Microsoft Admits Forced OneDrive Photos Installation on Windows 11, Clarifies AI Privacy, Promises Separate
Microsoft admitted forcibly installing OneDrive Photos on some Windows 11 devices, including enterprise machines managed via Intune. The company clarified it does not use facial image data to train AI models. The "People" AI feature is off by default and only processes cloud photos uploaded to OneDrive; local images are not scanned. After disable, data is permanently deleted within 30 days. Microsoft will release an update to allow uninstalling OneDrive Photos independently without removing the OneDrive sync client, but gave no reason for the forced installation before providing that option.
Microsoft has admitted to forcibly pushing and installing the OneDrive Photos app on some Windows 11 computers. The company stressed that it does not use users' facial image data to train artificial intelligence models. Over the past few weeks, the app has appeared on devices not signed in with a personal Microsoft account, including many enterprise IT devices managed through Intune. Because the app only supports personal account sign-in, its presence in enterprise environments lacks practical utility, leaving IT administrators in a dilemma: the app is deeply bundled with the OneDrive sync client, so uninstalling it requires removing the entire OneDrive service. Microsoft originally planned to push the software only to individual consumers.
Users have expressed concerns about the new AI-powered "People" feature, which has permission to access the local photo library. Microsoft clarified that the "People" feature is turned off by default and does not use users' photo library data for AI training. Face grouping runs entirely in the cloud and only applies to cloud photos already uploaded to OneDrive; images stored on local computers are not scanned or processed. After users disable the feature, related data will be permanently deleted within 30 days.
Microsoft has promised to release an update that will allow users to uninstall OneDrive Photos alone while keeping the OneDrive sync client, but it has not explained why it forced the installation before providing the separate uninstall option.