Windows Photos is getting an update packed with new features. In addition to various improvements in image editing and browsing, the app is getting a visual search tool that’s very much inspired by a flagship Google feature.
Microsoft is slowly but surely continuing to improve Photos, its image management and editing application, integrated as standard in Windows 11 and Windows 10. Last February, the Redmond firm was working on the integration of a magic eraser, a tool that has become essential for photography enthusiasts (see our article). But Microsoft wants to go even further to make its app an essential tool for photography, and has just announced in a blog post the arrival of new features, including a particularly anticipated function: image search. Called Visual Search with Bing, it uses artificial intelligence to identify elements in images and perform an online search to find similar images, related products and other related content. Enough to overshadow Google Lens!
Visual Search with Bing: an update full of new features
To search for an image online with Visual Search with Bing, simply click on the associated icon, located at the bottom of the image, or by right-clicking. The search results will then be displayed in Bing, which will open in the default browser.
But that’s not the only new feature coming to Windows Photos. Microsoft is now allowing Windows 10 users to sync their iCloud photos directly into the Photos app – a feature already available on Windows 11. This will improve cloud service integration for users of older versions of the operating system.
Microsoft is also taking the opportunity to improve browsing in galleries and image editing. It is now possible to edit photos directly from the file explorer or the desktop, to be able to crop them, rotate them or make computer-assisted changes. In addition, a “Gallery” option, located at the top of the page, allows you to access all the photos in one place, regardless of their origin (PC, iCloud or OneDrive). To view photos synchronized from cloud providers, simply click on the “OneDrive – Personal”, “OneDrive – Business” or “iCloud Photo” options. Finally, the “This computer” section brings together all the folders and contents of the computer that have been added to the Photos application.
This update is rolling out to Windows 11 Insiders on all channels, and to Windows 10 Insiders on the Beta and Release Preview channels in the coming weeks. Once finalized and stable, it will be automatically integrated into Windows 10 and 11, as with previous releases.