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Microsoft Responds to Outcry After Quietly Installing Beta 'Photos' App on Enterprise Machines

Microsoft's OneDrive has unexpectedly rolled out a new Photos app, even on enterprise Windows 11 machines. This beta application, intended for consumer use, has frustrated IT administrators due to its unprompted installation. There is currently no straightforward Microsoft-provided method for disabling the app on managed devices. Adding to the concern, OneDrive Photos automatically scans local storage for photos without requiring a Microsoft account. The app also includes a People section that groups similar faces, with facial data potentially considered biometric. Microsoft has acknowledged the broad rollout was an error and is working to fix it. Users cannot uninstall OneDrive Photos separately; doing so requires removing the entire OneDrive application, which affects File Explorer integration. Microsoft plans to provide a separate uninstall option for OneDrive Photos in the future. For enterprise PCs managed through Intune, the app is expected to be automatically removed from unsupported devices.