Editing with MS Photos (PC)
what is MS PhotoS?
Microsoft Photos is a free app available from the Microsoft store. Please note that the program only runs on Windows 10 (version 10240.0 or higher) and it is only the later versions of the Photos app which include video editing capabilities.
Important:
Many educational institutions limit the Microsoft app store, downloads, and updates on their networks so you may need to install or update MS Photos off-campus.
Before you get started
Here are a few things to keep in mind before you begin editing video in MS Photos. Once you are aware of the programs features and limitations, you should find it a simple, straightforward tool for editing video:
- MS Photos deals best with short, individual clips. When shooting footage, try to avoid recording one long recording featuring multiple takes. Start and stop the camera each time you record a take.
- MS Photos cannot remove a green background for green-screen effects.
- You can't currently record a voiceover directly into MS Photos, although it looks like this feature will be added in future updates.
- MS Photos does not offer transitions between clips (e.g. fades, wipes, etc.).
- There is no built-in credits feature (although we offer workarounds in our instructions).
Instructions
We have step-by-step instructions on this site for all of the major functions of MS Photos:
- Getting Started
- Editing Clips
- Adding Text
- Adding Music
- Adjusting Volume
- Adding Effects
- Adding Credits
- Exporting Your Video
We also have downloadable versions of these instructions:
- PDF Version (2 Mb)
- RTF Version (144 Mb)
VIDEO TUTORIALS
Alternatively, if you prefer video guides, you may wish to start by watching Microsoft's own video tutorials: