How to Add and Delete Photos in Windows 11 Gallery

Published On - September 20, 2025

Sophia Willson blog

So, you’ve got Windows 11 and you’re ready to make your photo collection sparkle. Maybe you want to add some fun vacation pictures. Or delete those blurry shots you never meant to save. No worries—Windows 11 makes it super simple. Let’s talk about how to add and remove photos in the Gallery, step by step, in a fun and easy way!

What is the Windows 11 Gallery?

Before we dive in, let’s get to know the Gallery a bit. Windows 11 doesn’t call it “Gallery” in big letters. It’s all part of the new Photos app. This is your place for viewing, organizing, and editing pictures.

It looks modern, sleek, and much smarter than before. Everything is laid out nicely, with a timeline slider, album view, and editing tools.

How to Add Photos in Windows 11 Gallery

Adding pictures is fast and easy. You can do it in different ways. Let’s walk through the simple ways to add photos.

Option 1: Add Photos Using File Explorer

  1. Open File Explorer by clicking the folder icon on the taskbar.
  2. Find the photo or folder of photos you want to add.
  3. Copy the photo using Ctrl + C or right-click and choose Copy.
  4. Go to your Pictures folder or another folder connected to your gallery.
  5. Paste the photo using Ctrl + V.

Tip: Photos in the Pictures folder automatically show up in the Photos app gallery!

Option 2: Import Photos from a Device

  1. Plug in your phone, camera, or USB stick.
  2. Windows will usually ask if you want to import photos. Click that button!
  3. Choose the photos you want to import.
  4. Click Import and wait a few moments. That’s it!

You can also open the Photos app directly and import from there:

  1. Open the Photos app from the Start menu.
  2. Click on the Import button in the top right corner.
  3. Select the device and photos to import. Easy!

Option 3: Add Photos from OneDrive

If you use OneDrive (and you should—it’s awesome!), your photos can sync automatically.

  • Sign into OneDrive using your Microsoft account.
  • Put photos into the Pictures folder inside OneDrive.
  • They’ll show up like magic in your Photos app!

OneDrive helps you reach your photos from any device, so it’s a great tool to use.

How to Delete Photos in Windows 11 Gallery

Sometimes, a bad selfie or 20 ends up in your gallery. No problem! Let’s clear them out.

Method 1: Delete from Within the Photos App

  1. Open the Photos app from the Start menu.
  2. Click on the photo you want to get rid of.
  3. Press the trash can icon at the top, or simply hit the Delete key.
  4. Confirm the deletion when prompted.

It will move the photo to your Recycle Bin, just in case you change your mind later.

Method 2: Delete Multiple Photos

  1. While in the Photos app’s main overview:
  2. Hold down the Ctrl key and click on multiple photos you want to delete.
  3. When you’ve got them all selected, click the trash icon.

Poof! They’re gone (but still in the Recycle Bin for now).

Method 3: Delete Using File Explorer

You can also delete photos the old-school way:

  1. Open File Explorer.
  2. Navigate to your Pictures folder or wherever your photo lives.
  3. Right-click the photo and select Delete.

This sends the photo to the Recycle Bin, unless you’re holding down Shift—then it’s gone forever. 😱

How to Organize Your Photos

While you’re adding and deleting, why not organize a bit too?

  • Create albums in the Photos app for vacations, pets, or food pics.
  • Tag people using facial recognition. Pretty cool, right?
  • Use folders by year, event, or theme.

Keeping things organized helps you find what you need faster.

Bonus: Quick Edit Tools

Once you’ve added the best shots and deleted the duds, you might want to clean things up a bit.

  • Crop
  • Brightness & Contrast
  • Filters for fun vibes
  • Drawing tools for doodles and notes

Just open a photo in the app and click Edit image. You’ll see all the tools on the top bar.

Some Handy Tips

  • Use Ctrl + Z in File Explorer if you deleted something by mistake.
  • Set up OneDrive to back up your photos automatically.
  • Remember to empty the Recycle Bin sometimes—it can get packed!
  • Try using the search bar in the Photos app to find photos by location, people, or objects.

Wrapping It All Up

There you have it! Adding and deleting photos in Windows 11’s Gallery (aka the Photos app) is super easy. And now that you know how, you’re the boss of your photo collection.

Snap away, organize like a pro, and keep only your best clicks!

Happy photo managing!