Windows 11 File Explorer AI Actions: Features and Requirements

Windows 11 File Explorer AI actions let you access supported image-editing tools and AI-powered document workflows without opening every file in its associated app. However, access depends on the feature, file location, account, subscription, and current Windows rollout. Microsoft is also retiring eight OneDrive Copilot shortcuts from the right-click menu, so the available interface may change.

What Are Windows 11 File Explorer AI Actions?

Windows 11 File Explorer AI actions are shortcuts that connect files to supported AI-powered tools. Depending on the action, you can edit an image, summarize a document, or ask Copilot questions about a file. Some actions use Windows apps, while others depend on Microsoft 365, OneDrive, SharePoint, and an eligible Copilot entitlement.

The important distinction is that having Windows 11 does not automatically unlock every AI action. A photo-editing shortcut and a cloud-based document-summary feature can have different eligibility rules.

If you are checking these features on your own PC, start by identifying the action you want to use. Then check its specific requirements rather than buying a new computer or subscription based on a general Windows AI recommendation.

Which AI Actions Are Available in File Explorer?

Windows 11 supports several image-related actions and Copilot-powered document workflows. The exact options depend on the file, connected services, Windows version, and current feature rollout.

Blur Background, Erase Objects, and Remove Background

Microsoft documents image actions in File Explorer for supported JPG, JPEG, and PNG files. These shortcuts connect image-editing tasks to Windows apps such as Photos and Paint.

• Blur Background: Helps blur the background of a supported image while keeping the subject more prominent.
• Erase Objects: Helps remove unwanted objects from an image.
• Remove Background: Helps separate the main subject from the background.
• Visual Search: Where available, provides an image-related search workflow rather than a general document-summary function.

The editing tools are useful for profile photos, product images, presentation graphics, and simple visual cleanup. Results can vary with image quality and complexity, so review the edited file before using it commercially.

One practical detail matters for affiliate marketers and publishers: an AI-edited product image should not misrepresent the actual product. Remove distractions or improve composition without changing the product’s important characteristics.

Summarize Documents with Copilot

The Summarize action can generate a summary of a supported document without requiring you to open the file first. Microsoft’s Windows 11 version 26H2 documentation specifically describes this workflow for files stored in OneDrive and SharePoint. It requires an active Microsoft 365 subscription and a Copilot license.

This can help when you need to understand a long report, review a business document, or find the main points in a file before reading it in full.

However, do not assume that selecting a local PDF or Word document will produce the same experience. The documented File Explorer workflow depends on the supported cloud-file integration, and Copilot’s supported file types and limits can differ by service.

Create FAQ, Compare Files, Explain Image, and Other Copilot Actions

Microsoft has also offered OneDrive Copilot shortcuts for tasks such as creating FAQs, comparing files, asking questions, explaining images, comparing images, and extracting text. These are distinct from the image-editing actions provided through Windows apps.

There is an important change to know about before following older tutorials. In an October 19, 2026, Microsoft 365 Message Center notice, Microsoft announced the retirement of eight OneDrive Copilot actions from File Explorer’s right-click menu. The planned removal begins in mid-November and is expected to finish by early December 2026.

The affected shortcuts are:

• Summarize
• Create FAQ
• Compare Files
• Ask a question
• Explain image
• Explain images
• Compare images
• Extract text

This change concerns the individual context-menu shortcuts, not the complete removal of the underlying Copilot capabilities. Microsoft says users can continue accessing these features through other routes, including Ask Copilot, File Explorer Home, and the OneDrive activity center.

Recommended read: Windows 11 26H2 vs 26H1: What’s the Difference?

Windows 11 File Explorer AI Actions: Requirements Compared

The most useful way to evaluate these features is to separate Windows compatibility, hardware eligibility, file location, account type, and licensing. These are different requirements, and they should not be treated as interchangeable.

Action	Windows and device	File location	Account or license
Blur Background	Supported image action and compatible app	Supported image file	No universal Copilot subscription requirement established for this action
Erase Objects	Supported image action and compatible app	Supported image file	No universal Copilot subscription requirement established for this action
Remove Background	Supported image action and compatible app	Supported image file	No universal Copilot subscription requirement established for this action
Summarize a document	Supported Windows and Copilot integration	OneDrive or SharePoint in the documented workflow	Active Microsoft 365 subscription and Copilot license
Create FAQ and compare files	Depends on the current Copilot interface	Supported cloud files	Verify the entitlement for the particular Copilot experience
Explain or compare images and extract text	Depends on the current Copilot interface and supported content	Supported files in the relevant workflow	Verify current account and service requirements
Ask Copilot from File Explorer Home	Supported File Explorer experience	A file accessible to the signed-in user	Work or school account for Microsoft’s documented quick-action experience

Sources: Microsoft’s Windows 11 documentation, image-action documentation, and OneDrive Copilot guidance.

This table is a practical guide, not a promise that every action is available on every device. Microsoft changes its rollout and interface, so verify the specific action before concluding that a PC is incompatible.

