Microsoft updates Windows 11 Camera and Photos apps

Microsoft has introduced significant updates to its native media applications on Windows 11. The Camera app has been upgraded to version 2026.2608.1.0, which introduces software-based digital zoom capabilities for users whose hardware does not support optical zoom. This feature is intended for video conferencing, online classes, and remote medical consultations, though it is not applicable to panoramic, spherical, or scanning modes.

Additional improvements to the Camera app include enhanced responsiveness during video recording, a countdown timer for delayed shots, and streamlined file management features such as one-click path copying.

Separately, the Windows 11 Photos app has undergone a major overhaul. The new Gallery feature allows users to aggregate photos from local storage, OneDrive, and iCloud. The app now supports natural language search, enabling users to find images using descriptive terms like ‘beach sunset’.

The Photos editor has been rebuilt using WinUI 3, resulting in a 25% faster startup speed. New editing tools include a ‘Relight’ feature that allows users to adjust lighting with up to three light sources, as well as object removal and stylized filters. The photo viewer has also seen performance gains of up to 30% for HEIC images.