What just happened? The Windows 11 Photos app is getting an update that brings several new features, including a blemish removal tool and the ability to create photo slideshows with transitions, animations, and music. The new features are part of the Photos app version 2023.11050.2013.0, and are only available to Insiders on the Canary and Dev channels for now.
Starting with the new slideshow experience, Microsoft says it was one of the most requested features from Windows 11 users since the Photos app was launched last year. It will enable users to create slideshows with transition effects, animations, and 25 original music soundtracks that users will be able to choose from. To start a slideshow, you will have to simply click on any photo or choose multiple photos to watch them together.
As for the Spot Fix tool, it can remove blemishes and other unwanted objects from a photo, just like you would do on more powerful photo editing apps like Photoshop, GIMP, Canva, or Pixlr. The Auto Enhance feature is now also built in, meaning users will no longer have to install the 93MB add-on to use the functionality. iCloud users will appreciate a new privacy feature that will prevent their hidden photos from showing up in the gallery.
Another feature making a comeback is the timeline scrollbar, which helps users search for photos by date. The scrollbar will be available on all folders, including All Photos, OneDrive, and iCloud Photos. With the introduction of the new feature, photos will be grouped by year and month, making it easier to find the exact image you want.
The update additionally brings a ton of other features, including improvements to how photos are imported from external devices. While importing, you can now drag and drop to select the photos you want. A toggle allows you to confirm your selections, so that no unwanted file is transferred and no selected image is left behind.
Finally, the update also fixed an issue where the audio in video files was muted by default, meaning the app will now also play audio automatically every time the user plays a video.