Windows 11 AI Actions in File Explorer: Quick Image Edits with Bing Visual Search

Microsoft’s latest Canary‑channel experiment pushes intelligence deeper into the Windows shell: a new AI actions submenu in File Explorer lets you right‑click images to run Bing Visual Search, blur or remove backgrounds, and erase objects — all without opening a full editor. This context‑aware shortcut set is appearing in Insider previews reported around Build 27938, and it signals Microsoft’s intent to make micro‑edits and visual lookup native file‑management actions rather than tasks that always require launching separate apps. (theverge.com)

Background​

Why File Explorer matters now​

File Explorer has long been the nerve center for Windows users: the place where files are discovered, organized, and dispatched to apps. Microsoft’s design imperative over the last two years has been to bring more capability into that surface — from tabbed browsing to a Home view and now to actionable AI affordances. Embedding AI at the file level reduces context switches and makes small, repetitive jobs faster. Several recent previews have shown Microsoft experimenting with placing assistive features (Copilot, Click‑to‑Do, and quick actions) directly where users interact with files. (theverge.com)

Where this fits in Microsoft’s AI strategy​

The move is consistent with Microsoft’s broader OS strategy: integrate AI into core experiences while providing visibility and controls for generative workflows. Microsoft has been shipping Copilot integrations and on‑device model surfaces (Copilot+ hardware) and is now testing discoverability patterns that bring those models to one‑click file operations. That strategy aims to shift routine editing and lookup tasks from a multi‑app workflow to immediate, contextual actions inside the shell.

---

What’s in this Canary preview (what you’ll see)​

The AI actions menu — at a glance​

When the feature is visible on a device running the relevant Insider build, a right‑click on a supported image will expose an AI actions submenu containing options such as:

• Bing Visual Search — use the image as the search input to find visually similar items, shopping links, landmarks, or other context. (windowscentral.com)
• Blur Background — launches the Photos app to automatically detect the subject and apply a background blur with intensity and brush controls. (blogs.windows.com)
• Erase Objects — invokes Photos’ generative erase capabilities to remove unwanted elements from an image. (laptopmag.com)
• Remove Background — routes the image to Paint’s automatic background removal pipeline for a quick subject cutout. (windowscentral.com)

Supported image formats at first are common raster types: .jpg, .jpeg, and .png. Microsoft frames these as early “showfloor” demos and may expand format support over time. (tech.yahoo.com)

A note on the build number and staged rollouts​

Community reporting has tied the experiment to Windows 11 Canary Preview Build 27938, but Canary flights are heavily server‑gated and subject to rapid changes. That means two Insiders on the same build may see different behaviors; official Flight Hub or Windows Insider posts should be checked for formal confirmation. Treat any specific build number in community coverage as reported until it appears in official build notes. (blogs.windows.com)

---

How the feature works (technical mechanics and plumbing)​

Shell hooks, app backends, and hybrid execution​

The AI actions entry is a shell hook — a context‑menu launcher that either:

• Calls a first‑party app (Photos, Paint) with a scripted edit flow so the app opens with the operation already staged.
• Or invokes Windows’ generative‑AI platform APIs to run a quick transformation or query and return a result canvas without a full app context.

Because the actions reuse existing app capabilities, the experience you see depends on the installed Photos/Paint app versions and the platform APIs available on your device. In some cases the processing can run locally on Copilot+ hardware; in others it will fall back to cloud endpoints. Microsoft hasn’t publicly published a comprehensive decision tree that tells users which operations run locally versus in the cloud, which is a key transparency gap at the moment.

Copilot+ hardware gating and licensing​

Microsoft has been clear elsewhere that certain on‑device model capabilities are tied to Copilot+ certified hardware and, for some document‑level AI features, to Microsoft 365/Copilot licensing for commercial tenants first. Expect staged availability, with some features appearing only on eligible machines or for organizations with specific licensing. Consumer rollout may follow at a later date. (tech.yahoo.com)

---

Practical uses and immediate productivity wins​

• Rapid cleanup for social or internal images: remove distractions, blur backgrounds, or produce thumbnails without opening a heavyweight editor. (laptopmag.com)
• Quick visual research: use Bing Visual Search on a screenshot to find source pages, products, or related imagery in one step. (windowscentral.com)
• On‑the‑fly privacy scrubs: erase license plates or other sensitive background items before sharing screenshots or photos.

