Windows Photo Gallery

Windows Photo Gallery is a computer application that contains a lot of innovative features for sharing, organizing, and editing images. Microsoft developed this app and included it with their Windows Essentials 2012 package. Unfortunately, support for Windows Essentials 2012 stopped on January 10th, 2017.

⚠️ Note: This product is not developed anymore and might not function properly.

If you are looking for alternatives, we recommend you to download PhotoScape or ACDSee Photo Studio Home.

Even though you cannot download Windows Essentials 2012 from the Microsoft website anymore, you can still download it from FileHorse. Aside from the Photo Gallery, the Windows Essential 2012 package includes Movie Maker, Messenger, OneDrive, Outlook Connector Pack, and Writer. You have the choice to install all these apps or you can choose which ones to install. In addition, Photo Gallery works well on Windows 10, despite Microsoft saying it was not compatible.

Photo Sharing, Organizing, and Editing

The functionality and look of Windows Photo Gallery are very similar to that of Windows Explorer. Therefore, you should have a simple time searching through your folders for Videos and Pictures. You also have the option to import media content from other devices, such as USB flash drives, CDs, and DVDs.

Prior to looking at the images up close, they can be renamed, rotated, and resized. This may come in handy if you want to create an interesting media collection that showcases your friends and family. The intelligence of Photo Gallery is quite amazing because it can detect the location of people’s faces in the pictures and put tags on them. There is the option to set descriptive tags, geotags, and captions. You can also alter the time in which the picture was created, flag pictures, and rate pictures.

Tagging & Searching

Microsoft has a built-in feature in this app which lets you search files by using text. If you’re working with several pictures, this can be quite useful. Files can be filtered according to their month, tag, flag, or rating. Slideshows can be played too.

Several automatic editing functions can be utilized if you want to adjust lighting quickly and do other things to improve the quality of your pictures. All of which can be done without needing to use any other app. Although, JPG copies must be made if you want to go into editing mode.

Automated Tweaks and More

The tool can alter your images in many ways. You can straighten images, adjust color, lower noise, and apply filters like black & white, sepia, and orange. The manual adjustment of JPGs can be done too. Sharing options include sending media content to Vimeo, Flickr, YouTube, Facebook, or OneDrive.

Your original files are copied and saved by the tool automatically. If you’re unhappy with the changes made, you can simply revert to the original look and work on the adjustments again. Other things you can do is create panoramas, merge pictures together, create movie clips, and make collages from at least 7 photos.

A Classic Photo App Which Still Works Great

Windows Photo Gallery maybe 7 years old, but it is still useful for basic photo editing and management. Plus, it is easy for novices to use. And since it still works fine on Windows 11/10, there is no reason why you can’t use it now.

PROS

• User-friendly interface
• Automated editing features
• Integration with other Microsoft apps
• Basic photo management functions

CONS

• Development ceased
• Limited advanced editing options
• Possible functionality issues
• Dependency on JPG copies for editing
• No official support