(Credit: Microsoft)
Using the Microsoft Photos app, you can view and organize all the pictures on your Windows PC. But the app also comes with photo-editing tools that will help you fix and fine-tune your photos. You’re able to crop an image, adjust the brightness and other elements, apply filters, and remove blemishes. And thanks to the power of AI, you can also blur, remove, or replace the background in Windows 11. Here’s how this works.
How to Get the Latest Features
Microsoft added the AI-driven background options to the Photos app in Windows 11 Version 23H2, released in September 2023. To make sure you’re running the latest version of the OS, go to Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates. Allow any available updates to install.
(Credit: Lance Whitney / Microsoft)Next, you should be running the latest version of the Photos app in Windows. Open the Microsoft Store app, click the Library icon, select Get updates, and then click Update all. This will update all your Microsoft Store apps, including Photos.
(Credit: Lance Whitney / Microsoft)How to Crop an Image
Open the Photos app and browse through your photo libraries. Open a photo you wish to edit, then click the edit image icon (it looks a photo) in the toolbar at the top of the window. The app will open to the crop tool by default.
(Credit: Lance Whitney / Microsoft)First, let’s say the photo appears in the wrong orientation. In that case, you can rotate it 90 degrees in either direction. Click the first Rotate image icon at the bottom to rotate it counterclockwise. Click the second Rotate image icon to rotate it clockwise.
(Lance Whitney / Microsoft)To flip the photo horizontally, click the icon with the two horizontal arrows on the right. To flip it vertically, click the icon with the two vertical arrows. You’re also able to rotate the photo to adjust the angle. Move the slider on the ruler at the bottom right or left to rotate it.
You can alter the aspect ratio of the photo. Click the Free icon at the bottom to display all the possible ratios. Click on a ratio to see how the photo is affected. Clicking Free lets you manually adjust the ratio by dragging the handles on the corners and sides.
(Credit: Lance Whitney / Microsoft)Set the photo to your preferred aspect ratio or click Original to return to the initial ratio. After setting the aspect ratio, you can adjust the framing of the photo by dragging it left, right, up, or down. When finished, click Done.
After making other adjustments, you may wish to crop the photo to focus on a particular subject or remove elements you don't want included in the final image. To crop it, drag the handles on the corners or sides. After cropping the photo, you can then drag it around the canvas so that it includes the elements you need.
(Credit: Lance Whitney / Microsoft)How to Adjust Lighting and Color
(Credit: Lance Whitney / Microsoft)Want to change a photo's lighting or color settings? Click the Adjustment icon next to the Crop icon (It looks like a sun). Move the slider for any factor in the Light section that you want to adjust—Brightness, Exposure, Contrast, Highlights, Shadows, and Vignettes. Under Color, move the sliders to adjust Saturation, Warmth, and Tint.
How to Add a Filter
Next, you can automatically enhance the photo by applying a specific filter. Click the Filter icon on the top toolbar (it looks like a paint brush). Click a specific filter, choosing among Punch, Golden, Radiate, Warm Contrast, Calm, Cool Light, B&W, Burn, Film, Vintage, and more.
(Credit: Lance Whitney / Microsoft)After selecting a specific filter, move its slider to increase or decrease the intensity. Alternatively, click the Auto Enhance button to tell the app to automatically enhance your photo with the right filter and intensity.
How to Mark Up an Image
(Credit: Lance Whitney / Microsoft)If you want to draw over your photo, click the Markup icon at the top of the app (it looks like a pen). From the toolbar on the bottom, choose one of the pen tools or the highlighter to draw on the photo as you like. If you make a mistake, select the eraser tool and draw over the markup that you want to remove. To get rid of all your markups, click the icon for Clear all markup.
How to Retouch a Photo
Ever find a blemish in a photo that you want to erase or blend into the background? Click the Retouch icon on the top toolbar (it looks like an X) to get rid of flaws in a photo. It can also be used to remove wrinkles or spots on someone's face.
(Credit: Lance Whitney / Microsoft)Under Spot fix, move the slider to the right or left to change the size of the spot you want to remove. A floating circle appears on the screen. Drag the circle to the area you want to fix and click. Wait a few seconds, and the spot should slowly fade away.
How to Edit the Background of an Image
Sometimes you want to change the background in a photo. Maybe you want to blur the background to better highlight people in the foreground or remove it entirely and replace it with a specific color. If you're using the Photos app in Windows 11, you can do it with the help of Microsoft's built-in AI features.
(Credit: Lance Whitney / Microsoft)To try this out, click the Background icon at the top (it looks like a person). You’re given three basic choices—Blur, Remove, or Replace. Click the Blur button, and the background becomes less sharp. You can then move the Blur intensity slider to increase or decrease how blurry the background should be. When done, click Apply.
(Credit: Lance Whitney / Microsoft)To limit or expand the blur to a specific area, turn on the Background brush tool switch. Click Subtract, then use your mouse to paint the area you wish to remain in focus. Click Add and then paint the area of the foreground that you wish to blur. Click Apply to see the results.
(Credit: Lance Whitney / Microsoft)If you wish to add a new background behind your subject, click the Remove button. This will automatically erase the background of the image and leave only the subject of the photo. You can also enable Background brush tool to better control which areas of the photo are removed and which areas remain. Click Apply to finalize the edit.
(Credit: Lance Whitney / Microsoft)Click the Replace button, and a color palette appears. Choose a color on the palette, and the background changes to that color. You can further adjust the tone of the color or even enter a hex code or RGB value to get a specific color. When done, click Apply.
(Credit: Lance Whitney / Microsoft)How to Undo Changes
(Credit: Lance Whitney / Microsoft)At any point, you can reverse any changes you’ve made. Click the Undo icon on the toolbar to undo your last action. You can continue clicking the icon to undo each previous action. Click the Redo button to redo your last action. If you want to undo every change you've made to an image, click Reset to change the image back to its original form. Click Reset again to confirm.
Save Your Photo
(Credit: Lance Whitney / Microsoft)When you’ve finished editing your photo and want to retain the changes, click the Save options button at the top. This gives you three options. Save as copy saves a duplicate of the photo, while retaining the original. Save overwrites the original with the new version. Copy to clipboard lets you paste the image into a different app or file.