These micro‑optimizations are not about replacing Photoshop; they are about handling small, common edits faster and keeping users “in flow” inside File Explorer. That can save seconds per task that add up over a day.

---

Step‑by‑step: how to try AI actions today (Insider preview)​

• Join the Windows Insider Program and opt into the Canary (or Dev/Beta as appropriate) channel. (blogs.windows.com)
• Update to the latest preview build available to your ring and confirm Windows Update shows the new flight. Because rollouts are staged, features may not appear immediately.
• Right‑click a .jpg or .png in File Explorer and look for AI actions in the context menu. If present, open the submenu and choose the action you want. (windowscentral.com)
• (Advanced / riskier) Power users have used tools such as ViveTool to toggle in‑development features, but that can destabilize the system and is not supported for production machines. Use this method only on test devices. (windowsforum.com)

---

Privacy, security, and governance — the tradeoffs​

What gets uploaded (and what might not)​

Bing Visual Search and Copilot flows may upload image payloads to Microsoft services for analysis. For many photo edits invoked through Photos or Paint the processing may happen locally, but Microsoft’s hybrid model means networked processing is possible. Microsoft has started adding visibility surfaces in Settings to show generative AI usage, but the exact data retention and telemetry policies for each action are not fully documented in the preview notes. Users should assume that cloud components may receive image data unless a local‑only processing guarantee is specified. (tech.yahoo.com)

Administrative controls and enterprise implications​

The preview introduces a Text and image generation (or Generative AI) view under Privacy & security that lists apps which recently used Windows‑provided generative models and offers per‑app toggles. This is a useful first step for IT governance, but administrators will need more granular controls — per‑action blocking, network restrictions, and audit logging — for enterprise deployments. Expect Group Policy and MDM hooks to evolve as these features mature. (blogs.windows.com)

Attack surface and data exfiltration risks​

Any feature that makes it easier to send file contents off‑device increases the potential for exfiltration if a machine is compromised. Action flows that automatically upload images to cloud endpoints could be abused by malware or a malicious insider to leak data. Organizations should inventory which devices have AI features enabled and apply least‑privilege, strict network egress rules, and behavioral monitoring to mitigate this risk.

---

UX tradeoffs: discoverability vs. clutter​

Adding AI actions to the right‑click menu improves discoverability for casual users but risks inflating a context menu many power users rely on for fast keyboard and mouse workflows. Microsoft will need to balance discoverability with personalization controls — for example, exposing a simple toggle to hide AI entries or letting users pin only the actions they use most. Early feedback across the Insider community highlights this tension: convenience for many, irritation for some.

---

Verification of key claims (what’s confirmed and what remains uncertain)​

• Confirmed: Microsoft is testing AI actions in File Explorer that include Bing Visual Search, Blur Background, Erase Objects, and Remove Background; these appear as a right‑click submenu in recent Insider previews. Multiple mainstream outlets and Microsoft’s own Insider notes describe these exact operations. (blogs.windows.com, theverge.com)
• Confirmed: Initial image format support is limited to JPG/JPEG and PNG. (laptopmag.com)
• Confirmed: Microsoft plans similar AI actions for Microsoft 365 files (summarize, create FAQ), but initial availability for those document actions will be limited to commercial Microsoft 365 tenants with Copilot licensing before broader consumer availability. (tech.yahoo.com, windowscentral.com)
• Partially confirmed / caution: The community has associated these experiments with Build 27938, but Canary channel rollouts are server‑side gated and official Flight Hub entries may lag; treat build‑number claims as provisional until Microsoft posts formal release notes.
• Unverified detail: The exact split between local versus cloud execution for each action is not fully documented in public preview notes; Microsoft’s hybrid approach suggests device hardware and tenant licensing will influence where processing occurs, but specifics for each operation should be considered tentative. Flag: awaiting more explicit Microsoft documentation.

