The Photos app in Windows 10/11 gets a new “Generative Erase” feature to fix and remove distractions from your photos, like background objects or visual clutter. Let’s explore this useful feature.

Microsoft has been making several improvements to its built-in apps, such as Notepad, OneDrive, Outlook (new) and photos. The goal is to add new AI features to these apps while improving the user experience.

One such new feature is generative erase, which was recently introduced to the Photos app. Formerly known as the Spot Fix tool, it has been given a boost with the help of AI and is now known as Generative Erase in the Photos app.

For example, last week, a new feature was added to the Notepad known as Explain with Copilot that allowed. With this feature, you can ask the Copilot in Windows to help explain log files, code segments, or any selected content directly from within Notepad.

The Photos app for Windows 10 and Windows 11 for Arm64 devices will be getting the existing Photos app AI edit features, such as blur background, remove and replace background, and generative erase.

What is generative erase?

Generative Erase is an AI-powered feature in the Photos app that allows users to remove unwanted subjects, such as background objects or other visual clutter, from an image. Microsoft is attempting to bring a Google-like magical AI feature to the Photos app on Windows 10 and 11 devices

Microsoft announced that “the Generative Erase feature has been rolled out to Windows Insiders in all channels today (including Windows Insiders on Windows 10 in the Release Preview Channel).” If you have already joined the Windows Insider Program, you can enjoy the latest features, including blur background, remove and replace background, and generative erase.

You must update your Photos app to version number 2024.11020.21001.0 or higher to try out the Generative Erase feature. If you have set to auto-update the apps in the MS Store, the Photos app should be updated to the latest version automatically. Otherwise, you will need to manually update the apps on Windows 11.

Steps to use Generative Erase in Photos app

Here are instructions for using the generative erase feature in the Photos app on a Windows 10/11 device.

Step 1: In the search box on the taskbar, type ‘Photos.’ From the list, select the Photos app. Then select the photo you’d like to change. Alternatively, right-click an image that you want to edit and select Open with > Photos.

How to Use Generative Erase in Photos app
How to Use Generative Erase in Photos app

Step 2: To edit the selected image, click on the Edit Image option. You can also use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + E to edit the image in the Photos app.

How to Use Generative Erase in Photos app
How to Use Generative Erase in Photos app

Step 3: In the Edit Image mode, select the Erase option, as shown in the below screenshot. In the right pane, you see two Generative Erase options: Auto erase and brush size.

The auto-erase feature helps you automatically remove the chosen objects from the picture and is by default turned on. The brush size for object selection is set to 60, and you can adjust the brush size to get the appropriate level of precision required.

Install and Update Third Party Applications with Patch My PC
Install and Update Third Party Applications with Patch My PC
How to Use Generative Erase in Photos app
How to Use Generative Erase in Photos app

Step 4: Using the brush, select the object(s) that you want to erase from the image. Once the objects are selected for removal, the Generative Erase AI feature erases the area or the object from the photo.

How to Use Generative Erase in Photos app
How to Use Generative Erase in Photos app

Step 5: In the screenshot below, we can see that the selected area or object has been successfully erased. You may erase other unwanted objects from the image, or if you are done, click on Save. That is it—you have successfully edited a picture to get rid of the unwanted objects.

Using Generative Erase in Photos app
Using Generative Erase in Photos app

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Prajwal Desai

Prajwal Desai is a technology expert and 10 time Dual Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) with a strong focus on Microsoft Intune, SCCM, Windows 365, Enterprise Mobility, and Windows. He is a renowned author, speaker, & community leader, known for sharing his expertise & knowledge through his blog, YouTube, conferences, webinars etc.