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Microsoft's latest Photos app on Windows 11 is packed with AI-powered editing tools—think Generative Erase, Generative Fill, and smart background replacement. Here's what's interesting: when you use these AI features, the app can automatically stamp your images with an AI watermark or identifier. This signals to viewers that artificial intelligence touched the image. But not everyone wants that digital fingerprint visible.

Microsoft added this feature to boost transparency when sharing digital content. The real concern is that people have different needs—some want that watermark stripped for a clean look, while others actually want it there so viewers know AI was involved. Below, we'll walk you through exactly how to add, remove, or control AI watermarks in Photos.

How to Add or Remove AI Watermarks in Windows Photos

Step 1:

Open your image in the Photos app, or launch Photos from the Windows search bar. Once you're in the app, look for the gear icon (settings) in the upper right corner and tap it.

Step 2:

You're now in the Photos settings. Scroll down until you spot Manage your AI generated work. Find the option labeled Include watermark when content is AI-generated and adjust it to enable or disable AI watermarks on your Photos images.

If you don't want any watermark on AI-edited photos, choose Never. Your images will save without any AI identification mark. You've got two other options to consider:

  • Always: Pick this and Photos automatically adds an AI watermark to every image you create or edit using AI tools. It's the transparency champion—viewers will immediately know AI played a role in the image.
  • Ask every time: This gives you flexibility. When you save an AI-edited image, Photos pops up a dialog asking if you want the watermark. You decide on a per-image basis instead of locking into one setting for everything.

When Does the AI Watermark Actually Appear?

Here's the thing—the watermark won't show up unless you actually used AI tools. It only triggers when you employ features like:

  • Generative Fill
  • Generative Erase
  • AI Replace Background
  • AI Image Enhancement
  • Other AI-powered content creation tools in Photos

Standard editing? No watermark gets added.

  • Cropping
  • Rotating
  • Brightness adjustments
  • Color tweaks
  • Contrast changes


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