Microsoft Rolls Out Revamped Photos App to All Windows 11 Users
Microsoft has begun pushing the updated Microsoft Photos app, version 2026.11080.24002.0, to all Windows 11 users. The redesign removes the Copilot button and shortcuts to Designer, OneDrive, and Clipchamp from the toolbar, while introducing a multi-process architecture that nearly doubles photo loading speed. The update, first tested by Insiders in July 2026, is now available outside the Insider program.
Microsoft has started rolling out the new version of the Microsoft Photos app to all Windows 11 users, with the version number 2026.11080.24002.0. The update redesigns the toolbar, removes Copilot-related features and several shortcuts to other apps, and improves photo loading speed through a new multi-process architecture. Users do not need to join the Windows Insider program to experience these changes. Microsoft initially introduced this streamlined Photos app to Insider testers in July 2026, and the update is now available to users outside the testing channel.
The most noticeable change in this update is that the toolbar no longer piles up many functions unrelated to photo viewing. Microsoft has removed the "Ask Copilot" button, but still retains tools such as AI background removal. The new toolbar also eliminates shortcuts to Designer, OneDrive, and Clipchamp. Previously, the Photos toolbar had up to about 10 options, not including features hidden in the three-dot menu. The OneDrive entry has now been moved to the left sidebar or settings, allowing users to access photos stored in OneDrive via the sidebar. Designer no longer appears directly in the toolbar; users must select Microsoft Designer, Clipchamp, File Explorer, or other apps through the new "Open with" menu. The slideshow button has been moved to the bottom of the app, and the main toolbar now primarily retains functions such as edit, rotate, delete, print, share, the three-dot menu, and "Open with".
The right-click menu has also been streamlined, taking up less space overall. Microsoft has consolidated some options into nested menus and added a command bar similar to the system right-click menu. After the update, users will no longer see options such as "Search with Bing", "Edit with Designer", or "Create video with Microsoft Clipchamp" directly. To locate the file path of a photo, users must first open the "Open with" menu in the right-click menu and then select File Explorer.
In terms of performance, the new Photos app launches faster, photo zooming is smoother, and large photos open almost instantly. Microsoft says these improvements are due to the new multi-process architecture, which nearly doubles photo loading speed and also improves the responsiveness of the right-click menu. Additionally, Microsoft has redesigned the file information panel, adding options such as resize image, copy path, visual search, and open location. The new Photos app also improves support for HEIC photos, allowing users to edit HEIC files directly without converting the format first, and the app can now open SVG files directly.