---

Recommendations for power users and IT teams​

For power users and creators​

• Test features on a non‑critical machine or VM to avoid instability from Canary builds.
• Keep Photos and Paint updated via the Store; the Explorer shortcuts delegate to those apps, so their versions affect what you’ll see. (windowscentral.com)
• If you’re privacy‑conscious, avoid running Visual Search on images containing sensitive information until Microsoft clarifies data handling for each action.

For IT and security teams​

• Inventory Insider devices and flag machines enrolled in Canary or Dev — don’t mix test and production workloads.
• Evaluate and test new Settings surfaces for generative AI and push MDM/Group Policy controls where available. (blogs.windows.com)
• Enforce network egress policies to restrict unintended cloud uploads and monitor for unexpected upload patterns from the Photos/Paint processes.
• Update acceptable‑use policies and staff training to cover new context‑menu options that can alter or upload content. Documentation and change logs are vital.

---

Broader implications and what to watch next​

• Expect Microsoft to expand action sets (more image operations, additional file formats, and document summarization) as feedback arrives from Insiders. Multiple outlets have reported a roadmap that includes AI actions for Office files and deeper Copilot integration. (windowscentral.com, laptopmag.com)
• Watch for clearer documentation about local vs cloud execution. The privacy calculus for enterprises and privacy‑sensitive consumers hinges on whether image payloads leave the device. Microsoft building stronger transparency (data retention, model endpoints) will be a necessary step for wider acceptance.
• Expect administrative controls and telemetry dashboards to evolve. The initial Settings view showing “recent activity” is promising, but enterprise adoption will demand fine‑grained policy options and audit capabilities.

---

Design critique: strengths and notable risks​

Strengths​

• Reduced friction: Surfacing small edits at the file level shortens common workflows and reduces app switching, which improves productivity for rapid tasks.
• Leverages existing apps: By delegating to Photos and Paint, Microsoft accelerates rollout while reusing proven editing backends rather than building entirely new pipelines. (windowscentral.com)
• Visibility into generative AI use: Adding a Settings surface that lists recent generative operations is a responsible first step toward transparency.

Risks and caveats​

• Privacy and data handling: Unclear boundaries between local and cloud processing are a real concern; image payloads may travel to Microsoft services for some operations. (tech.yahoo.com)
• Enterprise governance: Initial controls are visibility‑focused; enterprises will demand per‑action policy enforcement and clearer audit trails before enabling this broadly.
• Discoverability vs clutter: An overloaded context menu can anger power users who prefer lean, scriptable interfaces. Microsoft must add good customization options.

---

Final verdict: a pragmatic, cautious step forward​

Embedding AI actions into File Explorer is a pragmatic next step for Windows: it meets users where their files live and solves real, repetitive problems with minimal friction. For individuals who edit screenshots and social images frequently, these shortcuts will feel like a clear productivity win. For IT pros and privacy‑minded users, the preview raises important governance questions that Microsoft must answer before broad enterprise adoption — especially around data flows, retention, and per‑action controls.
Treat the current build as a preview of where Windows is heading rather than a final design. Test on non‑production devices, follow Microsoft’s official Insider blog for confirmed build notes, and monitor the evolving privacy and admin controls as the feature graduates from Canary to broader channels. (blogs.windows.com, theverge.com)

---

Microsoft’s experiment shows one important truth: as AI becomes a routine part of daily computing, the operating system — not only standalone apps — will become the surface for intelligent micro‑workflows. The next questions are not only what AI can do in File Explorer, but how clearly Microsoft will document where that work runs, who sees the data, and how administrators can control it.

