Unlock Hidden Power: 6 Surprising Features of Windows 11 Photos App

From casual snapshots to professional imagery, the default Photos app in Windows 11 is emerging as a surprisingly potent tool that goes far beyond merely displaying JPEGs and PNGs. While many users default to third-party photo editors for anything more complicated than cropping or rotating, a closer look at the built-in Photos app reveals a suite of hidden features that rival, and sometimes even surpass, paid alternatives in convenience and efficiency. This article dives into six often-overlooked capabilities in Windows 11 Photos, each offering genuinely practical value for everyday users as well as enthusiasts with more demanding workflows.

Resizing Images Directly in Photos: Simple, Fast, and Effective​

One of the most utilitarian upgrades to the Windows 11 Photos app is its built-in image resizing tool. Traditionally, resizing images for sharing, emailing, or web publishing required dedicated software or online services—steps that add friction and potential privacy concerns. With Photos, this process is streamlined directly within the app’s default interface.
To resize an image, you simply open it in Photos, click the three-dot menu in the upper corner, and select “Resize image.” Two customization paths emerge: you can scale the image by a percentage of its original size or manually specify pixel dimensions for precise control. After setting your preferred size, saving the new file is seamless.

Why This Matters​

For bloggers, marketers, and anyone sharing visuals online, optimized file sizes are critical for web speed and mobile data consumption. Large images slow down websites and can even impact search rankings—factors familiar to any SEO-aware creator. Equally, anyone sending images by email (where attachment limits still apply) will appreciate this functionality that eliminates repetitive workflow steps.

Strengths and Limitations​

• Strengths: No need for additional installs or uploading images to online tools (mitigating privacy concerns).
• Potential Risks: Currently, Photo’s resizing tool doesn’t offer advanced batch processing or automatic aspect-ratio cropping, so more complex workflows may still require advanced editors like GIMP or Photoshop. JPEG compression settings and format conversion options are also limited within this menu.

Scan Text From Images: Built-In OCR That Actually Works​

Optical Character Recognition (OCR) isn’t new, but what sets the Photos app apart is how seamlessly it lets you scan and copy both printed and handwritten text from any image. Whether it’s quickly digitizing notes, extracting details from a screenshot, or grabbing passages from scanned book pages, the process is user-friendly.
When viewing an image, selecting the “Scan Text” option at the bottom instantly highlights detected text. Standard keyboard commands (Ctrl + A for “select all,” Ctrl + C for “copy”) make capturing and pasting this text into any document or email straightforward. Unique among built-in OCRs is the ability to highlight and copy specific blocks, mirroring the flexibility of web-based text selection.

Productivity and Accessibility Gains​

Professionals who process receipts or business cards will find this invaluable, and students or researchers can rapidly transfer quotations or data without manual typing. The feature also contributes to accessibility—making digitized text more amenable to screen readers.

Room for Critique​

While the OCR performs reliably, its accuracy can dip with unusual fonts, cursive writing, or poorly lit images. Such limitations are not unique to Microsoft’s solution (even powerhouse ABBYY FineReader or Google Keep OCR can struggle here), but users should always proofread copied content from scans.

Super Resolution: AI-Powered Image Upscaling for Copilot+ PCs​

Microsoft’s Photos app now leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to upscale images up to eight times their original size through the “Super Resolution” feature. This isn’t mere interpolation—it uses AI models to sharpen details and edge clarity, aiming to deliver results previously possible only with advanced paid utilities.

Who Gets Access?​

Super Resolution is exclusively available on devices classified as Copilot+ PCs—Windows systems powered by a Neural Processing Unit (NPU). This hardware restriction is crucial: without an NPU, legacy or lower-end machines can’t use this tool. Before setting expectations, users should verify if their systems meet requirements, as attempts to access the feature on unsupported PCs will result in no visible “Scale” slider in edit mode.

Impact on Workflow​

For creative professionals, designers, and users working with old or low-resolution imagery, this can be game-changing. Instead of hunting down higher-res versions, Photos’ AI attempts to "upgrade" what you have. The side-by-side preview ensures you can quality-check the AI’s work before accepting changes.

Deep Dive on Results and Concerns​

While AI upscaling impressively restores some lost details—such as hair strands in portraits or text on banners—it can occasionally generate artifacts or odd smoothing effects, especially in highly compressed or noisy photos. Critical tasks, such as evidence analysis or professional enlargements for print, should still defer to niche tools where image integrity is paramount. For casual and even moderate creative use, however, Super Resolution is remarkably effective.

AI Background Editing: Blur, Remove, or Replace in One Click​

Moving beyond basic cropping and color filters, Windows 11 Photos introduces AI-driven background tools. Whether you’re aiming for a slick portrait mode blur, isolating a subject for a profile image, or completely replacing a background, these edits are now achievable directly from Edit mode.
On opening the Background tab, the Photos app automatically identifies the foreground subject. Users can then choose to:

• Blur the background for a depth-of-field (bokeh) effect.
• Remove the background for cut-out or transparent looks.
• Replace the background with alternate imagery or solid colors.

Practical Use Cases​

Profile pictures for social media and work platforms benefit enormously—no more hunting for free PNG removers online or fussing with manual selection tools. Marketers designing promotional banners, or teachers prepping educational materials, will find this feature shaves minutes (if not hours) off conventional editing workflows.

