Microsoft Updates Calculator, Paint, Photos, and Other Windows Apps With New Features

Microsoft recently announced that Microsoft Edge will move to a faster two-week release cycle, but the company is also delivering significant updates across several built-in Windows applications.

Microsoft has released a new wave of improvements for many inbox apps, including Calculator, Camera, Clock, Media Player, Paint, Photos, and Sound Recorder. The updates introduce new features, accessibility enhancements, bug fixes, and reliability improvements designed to improve the overall Windows experience.

Calculator Receives Accuracy and Accessibility Improvements

The Calculator app received several important fixes focused on reliability and accessibility.

Microsoft addressed square-root calculation accuracy issues while also improving support for High Contrast themes and right-to-left language layouts. The company also resolved launch reliability problems that could prevent the app from opening correctly in certain situations.

Camera Gets Better Zoom and Video Controls

Users now have access to improved zoom support and additional video resolution options. Microsoft also improved compatibility with front-facing cameras on a wider range of devices.

QR code detection has become smarter as well, making scanning more reliable and reducing incorrect detections.

More details are available in the official Camera release notes.

Clock Introduces Major Timer Enhancements

Timers can now continue counting after reaching zero, allowing users to see how much time has passed since a countdown expired. Microsoft has also added a new 15-minute snooze option for alarms.

The Clock widget can now display up to three countdown timers simultaneously, making it easier to track multiple activities at once.

In addition to new features, Microsoft implemented numerous accessibility improvements throughout the app.

Additional information can be found in the official Clock release notes.

Media Player Improves Captions and Playback Reliability

The app now supports custom captions that follow Windows caption settings, providing a more personalized accessibility experience.

Microsoft also improved library indexing, playlist handling, playback reliability, queue stability, and notifications for missing codecs.

These changes should help reduce playback interruptions and improve media library management.

See the official Media Player release notes for the full changelog.

Paint Adds Eraser Transparency Controls

Paint users now gain more control over editing workflows.

Microsoft introduced support for adjustable eraser transparency, allowing more precise image modifications.

The update also addresses a variety of issues, including problems with stamp brushes, JPEG file saving, invalid image handling, selection behavior, toolbar responsiveness, layer management, and application crashes.

The update continues Microsoft’s gradual expansion of Paint’s editing capabilities.

Photos Gains Copilot Watermark Controls

Users can now choose to display visible Copilot watermarks on AI-generated or AI-edited images. The feature remains optional and provides additional transparency for AI-assisted content creation.

Microsoft also improved support for viewing very small images and pixel art. Additional enhancements include better keyboard navigation when selecting detected text and broader accessibility improvements throughout the application.

More details are available in the official Photos release notes.

Sound Recorder Fixes Bluetooth and Waveform Issues

The app now correctly displays waveforms when recordings use Bluetooth microphones. Microsoft also resolved issues involving WAV file markers, recording deletion errors, waveform scrollbar behavior, and a memory leak.

These fixes should improve long recording sessions and provide more accurate visual feedback during playback.

The complete list of changes is available in the official Sound Recorder release notes.

Microsoft Continues Modernizing Windows Apps

The latest batch of updates highlights Microsoft’s ongoing strategy of improving Windows experiences through app-level updates rather than waiting for major operating system releases.

Separately, Microsoft has also quietly introduced a new Low Latency Profile feature for Windows, aimed at improving responsiveness across core system experiences, according to recent reports.

As Microsoft accelerates development across both Windows and its built-in applications, users can expect a steady stream of new features and refinements arriving outside of traditional Windows update schedules.

Via Neowin