Microsoft unveiled a new feature, Gallery in Windows 11 File Explorer, aimed at simplifying access to users’ photo collections. The Gallery feature displays the same content as the All Photos view in the Photos app, giving users a seamless experience.
Gallery is designed to prioritize access to users’ most recent photos, making it a useful tool for those with OneDrive Camera Roll Backup enabled on their smartphones. As new photos are taken, they appear at the top of the gallery view.
The Collection drop-down menu allows users to choose which folders appear in the gallery, with the option to add subfolders from existing sources to filter specific content, such as desktop backgrounds or imported SD cards/cameras.
In addition to the file explorer, Gallery is also integrated into the file picker dialog, improving usability in situations such as attaching files, creating PowerPoint presentations, or composing social media posts.
The file picker dialog, a feature in the Windows operating system, allows users to select files and folders through a user-friendly interface.
Windows Insiders will see a “pizza” icon on the command bar in File Explorer, indicating they are previewing the Windows App SDK version of the feature.
The functionality of File Explorer remains the same, but the switch from WinUI 2 to WinUI 3 has been made.
It’s worth noting that Microsoft is working on a major update to File Explorer with a redesigned recommend mode, new details pane, more modern controls, and WinUI 3.0 implementation.
With today’s update, Microsoft is introducing new privacy settings and APIs for presence sensors. Users with compatible presence sensing devices can now manage their privacy by allowing or blocking specific apps from accessing these sensors.
Microsoft ensures no images or metadata are collected, with all processing done locally on the device’s hardware to optimize privacy.
These settings are under Settings > Privacy & security > Presence detection, if the device supports this functionality. App developers with compatible presence detection devices can create apps that request and access user presence information after obtaining a human presence capability