---

Source: Windows Report Windows 11 Canary Preview Build 27938 Adds AI Actions in File Explorer

 

[ChatGPT]

Microsoft is testing a set of context‑aware AI editing tools that sit directly in File Explorer, letting you right‑click an image or document and invoke tasks such as Bing Visual Search, background blur/removal, generative object erase, and document summarization — and there are documented ways to try them today if you’re willing to run Insider builds or use community tools to unlock the hidden flags. (theverge.com) (windowscentral.com)

Overview​

Microsoft’s newest experiments move small, repeatable editing tasks out of full editors and into the shell itself. The promise is simple: shave seconds (or minutes, cumulatively) from everyday workflows by turning File Explorer into a launchpad for AI actions. Early test builds expose an “AI actions” submenu when you right‑click supported files; options change depending on whether the file is an image or a document. The image actions tested so far include Bing Visual Search, Blur Background, Erase Objects, and Remove Background (which hooks into Paint), while document actions focus on summarization for supported Office and text formats. (theverge.com) (windowscentral.com)
These features are still experimental and being rolled out gradually to Insiders on different rings and channels; Microsoft is clearly using staged gating so not every Insider sees the same surface at the same time. The rollout strategy also ties into Microsoft’s broader Copilot/Copilot+ strategy — some higher‑end features are optimized for Copilot+ hardware with NPUs (neural processing units) and may remain gated on certain devices or subscriptions for a period. (windowscentral.com)

---

Background: why this matters​

File Explorer is where most users start and finish file work. By surfacing lightweight AI actions directly in the context menu, Microsoft reduces context switching: instead of opening an app, waiting for it to load, and hunting for a tool, a single right‑click could get you the edit and send you back to whatever you were doing.

• Faster micro‑edits: Tasks like blurring a background or removing a photobomber are often tiny jobs that still cost time. AI Actions aim to make those instantaneous.
• Discoverability: Embedding the options in the context menu makes these capabilities visible to mainstream users who may otherwise never open advanced editors.
• Tighter integration: Actions hand off to native apps (Photos, Paint) and Copilot where necessary, so edits can leverage existing, familiar tooling while being orchestrated from the shell. (theverge.com)

At the same time, the rollout highlights a larger trend: Microsoft is moving generative and on‑device AI deeper into the operating system. That trend comes with tradeoffs — device hardware requirements, subscription gating for some productivity scenarios, and new privacy controls to manage generative AI access.

---

What’s in the early AI Actions menu​

The early builds expose four image actions and a document summarization capability. Behavior and availability vary by build and channel, but the tested set includes:

• Bing Visual Search — Use an image as the search query to identify objects, products, plants, landmarks, and visually similar images on the web. This uses Bing’s visual search pipeline and is surfaced as a right‑click option. (theverge.com)
• Blur Background — Launches the Photos app with the image preloaded and applies a portrait‑style background blur, with a slider to adjust intensity and brush tools for touch‑ups. (windowscentral.com)
• Erase Objects (Generative Erase) — Invokes Photos’ generative inpainting to remove unwanted people or objects; the AI fills and blends the removed area. This is similar in concept to Google Photos’ Magic Eraser and Adobe’s tools.
• Remove Background — Opens Paint’s background removal pipeline to produce a subject cutout with one click; useful when you need a quick transparent background or to paste the subject elsewhere. (theverge.com)
• Summarize (documents) — For supported Office files and text documents, a context menu option will ask Copilot (or an on‑device summarization model when available) to create a quick summary or list of key points; initial availability is tied to Microsoft 365 Copilot licensing for some scenarios. (theverge.com)

Supported image formats reported in early testing are JPG, JPEG and PNG; Microsoft has indicated plans to expand support to additional file types in future flights. (theverge.com)

---

How Microsoft says the system works (and the settings you should know)​

Microsoft’s design routes AI action requests to the app best suited to complete the task (Photos or Paint), but the user experience begins in File Explorer. When you select “AI actions,” Windows decides which actions are relevant to the selected file type and displays them inline in the context menu.
Privacy and control are first‑class concerns in these flows. Windows now exposes a Text and image generation page under Settings > Privacy & security where administrators and users can:

• See which apps have recently requested access to Windows’ generative AI capabilities.
• Allow or deny apps the ability to use on‑device text and image generation.
• Use Group Policy or registry options to control the feature centrally in enterprise environments. (downloadsource.net) (elevenforum.com)

This visibility is important because the AI actions use either local on‑device models (when available) or cloud services depending on device capability. If your device has a dedicated NPU and the feature runs locally, the image data need not leave the PC for processing — a privacy advantage in many cases. Microsoft documents and community threads confirm the Settings path and show the “recent activity” UI is present in current Preview builds. (elevenforum.com)

