MS Force-Installs OneDrive Photos App on Windows 11 PCs

In a recent statement to Windows Latest, MS acknowledged that it had force-installed the OneDrive Photos app on Windows 11 PCs. The company explained that the app is part of the OneDrive ecosystem and was introduced through a OneDrive update, not as a separate download. According to MS, the app brings the OneDrive photo experience from the web and mobile platforms to the Windows desktop.

Unexplained Rollout Sparks Controversy

Over the past few weeks, the unexpected appearance of the OneDrive Photos app on production Windows 11 PCs, even on devices without a personal MS account, has sparked significant backlash. This led to confusion, particularly among IT administrators managing enterprise PCs via Intune. Until recently, MS had remained silent about the rollout. However, the company has now provided partial clarification, though it has avoided addressing specific concerns about enterprise PCs.

Key Issues Identified

• MS admitted that it force-installed the app on Windows 11 PCs.
• The app was unintentionally pushed to enterprise PCs, despite being designed for personal MS accounts.
• IT administrators faced challenges in removing the app, as it is tied to the OneDrive sync client. To remove it, one must either uninstall OneDrive entirely or keep both the sync client and the Photos app.

The OneDrive Photos app is located at C:\Program Files\MS OneDrive\OneDrive.App.exe, while the primary OneDrive application resides at C:\Program Files\MS OneDrive\OneDrive.exe. Despite repeated inquiries, MS has declined to provide further details about its deployment on enterprise PCs. However, Windows Latest understands that this rollout was not intentional and primarily targeted consumer PCs.

How the OneDrive Photos App Works

MS stated that OneDrive Photos is automatically installed on all Windows 11 PCs with the OneDrive sync client present. Since OneDrive is pre-installed on most PCs, the app appears unless OneDrive is manually removed. The company argues that OneDrive Photos enhances the user experience by consolidating all photos stored on the PC. Upon opening the app, users will find that it automatically accesses local images, including screenshots.

In addition to its core functionality, the app includes familiar OneDrive features such as Moments, which displays random photo collections from the user’s history.

User Concerns About AI and Privacy

The app also introduces an AI-powered feature called People, which has raised privacy concerns. While the feature is turned off by default, users worried that OneDrive might use AI to group faces from local photos and potentially train its models. MS has denied these claims, stating:

• Face grouping only operates in the cloud and applies exclusively to photos stored in OneDrive.
• Images stored locally on the PC are not processed by the AI.
• Data collected for face grouping is permanently deleted within 30 days of disabling the feature.

MS has emphasized its commitment to using AI responsibly and assured users that it does not train its models using their data without consent.

Future Updates and Removal Options

Currently, users cannot remove the OneDrive Photos app without uninstalling OneDrive entirely, including the sync client. MS has announced plans to release an update that will allow users to uninstall the Photos app independently. However, many users are questioning why the app was force-installed before such a removal option was made available.

If you haven’t received the OneDrive Photos app yet, it is expected to auto-install on your Windows 11 PC in the coming days. For now, users will need to wait for future updates to gain more control over its presence on their devices.

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