Windows 11 is Testing AI-Powered Photo Sorting into Categories

Users of Windows 11 test builds have discovered a new feature that automatically organizes images in the library. An update to the Photos app uses local algorithms to analyze and group photos by content type.

The new tool independently distributes photos and scans into logical sections. The algorithm analyzes the visual content of the frame, not the text, allowing it to work with documents in different languages. For example, a picture of a passport will be correctly identified and moved to the corresponding category, even if the text is in Hungarian or Japanese.

The algorithm performs automatic sorting, after which new folders will appear in the left part of the application window. These folders will contain screenshots, images of receipts, identity documents, and handwritten notes. According to the developers, this will help users find the necessary materials in an extensive collection faster, without spending time on manual organization. Currently, the new system can be tested by participants of the Windows Insider program who have installed Photos app version 2025.11090.25001.0 or newer, but only if the user has a Copilot+ PC, as the feature utilizes the computational power of a special neural processing unit (NPU).

A broad release of the update for all owners of compatible devices running Windows 11 is planned for one of the future releases. This functionality could become a practical tool for those who regularly work with large archives of diverse images.

Automatic image sorting is only part of Microsoft's overall strategy to expand the standard capabilities of Windows 11. Alongside the Photos update, the company is testing other long-awaited features, such as built-in video wallpapers, which bring back functionality familiar from Windows Vista. These steps, together with the recent enhancement of Notepad with offline AI and the addition of layers in Paint, point to a clear trend: Microsoft is actively developing built-in applications, striving to offer users more features without the need to resort to third-party software.