Microsoft Photo Editor: A Simple Guide for First Time Users

Quickly enhance, retouch, and improve your pictures using Microsoft photo editor. Simple tools help you adjust colors, fix flaws, and create stunning photos. Use the CapCut desktop video editor, as an easier option, to edit photos with AI tools.

microsoft photo editor
CapCut
CapCut
Sep 8, 2025
11 min(s)

Editing photos for personal or professional use has become easier with simple and effective tools. Microsoft photo editor helps users quickly improve images, adjust colors, crop, and add effects without needing advanced skills. Whether you are touching up family photos, creating content for social media, or preparing images for work presentations, Microsoft photo editor provides a user-friendly way to enhance pictures.

This article explores everything that you need to know about the free Microsoft photo editor.

Table of content
  1. What is Microsoft Office photo editor
  2. Standout features of the Microsoft photo editor
  3. How to use the Microsoft Office photo editor on Windows
  4. Top tips for using Microsoft photo editor on Windows 10 and 11
  5. Pros and cons of Microsoft photo editor
  6. A user-friendly AI image editor for PC: CapCut desktop video editor
  7. Conclusion
  8. FAQs

What is Microsoft Office photo editor

Microsoft Office photo editor is a simple tool that lets users edit and enhance images. It helps with basic tasks like cropping, resizing, adjusting brightness and contrast, and adding simple effects. The editor is designed for quick and easy photo improvements without needing advanced skills. It is mainly used for enhancing images to include in documents, presentations, or emails.

Interface of the Microsoft Office photo editor

Standout features of the Microsoft photo editor

Editing photos can feel overwhelming without the right tools, but Microsoft photo editor makes it simple and fast. Its features help both beginners and casual users improve images easily, whether for personal memories or professional projects. Here are the standout features that make it a useful choice:

  • Easy editing

The Windows 10 Microsoft photo editor enables users to do basic image editing without the hassle of performing more arduous tasks. With just a few clicks, you can adjust, crop, or resize photos. Its basic interface means even inexperienced users can begin editing right away.

  • Quick retouch

With Microsoft photo editor Windows on 11, minor photo flaws like red-eye or blemishes can be corrected quickly. The retouch tools help polish images without needing professional software. This feature saves time while keeping photos looking natural.

  • Color adjustment

You can easily change brightness, contrast, and saturation with Microsoft photo editor in Windows 10. Colors can be enhanced to add beauty and vibrancy to an image or to convey a certain mood. This function is to make sure that your photos look professional and attractive.

  • Photo cropping

Cropping is essential to focus on the main subject, and Microsoft photo editor Windows on 11 makes it easy. You can remove unwanted areas or change the photo's shape quickly. This helps create better compositions for presentations or social media posts.

  • Simple filters

Applying filters is straightforward with Microsoft photos video editor features. You can change the style or tone of a photo in seconds. Filters add creativity and a professional touch to images without complex adjustments, making editing faster, easier, and more enjoyable for every type of user.

  • Text overlay

Adding text is simple with the Windows 10 Microsoft photo editor. You can insert captions, titles, or labels directly on photos. This is helpful for creating social media posts, presentations, or educational content quickly and effectively, making your visuals clearer, engaging, and more personalized for every purpose.

How to use the Microsoft Office photo editor on Windows

It’s easy and user-friendly to edit with the Microsoft Office photo editor on Windows. You can crop, change colors, filter, text, and even retouch or teleport! This technique makes it easy to enhance images for documents, presentations, or just personal use with no special expertise. Here is a little guide to get you started with the editor:

    STEP 1
  1. Open and crop your image

Launch the Photos app and open the photo you want to edit. Use the crop and rotate tools to adjust orientation, aspect ratio, and framing for better composition.

Accessing the Microsoft photo editor
    STEP 2
  1. Adjust lighting, color, and apply filters

Click the "Adjustment" icon to modify brightness, contrast, saturation, and other settings. Apply a filter or use "Auto Enhance" to quickly improve the photo’s look.

Editing the image with the Microsoft Office photo editor
    STEP 3
  1. Save your edited photo

After finishing all edits, click the "Save options" button. You can save as a copy, overwrite the original, or copy the image to the clipboard for use in other apps.

Saving the image from the Microsoft Office photo editor

Top tips for using Microsoft photo editor on Windows 10 and 11

Using Microsoft Designer photo editor efficiently can save time and help you create better-looking images. Whether you are using it for work, school projects, or personal photos, a few simple tips can make editing smoother and more effective. Here are some top tips for using it on Windows 10 and 11:

  • Save edits regularly to avoid loss

If you are working on the photo editor in Windows 10, you must save your work in this application frequently. You do risk losing any progress if there’s a surprise crash or power cut. Saving regularly prevents you from losing any significant changes, and the experience of editing is stress-free.

  • Use keyboard shortcuts for efficiency

Keyboard shortcuts in the free Microsoft photo editor help you perform tasks faster. Actions like undo, redo, zoom, or switching tools can be done without using the mouse. This saves time and improves workflow, especially when editing multiple photos.

  • Experiment with different filter combinations

The Microsoft Designer photo editor lets you apply and combine multiple filters creatively. Trying different combinations can give your images unique styles. Don’t hesitate to adjust intensity sliders to find the perfect look for your photo.

  • Adjust brightness before applying effects

In the Microsoft photo and video editor app, adjusting brightness and contrast before adding filters or effects helps maintain the photo’s natural look. Proper lighting ensures that colors remain balanced and effects look professional, giving your images consistency, depth, and a polished finish across every project.

