screen. This will add the image to your Favorites collection, which you can access from the main screen.

5. Editing Photos

The new Photos app in Windows 11 comes with built-in photo editing tools, allowing you to make adjustments to brightness, contrast, color, and more without needing third-party software.

Basic Photo Editing

1. Open the photo you want to edit by clicking on it.

2. At the top of the screen, click on the Edit image button (represented by a pencil icon).

3. You will see options to make quick adjustments such as Crop, Rotate, and Flip.

 Advanced Editing Options

1. For more detailed edits, click on Adjustments from the toolbar.

2. Here, you can manually fine-tune settings like Brightness, Exposure, Contrast, Saturation, and Highlights.

3. You can also apply Filters by clicking the Filters button, allowing you to give your photos a new look with pre-set effects such as black and white or vintage tones.

Markup Tool

If you want to add annotations or doodles to your photos, the Markup Tool lets you draw on images using various pen and brush styles.

1. Click on Draw at the top of the editing panel.

2. Choose your drawing tool (pen, pencil, or highlighter) and select a color.

3. Use the mouse or a stylus to draw directly on the image.

Undo Changes

If you’re not happy with your edits, you can easily revert to the original version of the photo:

1. At any time, click Undo to remove the last change, or click Revert to original to discard all edits.

6. Creating Videos and Slideshows

The Photos app includes a basic video editor that allows you to create slideshows or short videos using your pictures and video clips.

Step 1: Starting a New Video Project

1. Click on Video Editor in the left-hand menu.

2. Select New video project.

3. Name your project and click OK.

Step 2: Adding Photos and Videos

1. Click Add to import photos or video clips from your computer or collection.

2. Drag and drop the selected items into the timeline at the bottom of the screen.

 Step 3: Adding Music and Text

1. You can add background music to your video by clicking Background music or Custom audio.

2. To include text, click on Text in the toolbar, type your message, and choose from various font styles and animations.

 Step 4: Exporting Your Video

1. Once you’re happy with your creation, click Finish video.

2. Select the desired video quality (1080p, 720p, or 540p) and click Export to save your video to your PC.

7. Sharing Photos and Videos

The Photos app allows you to quickly share your pictures and videos via email, social media, or other apps.

 Step 1: Sharing from the Photos App

1. Open the photo or video you want to share.

2. Click on the Share button at the top of the screen (represented by an arrow icon).

3. Choose the method of sharing, such as Email, OneDrive, or a linked social media account.

 Step 2: Uploading to OneDrive

If you want to store your photos in the cloud, the Photos app integrates seamlessly with OneDrive:

1. Select the photos you want to upload, then click Upload to OneDrive.

2. Choose the OneDrive folder where you want to store the images, and click Upload.

8. Backing Up and Syncing Photos with OneDrive

OneDrive integration is one of the standout features of the Photos app in Windows 11. It allows you to back up your photos automatically and access them from any device with an internet connection.

Step 1: Setting Up OneDrive Backup

1. Open the Photos app and click on Folders in the sidebar.

2. Click on Add a folder and select your OneDrive folder from the file explorer.

3. The Photos app will now sync your images to the cloud automatically, ensuring they are backed up and accessible across all your devices.

Conclusion

The new Photos app in Windows 11 is a powerful tool for organizing, viewing, editing, and sharing your photos and videos. Its intuitive interface, along with useful features like facial recognition, photo tagging, and OneDrive integration, makes it easier than ever to manage your media library. Whether you're editing photos for social media, creating albums, or backing up precious memories, the Photos app offers a comprehensive solution for all your image-related needs.