Microsoft will enhance the Photos app to run in the background of Windows 11

The Microsoft Photos app is about to get faster, as the Redmond-based tech giant unveils a new option that, once enabled, would allow the app to run in the background, effectively opening up immediately without experiencing lag.

The capability was discovered by the famous Windows Insider @phantomofearth, who posted a screenshot of the new feature on X (formerly known as Twitter). The new option can be found in a Windows 11 beta build.

The main change in this upgrade is permitting the Photos app to start and operate in the background, which can improve its functioning. This alteration might signify faster entry into your photo collection, making the app appear more active and less frustratingly slow.

The update is active in the most recent edition of the Photos app for individuals in the Canary experimental channel. Not everybody can use it for now, but Microsoft will release the new option for the Photos app sometime later this year, with the general release of the 24H2 Update to Windows 11.

Recently, the app has been moved to WinAppSDK, a technology language platform that aids developers in creating new features faster. This shift is already showing results with cool functions like Slideshow and Generative Erase powered by AI—it’s truly amazing, similar to what you’d anticipate from Adobe Photoshop.

Plus, the Photos app has recently been enhanced with Dynamic Zoom Slider, a capability that allows users to zoom dynamically on an image however they want.

What do you think about this new capability? Are you using the Photos app?