Last updated: November 5, 2026
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Overview of AI editing in OneDrive
AI editing in OneDrive brings artificial intelligence-powered image editing directly to OneDrive Photos. It includes two complementary experiences:
- AI Restyle creatively transforms a photo into a new artistic or stylistic version (for example, a cinematic poster, hand-painted artwork, or anime-inspired scene). It leverages advanced machine learning models to analyze the input photo and generate a new version that reflects the selected style or theme. Its focus is creative reinterpretation and expression.
- Realistic Edits improves or augments a photo without changing what it represents. Rather than regenerating the whole image, it edits selected parts of a photo so you can make precise, controlled corrections or generative additions while the rest of the scene stays intact.
Key terms: "input content" (the original photo you provide), "edit request" (the style, correction, or generative change you select or describe), "style model" (the algorithm or template applied by AI Restyle), and "output" (the edited result returned for preview and optional saving).
AI Restyle
AI Restyle applies artistic or stylistic effects to reimagine an entire photo. You choose from a rotating set of one-tap styles designed to match the content of your photo and can optionally add a prompt to guide the look. You can try multiple restyles, undo or redo, and keep exploring until you find a result you like. Through it all, the people, places, and memories in the photo remain recognizable - seen in a new style.
Realistic Edits
Realistic Edits is designed for the high-frequency, corrective editing tasks people have with their existing photo libraries, along with optional generative additions. Unlike transformational edits that regenerate the entire image, realistic edits operate on selected parts of a photo.
You can start an edit in three ways: choose a one-tap option, describe the change in your own words, or select an area or object to target a specific region. Capabilities are surfaced today under two tabs:
- Fix - corrective improvements, including quality (auto enhance, improve clarity, sharpen details, reduce noise, restore old or faded photos) and lighting and colors (portrait glow, relight, vibrant boost).
- Imagine - generative additions and scene changes, including outfit and accessory changes, scene replacement, lighting/time-of-day changes, and weather changes, or a user-described edit applied to a selected area.
How does AI editing process my photos?
When you use AI editing in OneDrive Photos, whether AI Restyle or Realistic Edits, the selected photo remains stored in your OneDrive account.
To generate the requested edit, a temporary processing copy of the image is securely transmitted to a Microsoft-managed cloud-based AI service.
Processing occurs within an isolated execution environment that is scoped only to your specific editing request. The image isn't publicly accessible and isn't shared with other users or services.
When processing is complete, the edited result is returned to your OneDrive account for preview and optional saving. The original photo isn't modified.
Temporary processing artifacts created during image generation are automatically deleted after the request is completed.
Capabilities
AI editing enables you to reimagine, correct, enhance, and creatively augment your photos.
AI Restyle reimagines content through creative filters, artistic effects, and style adaptations. It offers a range of options to preview and select preferred outcomes. Its core focus is creative enhancement and expression rather than factual analysis or critical decision-making.
Realistic Edits focuses on believable, controlled changes: removing distractions, correcting exposure and lighting, improving clarity and resolution, restoring older photos, and adding or replacing elements within a selected region.
Both include safety features such as content moderation, safety filters, and automated safety systems to help prevent harmful or inappropriate results. Because Realistic Edits can produce results that look photographically authentic, you should be mindful that edited images might be difficult to distinguish from unedited originals.
Intended uses and use cases
AI editing in OneDrive is intended for personal photo enhancement, personalization, creative expression, and sharing.
- AI Restyle use cases include generating stylized images for social media, customizing personal photos or artwork, and exploring creative inspiration for projects.
- Realistic Edits use cases include cleaning up distractions in a photo, correcting lighting or exposure, restoring old family photos, sharpening low-resolution images, and adding optional creative touches such as changing a background, scene, or weather.
Both are suitable for personal, entertainment, educational, and non-commercial applications. Explore the features while remaining mindful of context and audience.
Considerations and unsupported uses
AI editing isn't designed for applications requiring factual accuracy, legal or medical advice, identity verification, forensic analysis, or critical decision-making.
Don't use AI Restyle to create misleading, harmful, or offensive content. Because Realistic Edits can add, remove, or alter elements of a real photo - including altering features or faces - don't present its output as unaltered records of real events. Don't use it to misrepresent people or events or to fabricate evidence.
You must comply with applicable laws and regulations, including copyright and intellectual property rights, and the rights and reasonable expectations of people depicted in photos. Neither feature is intended for use in high-risk domains, such as law enforcement, healthcare, journalism as a system of record, or financial services, where errors or misrepresentations could have serious consequences.