Where It Falls Short​

AI background editing works best with well-lit images and clear foreground-background separation. Complex backgrounds or overlapping edges can confuse the software, sometimes resulting in jagged edges or leftover fragments. For print or professional production, manual fine-tuning elsewhere may still be needed, but for most web and casual uses, the results are impressively clean.

Generative Erase: Remove Objects with AI Magic​

Generative Erase is Microsoft’s answer to popular image cleanup features like Google’s Magic Eraser and Apple’s Photo Cleanup. Instead of laboriously cloning out unwanted objects, a simple brushstroke over the offending section triggers the app’s AI to fill in the area with surrounding visual data.
Walking through the experience: access Edit mode, select the Erase tab, then "paint" over the object, person, or blemish you want to remove. The software then analyzes context and fills the space as naturally as it can.

Who Will Benefit Most?​

Travel photographers erasing stray passersby, eBay sellers tidying product backgrounds, or anyone hiding personal information from screenshots—Generative Erase is democratizing a technique that once required both skill and time. It’s equally helpful for casual users who don’t want to learn Photoshop just to clean up a vacation photo.

Limits and Caution​

While Microsoft’s AI has made impressive strides, it’s not infallible. Complex backgrounds, textures, or densely cluttered scenes can sometimes reveal telltale smudges or repeated pixels. Results vary depending on the photo—expect trial and error for best results, particularly on images with intricate patterns or sharp contrasts. For casual sharing, it’s more than adequate, but editorial work should double-check for subtle errors.

iCloud Photos and OneDrive Integration: True Cross-Cloud Harmony​

Perhaps the most transformative change for users entrenched in different cloud ecosystems is the Photos app’s seamless integration with both Microsoft OneDrive and Apple iCloud Photos. Gone are the days when Apple and Microsoft users had to manually transfer images across platforms or rely on unofficial workarounds.
Setting up OneDrive is as straightforward as signing in within the Photos app. For iCloud, a quick trip to the Microsoft Store and an install of the iCloud app unlocks iPhone and iPad photos within the same interface. Once connected, new tabs in the Photos app organize cloud-synced images alongside local photo libraries.

Real World Impact​

For cross-platform households, dual-ecosystem professionals, or anyone switching from iPhone to PC (or vice versa), the integration lessens friction and speeds up access to the entire image library without ever reaching for a USB cable. This makes Windows 11 one of the few operating systems where major cloud storage competitors are equally native citizens.

Concerns and Opportunities​

The security and privacy of cloud data depend on the cloud providers’ protocols—any vulnerabilities in iCloud or OneDrive are outside Microsoft’s Photos app control. Users should enable two-factor authentication and updated recovery options for both Microsoft and Apple accounts to safeguard against unauthorized access.

Critical Analysis: A Closer Look at Strengths and Weaknesses​

Why These Features Truly Matter​

At a time when digital privacy is paramount and streamlined workflows make all the difference, Microsoft’s enhancements to the Photos app are notably well-timed. Each new addition chips away at reasons to download unfamiliar third-party editors or upload private images to the web. For business users, the ROI is clear—less context switching, reduced risk, and tighter integration with other Microsoft 365 apps.
The integration of AI-driven effects like Super Resolution and Generative Erase means even entry-level users can produce professional-looking images—an egalitarian shift that’s bound to boost creativity across the board.

Risks, Omissions, and Platform Lock-In​

It’s not all perfect. The most advanced capabilities now hinge on new hardware (specifically, NPU-powered Copilot+ PCs) for features like Super Resolution. This hardware dependency risks stratifying users, where only newer devices enjoy the full power of Windows Photos. Microsoft should be transparent about these limitations to avoid disappointing those with older PCs—especially users adopting Windows 11 on previously owned hardware.
Some power users may also be frustrated by the lack of granular controls found in dedicated editing suites. Compression settings, advanced batch operations, or layer-based non-destructive editing remain outside the Photos app’s remit. The inclusion of AI tools is exciting, but it’s no substitute for the deeply customizable environments of Photoshop or Affinity Photo for complex creative projects.

How Does It Compare?​

Compared to built-in photo tools from Apple (Photos for macOS and iOS) or Google (Photos for Android and web), Windows 11’s Photos app is catching up fast and, in some areas, pulling ahead. Google Photos still holds the advantage with integrated cloud backups and smart search tagging, but Windows 11 Photos’ cloud-agnostic stance allows greater flexibility for users with mixed-device environments.

Final Takeaway: Photos Is a Real Contender, Not Just an Afterthought​

What started as a basic tool for image organization has matured into a feature-rich photo hub capable of meeting most users’ daily editing and management needs—no subscriptions or technical expertise required. The blend of intelligent resizing, fast OCR text capture, cutting-edge AI effects, and true cross-cloud access makes the Windows 11 Photos app one of the best-kept secrets for PC users in 2025.
For users with modern hardware and a desire to simplify photo workflows, Photos can comfortably fulfill roles once split between five or six separate tools. Those with legacy setups or niche editing needs may still need to look elsewhere on occasion, but the continued innovation signals that Microsoft sees creative productivity—not just office efficiency—as key to the Windows ecosystem’s future.
As more AI-driven creativity tools become standard, it’s clear that “good enough” is becoming “great,” right out of the box. It’s worth revisiting the Windows Photos app—not as a fallback, but as a daily-driver for your digital images.

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Source: MakeUseOf https://www.makeuseof.com/hidden-windows-11-photos-features/