lipflip – Microsoft has started rolling out a facial recognition feature in OneDrive to help users group and search photos by person. The feature is currently available to users with early access and is enabled by default. In the OneDrive app’s privacy section, users will notice a notice stating, “OneDrive uses AI to recognize faces in your photos.” This technology scans photos to identify faces, allowing users to organize pictures of friends and family more efficiently.
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According to Microsoft’s support page, the app collects and stores facial scans and biometric data for this purpose. However, the company assures users that these face groupings remain private, even if photos or albums are shared with others. Additionally, Microsoft states that it does not use the biometric data to improve its AI models. The facial recognition technology strictly supports user convenience in photo management.
Microsoft explains that this feature’s opt-out nature ties into inherited privacy controls from its broader Microsoft 365 and SharePoint ecosystems. Despite this, one notable restriction has sparked curiosity: users can only toggle the facial recognition feature on or off three times per year. This limit was highlighted in a screenshot shared on Microsoft forums at the start of the year. While Microsoft has not commented on this restriction. It seems designed to reduce server load caused by frequent deletions of facial grouping data.
If a user disables facial recognition, Microsoft promises to delete all facial grouping data permanently within 30 days. This policy suggests that the company wants to minimize the resource costs associated with repeatedly creating and deleting biometric data. Other platforms such as Google Photos and Apple Photos offer similar facial grouping features but do not impose limits on how often users can toggle the setting.
How to Manage Facial Recognition in OneDrive and Privacy Implications
Users interested in checking whether they have access to this preview feature can do so by navigating to Settings > Privacy and Permissions in the OneDrive app. Within the Features section, there is a “People” option. Turning off this toggle stops OneDrive’s AI from scanning photos for facial recognition purposes.
This feature helps users organize photos faster and easier by grouping images based on the people they contain. However, limiting users to toggle the feature only three times a year raises questions about control and privacy. Although Microsoft assures users that it keeps biometric data private and does not use it to train AI models. Some users worry about the opt-out default setting and the restriction on disabling the feature.
Compared to Google Photos and Apple Photos, OneDrive’s approach to facial recognition includes stricter controls on user toggling. This may reflect Microsoft’s effort to balance privacy, user experience, and infrastructure management. For users who prioritize privacy, understanding these settings is critical to managing how their biometric data is used and stored.
Looking forward, Microsoft may adjust these limits based on user feedback and technical demands. As AI-powered photo management tools become more widespread, transparency and clear controls will remain vital to maintaining trust. OneDrive users should stay informed about updates to privacy policies and feature availability to make the best choices for their photo collections.