Windows 11 Gets Much-Requested Photo Feature

Microsoft is finally bringing back a much-loved photo feature that has been missing in action since fall of last year.

In a recent official Windows blog, Yvonne Hsieh, Principal PM Manager of Windows Photos, announced a new update to the Windows Photos app that includes “a broad set of new features, improvements, and fixes based on feedback.”

Perhaps the most important among these is the return of the ability to make automated slideshows from your favorite photos and videos. This is a popular feature that used to exist within the Photos app, but was nowhere to be seen when an all-new Photos app took its place in the Windows 11 2022 update.

Rolling out first to members of the Canary and Dev channels of Windows Insider program, the new Photos app brings with it an enhanced slideshow experience that goes beyond the, extremely basic, original version by adding transitions, animations and a selection of 25 music soundtracks to give your slideshows a little more polish.

Among other smaller updates, the new app also adds a timeline to the scrollbar to make it easier to browse photos from particular dates and a ‘Spot Fix’ tool that lets you erase unwanted elements from your pictures. You can read the full list of updates on the Windows Insider Blog.

Unfortunately, for now, the majority of users will have to wait to gain access to the new features. You’ll need to be running at least version 2023.11050.2013.0 of the Photos app which is currently only rolling out to Windows Insiders.

However, if you really want to display slideshows on Windows 11 without a third-party app, you can still install the old version of Photos, now renamed “Microsoft Photos Legacy” by searching within the Microsoft Store, or by clicking here. The app is free to use and can be installed alongside the current Windows 11 version, so you can get the best of both worlds until the newly enhanced app is made available to all users.

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