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Microsoft redesigns Windows 11 Photos app with unified gallery across PC, OneDrive, and iCloud

Developing1 source · Oct 15, 2026

The overhauled Photos app combines cloud and local storage into a single interface with a rebuilt editor and faster performance.

Microsoft redesigns Windows 11 Photos app with unified gallery across PC, OneDrive, and iCloud
Image via The Verge

What happened

Microsoft has redesigned its Photos app for Windows 11, combining photos and videos from PC, OneDrive, and iCloud storage into one unified gallery. The editor has been rebuilt from the ground up with four tool categories (Crop, Enhance, Repair, Stylize), launches 25 percent faster, and now preserves HDR quality and handles HEIC and WebP formats without conversion. The viewer launches 15 percent faster and opens HEIC images up to 30 percent faster. Users can browse by date, organize albums, search by photo descriptions or people, and access photos offline. The update is rolling out today to Windows Insiders with a full launch expected later in 2024.

Context

The unified gallery addresses fragmentation across storage services by eliminating the need to switch between apps to view photos across devices. Performance improvements and expanded format support reduce friction in viewing and editing workflows. The offline availability feature means users retain access to photos without constant connectivity.