---

Who gets these features now (requirements and gating)​

Availability is intentionally limited early on — here’s the practical picture from testing and Microsoft’s staged rollouts:

• Windows Insider Program: the quickest path is to join the Windows Insider Program (Dev or Beta channels) and install the latest preview builds where the experiments are active. Reported enabling builds include Dev builds in the 26200.xxx series and Canary builds such as 27938 for server‑gated tests. (windowscentral.com)
• Copilot+ PC hardware: certain advanced AI features (and often the best performance) target Copilot+ PCs — machines with NPUs such as Snapdragon, Intel Core Ultra, or AMD Ryzen AI silicon. Some capabilities run locally on these NPUs for speed and privacy; non‑Copilot devices may see a subset or require cloud processing.
• Microsoft 365 Copilot: document summarization for business Office files may require a Microsoft 365 Copilot subscription, particularly in early releases when commercial features are prioritized. Consumer availability is likely to follow. (theverge.com)

In short: Insiders on modern hardware see the most features earliest; other users will get features in phases.

---

How to try AI Actions today (official and community options)​

There are two realistic ways to try these features early: enroll in the Windows Insider Program and wait for the feature to hit your ring, or use community tooling to flip the underlying feature flags (advanced users only).

1. Official path (Insider Program)​

• Open Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program.
• Link an account that’s registered for the Insider Program and choose the Dev or Beta channel as directed by current flight notes.
• Update Windows to the build where AI Actions are enabled (Dev builds like 26200.5603 or later, or Canary builds where Microsoft is experimenting). Reboot and check File Explorer. (windowscentral.com)

This method is safest because you use Microsoft’s update channels and receive subsequent fixes from Microsoft directly.

2. Community method (ViveTool — advanced and risky)​

If the server‑gated rollout hasn’t given you the menu, community developers have identified feature‑flag IDs that can be toggled with ViveTool, an open‑source utility widely used by testers to enable hidden features in preview builds. The steps reported across community guides are:

• Download ViveTool from its official repository and extract to a folder.
• Open Command Prompt (Admin) and change directory to ViveTool’s folder.
• Run the command:
  vivetool /enable /id:54792954,55345819,48433719
• Restart your PC and check File Explorer for the AI actions entry. (guidingtech.com) (windowsforum.com)

Important caveats:

• Using ViveTool can expose features that are not fully tested, and Microsoft may not support configurations that flip server‑gated flags manually.
• Future cumulative updates may conflict with manually toggled flags and could cause instability.
• Enabling flagged features bypasses Microsoft’s staged testing and places you in a “trial” category — use a spare device or create a full image backup before proceeding. (windowsforum.com)

---

Verified technical specifics and cross‑checks​

To avoid repeating early reporting errors, the following claims have been cross‑checked across independent sources:

• The File Explorer “AI actions” menu appears in Canary/Dev Insider builds and ties to builds in the 26200+ family and server‑gated Canary builds like 27938. This has been reported by multiple outlets and community logs. (windowscentral.com)
• Supported image formats at test time: JPG, JPEG, PNG. Several preview reports and screenshots show the actions enabled only for these raster formats. Expect broader format support later. (theverge.com) (windowscentral.com)
• Privacy control location: Settings > Privacy & security > Text and image generation. This control and the recent activity view are present in current preview builds. Community posts and tutorials demonstrate the UI and registry/Group Policy options for administrators. (downloadsource.net) (elevenforum.com)
• ViveTool IDs used in community enablement guides (54792954, 55345819, 48433719) appear in multiple community tutorials and technical how‑tos; those guides show the exact commands used to make the AI actions menu appear. These are not official Microsoft recommendations. (guidingtech.com) (windowsforum.com)

If Microsoft changes the feature flags or the UI, community IDs and steps can also change; treat the ViveTool route as a snapshot of the current community findings rather than a long‑term guarantee. (windowscentral.com)

