Microsoft has quietly rolled out an AI-powered Image Creator feature to the Windows 11 Photos app, but only for users with Copilot+ PCs. The addition, first highlighted by veteran tech journalist Paul Thurrott in his Windows 11 Field Guide update on July 7, 2026, marks another step in the company’s push to embed generative AI directly into the operating system’s core applications.

The concrete change: text-to-image generation inside Photos

The Photos app—long a simple viewer and basic editor—now includes a dedicated Image Creator tool. You’ll find it as an icon in the top toolbar or via a shortcut inside the editing pane. Selecting it opens a text box where you type a description, choose a style (such as photorealistic, cartoon, or oil painting), and generate multiple image variants. The results appear inline, and you can insert them into your photo library or use them as the basis for further editing.

Image Creator in Photos relies on Microsoft’s cloud-based DALL-E models, the same technology powering Bing Image Creator and the Paint Cocreator. That means an active internet connection and a Microsoft account are mandatory. The feature is not available offline, and it does not run on the local NPU, unlike some other AI tools in the Photos app (such as background blur or automatic object removal).

There is no specific version number publicly tied to this rollout, but the feature appears in the Photos app version that ships with Windows 11 build 22635.xxxx and later on Copilot+ PCs. If you don’t see it, ensure both Windows and the Photos app are fully updated via Windows Update and the Microsoft Store.

What it means for you

For home users: This turns the Photos app into a creative sandbox. Instead of switching to a web browser or a third-party tool, you can generate images directly inside an application you already use to organize your memories. It’s particularly handy for making collages, creating personalized backgrounds, or visualizing ideas. The generated images are saved as regular files, so you can share them seamlessly.

For IT administrators and power users: The feature raises management questions. Because it requires a Microsoft account and internet access, organizations using local accounts or restricting cloud services may need to block it. Group Policy and MDM settings can disable the Photos app entirely or prevent sign-in, but there is no dedicated policy toggle for Image Creator yet. Admins should also note that generated images are transmitted to Microsoft’s servers, which may have implications for data classification and compliance.

For developers: Image Creator demonstrates how Microsoft is building an ecosystem of AI APIs that any inbox app can consume. Developers interested in similar integrations should look at the Azure OpenAI Service and the Windows Copilot Runtime, which are gradually being exposed to third-party applications.

How we got here: a timeline of Photos app evolution

Microsoft’s recent transformation of the Photos app didn’t happen overnight. A quick history:

  • Windows 10 era (2015–2021): Photos was a basic viewer with light editing—crop, rotate, filters—and a somewhat neglected video editor.
  • Windows 11 launch (2021): The app received a visual overhaul with rounded corners and a new filmstrip layout. AI-powered Remix effect and basic auto-enhance were introduced.
  • 2023: Microsoft added background blur, spot fix, and auto-generated albums using on-device machine learning. These ran on the CPU or GPU and didn’t require an NPU.
  • Copilot+ PC announcement (May 2024): Microsoft introduced a new class of Windows PCs with NPUs capable of 40+ TOPS. The Photos app was demoed with Restyle Image, an AI feature that applies artistic styles using a combination of local processing and cloud models.
  • 2025–2026: Microsoft steadily expanded Restyle Image and added Image Creator to Paint. The company also rebranded several AI features under the “Copilot” umbrella, emphasizing natural language interaction.

The Photos Image Creator is the latest step, bringing generative AI that was already in Paint and Bing into the photos management workflow. It reflects Microsoft’s bet that users will increasingly expect AI-powered creation tools wherever they handle images.

What to do now: accessing and using Image Creator

If you have a Copilot+ PC—any laptop or desktop with a Snapdragon X Elite, Intel Core Ultra (200 series), or AMD Ryzen AI 300 series processor—you can try Image Creator today. Follow these steps:

  1. Check Windows version: Go to Settings > System > About and confirm you’re running Windows 11 build 22635 or higher. If not, install the latest updates.
  2. Update the Photos app: Open the Microsoft Store, go to Library, and click “Get updates.” The Photos app should update to version 2026.11090.xxxx or newer.
  3. Sign in: Launch Photos and sign in with your Microsoft account when prompted. Image Creator won’t appear without a signed-in account.
  4. Locate the tool: Open any image or simply go to the app’s home screen. Click the “Image Creator” button in the toolbar (it looks like a magic wand). If it’s not visible, click the “+” icon in the editing pane.
  5. Generate images: Type a description, select a style, and click “Generate.” The tool will create three variants. Click one to insert it, or regenerate for different results.

Keep in mind that usage may be throttled: Microsoft usually gives users a certain number of free “boosts” per month for fast generation, after which generation speeds may slow down. The exact limits for Photos haven’t been published yet.

Outlook: more AI, more Copilot+ exclusivity

Image Creator in Photos is unlikely to remain the last AI addition to Windows’ inbox apps. Microsoft has been vocal about making Copilot+ PCs the centerpiece of AI computing, and features exclusive to that hardware help justify the premium pricing. Expect to see similar generative AI arrive in File Explorer (for smart file organization), Mail & Calendar (for auto-replies), and even the Snipping Tool (for OCR and content generation).

The bigger question is whether Microsoft will eventually enable offline generation using the NPU. Snapdragon X Elite and Intel’s Lunar Lake chips are theoretically capable of running small diffusion models locally. If Microsoft can optimize such models for the Photos app, users might get faster, private, and no-boost-needed generation. For now, though, the cloud is the engine, and your internet connection is the tether.