Limitations
While AI editing aims to deliver high-quality results, it has technical and operational constraints. Generated results can vary in quality and might not always align perfectly with user expectations or chosen styles. Outputs might include style mismatches, incomplete transformations, unintended artifacts, or alterations to features and faces. As shown in the product, content is generated using AI and might alter features and faces. The system might not recognize all cultural or contextual nuances and can occasionally misinterpret input data. Review outputs for suitability and accuracy before saving or sharing. Avoid relying on the system for sensitive or consequential tasks.
Are my photos used to train Microsoft AI models?
Microsoft doesn't use photos you process by using AI editing in OneDrive, whether AI Restyle or Realistic Edits, to train, improve, fine-tune, or evaluate Microsoft generative AI models.
Images submitted for editing are processed only to fulfill your specific request and are not added to datasets used to improve or retrain AI systems.
Microsoft does not use personal OneDrive content processed through AI editing to develop or improve foundation AI models.
System performance
Microsoft assesses performance through a combination of automated testing, user feedback, and quality review. Common error types include style mismatches, incomplete transformations or edits, unintended artifacts, mismatches between the requested change and the result, and alterations to features or faces. User controls such as style selection, one-tap options, area or object selection, preview, undo, and redo help manage and refine results. Microsoft continuously monitors and updates the system to address emerging issues and maintain system reliability.
Does Microsoft retain or review my photos after AI editing?
AI editing services are designed to minimize retention of personal content.
The AI editing service doesn't retain your image content after it completes your processing request. Temporary processing artifacts might exist only during image generation and are automatically deleted once the edit is returned.
To maintain service reliability and detect misuse, Microsoft might collect limited service telemetry during processing. This telemetry might include:
- Usage events, such as invocation success or failure
- Performance diagnostics, such as latency or error rates
- Safety classification signals
This telemetry doesn't include image content.
Monitoring scope. Automated systems monitor generated outputs to detect harmful content, policy violations, or patterns of abusive use. No human reviewers are involved in the process who have access to user data.
Best practices
- Clearly specify the desired style or edit for improved results.
- Use area or object selection to target a specific part of the photo (Realistic Edits).
- Review generated outputs carefully before saving or sharing, especially edits that alter people or faces.
- Don't present AI-edited photos as unaltered records of real events.
- Avoid using AI editing for sensitive, confidential, or regulated content.
- Respect copyright, intellectual property, and the rights of people depicted when editing content.
- Use human judgment and oversight in all creative workflows involving AI editing.
Evaluation methods and results
Microsoft evaluates AI editing by using a mix of technical testing, user studies, and expert review. The evaluation focuses on creative quality, edit fidelity, user satisfaction, safety, and fairness. Testing includes diverse input scenarios to ensure robustness and minimize unintended bias. Results inform ongoing improvements. Known design constraints are documented and addressed as part of Microsoft's responsible AI development process.
Fairness considerations
Microsoft is committed to reducing representational harm and promoting fairness in AI editing. Both features incorporate safety filters to identify and block inappropriate or harmful content. Because Realistic Edits can alter people's appearance, Microsoft gives particular attention to reducing biased or unfair outcomes across diverse subjects. Systems and processes are in place to address edge cases and escalate issues as needed. Continuous monitoring helps identify and mitigate potential biases or unfair outcomes.
Integration guidance
When integrating AI editing into applications or services, ensure that users are informed about the system's AI-driven nature and its limitations. Provide clear user controls, transparency about how outputs are generated, and opportunities for human oversight. Encourage responsible use by outlining appropriate scenarios and discouraging misuse or overreliance on automated outputs.
How is my data protected during AI editing processing?
AI editing requests use encrypted network connections. Microsoft processes them within secure cloud environments that it manages and that apply industry-standard security and privacy controls.
Each editing request is handled within an isolated processing context that's designed to prevent unauthorized access or data exposure.
Temporary processing data exists only for the duration necessary to complete the requested edit and is automatically deleted afterward.
How does Microsoft ensure safe use of AI editing?
Automated safety systems evaluate AI-generated edits. These systems detect harmful or policy-violating content and prevent unsafe outputs. The safeguards operate during the editing process to support fairness and responsible use of generative technologies.
Further resources
Microsoft responsible AI resources
Microsoft Azure Learning courses on responsible AI
Feedback and contact
Microsoft welcomes feedback to improve AI Restyle and its associated guidance. To report issues, share suggestions, or request support, use the in-product feedback tools or visit the Microsoft Support website. Your input helps us advance responsible AI development and user experience.
About this document
Copyright © 2026 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. This Transparency Note is provided for informational purposes only and is subject to change. For the most recent updates, visit the official Microsoft documentation.