Microsoft has released updates for its Snipping Tool and Photo apps for Windows 11, introducing features like text copying from images and background blurring in photos. These updates are currently available to Windows Insiders in the Canary and Dev Channels.
In the beta version of the system, the toolbar of the Snipping Tool now includes a Text Actions button. This feature allows users to select and copy individual words or sentences from images and paste them elsewhere. For those who need to copy all the text from an image, there's also an option in the menu to "Copy all text."
Text Actions can also be used for editing screenshots, such as redacting sensitive information like email addresses or phone numbers. Users can simply select the "Quick Redact" option from the toolbar or right-click on text and choose "Redact Text" to hide it.
Additionally, the Photo app now offers a background blur feature. Users can open a photo in editing mode and select the Background Blur option, which automatically detects the object and blurs the area behind it. This feature is customizable, allowing users to adjust the intensity of the blur and edit already blurred areas.
Microsoft hasn't provided an exact timeline for when these new features will roll out to all users, but they are expected to become available over the next few months.