  • Keep the original image for comparison

Always keep a copy of the original photo while using Windows 10 Microsoft photo editor. This lets you compare edits and revert if needed. Having the original ensures you can start over or make different creative choices without losing your first version.

Pros and cons of Microsoft photo editor

Using Microsoft photo editor makes basic photo editing simple and accessible for everyone. It works well for quick adjustments and small projects, whether for personal or professional use. However, like any tool, it has both advantages and limitations. Here are some of its pros and cons:

Pros
  • User-friendly interface: It has a simple layout that beginners can easily navigate. Tools like crop, rotate, and filters are easy to find and use without prior experience.
  • Quick edits: With the free Microsoft Photo Editor, you can make fast adjustments to photos, including brightness, contrast, and basic retouching. This saves time for casual editing tasks.
  • Variety of basic tools: The Microsoft Designer photo editor provides essential tools like text overlay, color adjustments, and simple filters. It covers most everyday editing needs without needing advanced software.
  • Integrated with Windows: Being built into Windows, the Microsoft photo editor doesn’t require extra installation. It works seamlessly with your photo libraries and other Microsoft apps.
Cons
  • Limited advanced features: The Windows 10 Microsoft photo editor lacks professional tools like layers, masks, and advanced effects. Users looking for complex edits may need additional software.
  • Basic filter options: Although the Microsoft photo editor includes filters, the variety is limited compared to dedicated photo editing apps. Creativity may be restricted for users seeking unique or professional styles.

Microsoft photo editor is great for quick, simple edits and basic enhancements. It is easy to use and works well for everyday photo tasks. For more advanced editing and creative options, tools like CapCut can be a perfect complement.

A user-friendly AI image editor for PC: CapCut desktop video editor

The CapCut desktop video editor is a user-friendly AI tool designed for enhancing images and videos on a PC. It helps users create polished content quickly, making it ideal for social media, presentations, or creative projects. Its AI-driven tools simplify complex edits, saving time while maintaining high-quality results.

Key features

The CapCut desktop video editor has advanced features that make image editing faster, smarter, and more creative. Here are some of its must-use features:

  • Generate images using AI

Create new images from text prompts or ideas instantly, making it perfect for social media content, marketing campaigns, or creative design projects.

  • One-click image enhancement

Automatically improve image quality with an AI image upscaler, saving time while ensuring sharp, vibrant, and professional-looking visuals for any purpose.

  • AI-based facial retouching

Smooth skin, removes blemishes, and enhances facial features effortlessly with AI facial retouching, ideal for portraits, influencer content, or personal photo collections.

  • Adjust brightness and exposure

Fine-tune lighting settings to make photos look balanced, visually appealing, and professionally vibrant in any scenario or environment.

  • Add image overlays

Layer graphics, logos, or textures onto images, helping create customized visuals for marketing, presentations, or social media branding projects.

  • Stylize images with AI

Transform photos into unique artistic styles using AI, adding creativity and a professional touch for projects, posts, or digital art.

Interface of the CapCut desktop video editor - an easier way to edit images with AI

How to edit images with CapCut

Users can download the CapCut desktop video editor by visiting the official website. Click the download button for Windows or Mac, depending on your PC. Once downloaded, open the installer and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

    STEP 1
  1. Import the image

Open CapCut on your PC, head into the "Image editing" panel, select "New image", then press "Upload" to choose the image you want to transform through several creative editing features.

Importing an image into the CapCut desktop video editor
    STEP 2
  1. Edit the image

To give your image a standout look, start by going to the "Frames" tab. Browse the library, select a frame you like, and drag and drop your image into it. Then, tap the image to open the Editing Panel. Here, click on the "Adjust" tab and select "AI color correction" to let AI balance the colors, or use the sliders to manually adjust the colors and lighting.

Editing the image with the CapCut desktop video editor
    STEP 3
  1. Download and share

Once editing is complete, locate "Download all" in the right-hand corner. Select "Download" to save to your computer, or "Copy as PNG" to reuse easily. For sharing, press the icons of popular social media networks.

Downloading the image from the CapCut desktop video editor

Conclusion

Microsoft photo editor is a simple and easy-to-use tool for basic photo editing tasks like cropping, color adjustment, and adding text. It works well for quick edits and small projects, making it suitable for both personal and professional use. While it covers essential features, users seeking more advanced editing options may find it limited. For those who want to create highly creative images with AI-powered tools, the CapCut desktop video editor is a great choice to complement them.

FAQs

    1
  1. Can the free Microsoft photo editor software edit RAW images?

Microsoft's free photo app does not work with RAW photos, other than providing options for basic editing, such as cropping or color correcting. Pro RAW editing options, like specific exposure controls, for example, are also absent. If you are doing pro-level RAW editing, you're better off with special tools. The CapCut desktop video editor provides AI-editing solutions that process HD video clips smoothly..

    2
  1. Does Microsoft AI photo editor work well on older PCs?

Microsoft AI photo editor can run on older PCs, but performance may be slower with large images or complex edits. Some advanced AI features may not function smoothly on outdated hardware. It is suitable for simple edits but may struggle with intensive tasks. CapCut desktop video editor is optimized for performance and can handle AI-based editing even on mid-range PCs.

    3
  1. How much system memory does Microsoft Office photo editor require?

Microsoft Office photo editor requires minimal system memory, typically running well on PCs with 2–4 GB RAM. However, editing multiple large images simultaneously may slow down the application. It is designed for lightweight, everyday photo editing tasks. For smoother performance with larger projects, the CapCut desktop video editor is highly recommended.

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