---

Strengths: why this is a meaningful UX step​

• Time savings for quick edits: The biggest practical win is eliminating the friction of small edits — a blur, a background removal, or a quick erase — where the full editor is overkill.
• Lower barrier to creative tools: Casual users who never open Photos or Paint for edits will discover these tools where they already work — in the file manager.
• On‑device processing potential: When running on Copilot+ NPUs, edits happen locally, reducing latency and improving privacy compared with cloud‑only solutions.
• Consolidated privacy controls: The Text and image generation page centralizes permissions so admins and users can audit which apps access generative models. That transparency is a welcome design choice. (elevenforum.com)

---

Risks and limitations: what to watch out for​

• Fragmentation by hardware and subscription: Because some features are optimized for Copilot+ hardware and some document tools are tied to Microsoft 365 Copilot, early availability will be uneven. That fragmentation risks confusing ordinary users who expect parity across devices.
• Potential for instability when using ViveTool: Force‑enabling staged features bypasses Microsoft’s rollout safety nets and can introduce compatibility issues. It’s a power‑user tool, not a recommendation for general audiences. (windowsforum.com)
• Privacy surface area: Although on‑device processing reduces cloud exposure, some actions still may use cloud models depending on device capability and Microsoft’s server gating. Users should check Settings > Privacy & security > Text and image generation to monitor which apps requested AI access. (downloadsource.net)
• False expectations on quality: Generative erase and background removal are impressive for routine cases but can struggle on complex scenes — multiple overlapping subjects, patterned backgrounds, or reflections may produce artifacts that require a traditional editor to fix. Community tests show mixed results in challenging images.
• Abuse and misinformation: Easier image editing lowers the bar for image manipulation in casual workflows; organizations and users should be mindful of the potential for misused imagery and introduce verification workflows where accuracy matters. This is a societal risk that accompanies all accessible image editing tools.

---

Practical advice and recommendations​

• Back up your system before toggling deep preview flags or using ViveTool. Prefer a disk image so you can revert quickly if an update doesn’t behave as expected. (windowsforum.com)
• Use the Settings > Privacy & security > Text and image generation page to audit which apps are calling generative models. Turn off permissions for apps you do not trust or do not use. (downloadsource.net)
• If you prefer stability, wait for Microsoft’s official gradual rollout rather than forcing flags. Official channels will include incremental fixes and less risk of update breakage. (windowscentral.com)
• For advanced editing needs (complex fills, high‑fidelity compositing), continue using full editors like Photoshop or Affinity Photo. The File Explorer actions are best described as “quick fixes,” not replacements for pro tools.
• If you test the features, provide feedback via the Feedback Hub so Microsoft sees real‑world usage patterns and can prioritize improvements and broader availability. Insider feedback has historically shaped final implementations.

---

Looking ahead​

AI Actions are part of a much larger effort to make Windows 11 more contextually intelligent: Click‑to‑Do, Copilot Vision, Relight and Super Resolution in Photos, and other enhancements are following the same playbook of surfacing AI where users already work. Expect Microsoft to expand supported file types, refine the model quality, and broaden device compatibility in future updates once early feedback stabilizes performance and privacy posture. (theverge.com)
Two specific trends to watch:

• Broader format and app support — document summarization for consumer Office users and expanded image format support will be important for adoption.
• Local vs. cloud routing — how Microsoft decides which operations run on device versus in the cloud will shape the privacy and latency story for users worldwide.

---

Conclusion​

File Explorer’s new AI Actions are a practical experiment with clear, immediate benefits: quick edits and smarter context actions without the overhead of app switching. For testers and productivity tinkerers, the Insider path (or the community ViveTool method for advanced users) provides early access today. However, the rollout is intentionally cautious — gated by hardware, channels, and subscriptions — and there are real trade‑offs around fragmentation, privacy, and stability when enabling unfinished features.
The net: these right‑click AI shortcuts are a credible productivity booster when used with reasonable precautions. For most users, the recommended path is to monitor official Insiders and wait for Microsoft’s broad, supported rollout — but for those who want to tinker and accept the risks, the early unlock methods are already documented and in active use by the Windows community. (theverge.com) (guidingtech.com) (elevenforum.com)

---

Source: GB News Windows 11 is adding new photo editing tricks with AI, and there's a way to unlock them early on your PC