Microsoft Adds New Facial Scan App to Windows

New OneDrive Photos App Appears Unsolicited on Windows 11

Some Windows 11 users are finding a new Microsoft application on their systems that they did not explicitly install. Dubbed OneDrive Photos, the app automatically indexes local image files and provides AI-powered search capabilities, along with an optional facial grouping feature.

The rollout, initially observed by the industry publication Windows Latest, is being distributed through Windows Update or as an update to the existing OneDrive client, rather than as a standalone download.

According to Windows Latest, OneDrive Photos can identify and display images stored locally on a PC, even when the user is not logged into a Microsoft account. Once signed in, the application unlocks AI-powered search functionality, enabling users to locate photos using natural language queries and optical character recognition.

The app also incorporates an optional “People” feature that groups similar faces. This feature is exclusively visible to the user, is not shared with third parties, and can be disabled. However, Windows Latest pointed out that users must opt in to this feature, as facial data may be considered biometric information in certain legal jurisdictions.

This development follows a privacy controversy two years ago, which compelled Microsoft to revise its AI-powered Recall feature. The backlash over the screenshotting tool led the company to make it an opt-in feature by default.

More recently, in May, Google began downloading its approximately 4GB Gemini Nano AI model to eligible Chrome installations via browser updates. This move aims to enable on-device AI features, further fueling concerns about the integration of AI capabilities through routine software updates.

Windows Latest reports that OneDrive Photos is integrated with the existing OneDrive client and cannot be uninstalled independently at this time. Users wishing to remove the application must uninstall OneDrive entirely from their Windows system.

Microsoft did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Decrypt.