How to set Windows 11 Photos app to find only NEW photos on photos on phone.

Hi. The Photos app in Windows 11 does not have an option to import only new photos. Each time you connect your phone, it scans the entire library before letting you choose what to import. This is why it takes time even if you only want the latest pictures.

To avoid this, I would recommend using OneDrive camera upload. When enabled on your phone, only new photos are synced automatically to the cloud and then appear in the Photos app on your PC. This way, you do not need to repeat manual imports or wait for a full scan each time.

Best regards,

Arlene D.

Dear Simon Fisher

Thanks for reaching out! Welcome to Microsoft Q&A. I'm Haien from Microsoft Q&A. 

I totally get how frustrating it can be to wait for the Photos app to scan through all the photos on your phone when you just want the new ones. That long wait can feel like forever, especially if you’ve got a ton of photos. I’m here to help sort it out.

To import only new photos to your Windows 11 PC, you can use the Photos app's built-in import feature, which is designed to identify new content automatically. The app does this by comparing the photos on your phone with those that are already in your PC's photo library.

From that situation, I highly recommend you try these workarounds:

Solution 1: Use USB cable

• Connect your phone to your PC using a USB cable.
• Open the Photos app > Click on the Import button in the top-right corner > Select your phone or external device from the list.
• Wait for the app to scan your phone. The Photos app will automatically select only the photos you haven't imported before.
• You can then click "Import" to transfer just those new photos to your PC.

Solution 2: Set Up OneDrive for Automatic Uploads

• On your phone:
  • Install the OneDrive app (available on iOS/Android app stores).
  • Sign in with your Microsoft account and enable “Camera Upload” in OneDrive settings. This uploads new photos automatically.
• On your PC:
  • Open the Photos app, go to the OneDrive tab in the left navigation, and sign in.
  • New photos uploaded to OneDrive will appear in the Photos app without scanning your entire phone.

If you've already tried these steps and are still encountering issues, please reply to this thread with the requested details so we can investigate further and ensure your subscription is activated properly. Also, please keep me updated with anything new that you were try to each option.

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Warm regards