create albums in windows 11 photos

Charlton Watkins 0 Reputation points
2026-09-05T17:47:03.23+00:00

no settings to create albums in windows 11 photo app. no legacy option in settings. no about albums in settings

Windows for home | Other | Music, photos, and video
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  1. Hendrix-V 19,030 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-09-06T00:02:55.5866667+00:00

    Hi Charlton Watkins,

    I can understand the confusion. The current Microsoft Photos app has evolved from earlier versions, and some features are now organized differently than they were in Photos Legacy. Based on the information available, album creation may not be available in the same way it was in previous versions of the app.

    As a workaround, you can organize your pictures by creating dedicated folders in File Explorer and then adding those folders to the Photos app:

    1. Create a folder for each photo collection you want to group.
    2. Open Photos > Settings.
    3. Under Sources, add the folder if it is not already included.
    4. Access your collections through the Folders section in Photos.

    You may also want to check the Microsoft Store for any available updates to the Photos app, as features and options can vary between versions.

    I hope this helps clarify the current behavior. If you can share the version number shown under Photos > Settings > About, the community may be able to suggest version-specific guidance.

    Let me know if you need further assistance, feel free to ask me by clicking "Add Comment" or "Add Answer" if you cannot add comment so your response will be visible. Thanks for your effort.

    Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

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  2. AI answer

    2026-09-05T17:47:16.36+00:00

    In Windows 11, the new Microsoft Photos app does not use Albums the same way Photos Legacy did. It organizes photos mainly by folders, not albums.

    What this means for the current app:

    1. Open Photos.
    2. Use Folders in the navigation menu to organize and view photo groups.
    3. If there are older albums from Photos Legacy, they can be copied into the new app’s Folders section and then appear under Legacy Albums.

    If the Photos Legacy option is missing in Settings:

    1. Open the Photos app.
    2. Go to Settings.
    3. Under About, look for Open Photos Legacy or Get Photos Legacy.

    If that option is not present, the available guidance here is that the new Photos app itself no longer provides the same album-based experience as Photos Legacy.

    If existing legacy albums cannot be copied into the new app, they can still be viewed by:

    1. Installing Microsoft Photos Legacy from the Microsoft Store through the Photos app path: Settings > About > Photos Legacy > Get Photos Legacy.
    2. In Photos Legacy, back up the album collection to personal OneDrive.
    3. Return to the new Microsoft Photos app.
    4. Select Memories to access them under OneDrive albums.

    To confirm which version is installed:

    1. Open Photos.
    2. Select Settings > About Photos.
    3. If it says Updated, that is the new Photos app.
    4. If it does not say Updated, that is Photos Legacy, which includes Albums.
    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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