Do File Explorer AI Actions Require a Copilot+ PC?

No. You should not assume that every File Explorer AI action requires a Copilot+ PC.

Microsoft documents image-editing shortcuts and cloud-based document summarization as different workflows. The Summarize action for OneDrive and SharePoint has an explicit subscription and Copilot licensing requirement, whereas the documented image actions connect to Windows apps.

A Copilot+ PC is a specific category of Windows computer designed for eligible AI experiences, including certain features that use dedicated on-device hardware. It is not a universal prerequisite for all AI features in Windows.

Before upgrading your computer, check the requirements for the exact feature you want. A hardware upgrade will not automatically provide a missing Microsoft 365 or Copilot license.

Do You Need Microsoft 365 to Summarize Files?

For the documented File Explorer Summarize action on OneDrive and SharePoint, Microsoft specifies an active Microsoft 365 subscription and a Copilot license.

For personal accounts, Microsoft says Copilot in OneDrive is included with Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscriptions, with Copilot availability for Family limited to the subscription holder. For work or school accounts, access depends on the assigned Copilot license and applicable service requirements.

These requirements are specific to the relevant Copilot experience. They do not mean that every image-editing action in File Explorer requires Microsoft 365.

Before subscribing, verify which Microsoft 365 plan you have, whether the correct account is signed in, and whether the action you need is supported by that plan.

Does File Location Matter?

Yes. File location can determine whether an AI action works.

A document stored only on your local drive is not necessarily eligible for the same cloud-based workflow as a document in OneDrive or SharePoint. Microsoft’s documented File Explorer Summarize experience explicitly references those cloud storage services.

For cloud files, the account must also have permission to access the selected content. Copilot does not automatically grant access to files that the user is not authorized to view.

How to Use AI Actions in Windows 11 File Explorer

The precise steps depend on the action you want to perform. The following workflows cover the basic approach without assuming that every shortcut remains in the right-click menu.

Use an AI Action on a Supported Image

1. Open File Explorer by pressing Windows + E.
2. Navigate to the folder containing your image.
3. Select a supported JPG, JPEG, or PNG file.
4. Right-click the file and look for the available AI actions or image-editing option.
5. Select the action you need, such as Blur Background, Erase Objects, or Remove Background, if it is available.
6. Review the result in the relevant Windows app and save your changes.

Microsoft documents these image actions for supported image files, but the exact menu and available options may differ with the Windows build and feature rollout.

If the expected option is missing, do not assume the computer needs new hardware. Check the file format, available Windows apps, updates, and feature availability first.

Summarize a OneDrive or SharePoint Document

For the documented workflow, start with a file stored in OneDrive or SharePoint and ensure that you have the necessary Microsoft 365 and Copilot access.

1. Open File Explorer and locate the supported cloud document.
2. Confirm that you are signed in with the account associated with the file and its Copilot entitlement.
3. Look for the available Copilot action or open the file through a supported Copilot entry point.
4. Request a summary and review the generated response against the original document.

Microsoft documents the ability to summarize supported OneDrive and SharePoint files without opening them first. However, the individual Summarize shortcut is among the File Explorer context-menu actions scheduled for retirement in late 2026.

If the shortcut is no longer present, use a supported alternative rather than trying to restore a menu item that Microsoft is retiring.

Open Copilot from File Explorer Home

Microsoft documents quick actions such as Open file location and Ask Copilot for users signed in with a work or school account when hovering over files in File Explorer Home.

To try this workflow, open File Explorer Home, locate an eligible file, and hover over it to check which actions appear. If the Copilot option is available, select it to start the supported interaction with that file.

Availability may depend on the current rollout, account, permissions, and service configuration. Do not assume the same controls will appear on every personal and business PC.

Why Are AI Actions Missing from File Explorer?

When a File Explorer AI action is missing, use a process of elimination. Check the feature’s requirements before changing system settings or paying for an upgrade.

Check Your Windows Version and Updates

Open Settings > System > About to check your Windows specifications and version information. Then open Settings > Windows Update to check for available updates.

Microsoft’s version 26H2 documentation describes File Explorer AI actions, but a feature announcement does not guarantee immediate availability on every installation. Some features roll out gradually, and individual services can have separate eligibility requirements.

Confirm the File Type and Storage Location

Check that the file is in a supported format and location for the action you want to use.

For image editing, begin with a supported JPG, JPEG, or PNG file. For the documented document-summary workflow, check whether the file is stored in OneDrive or SharePoint and whether your account can access it.

A feature may be unavailable because the selected content is unsupported, even when another file in the same folder works.

Check Your Microsoft Account and Copilot License

For a document action, verify that you are signed in with the correct account. Personal Microsoft 365 subscriptions and work or school Copilot licenses follow different eligibility arrangements.

If your organization manages the device, an administrator may also need to check the assigned licenses, account configuration, and availability of the relevant Microsoft 365 services. Microsoft’s Copilot requirements documentation explains the identity and licensing conditions for business deployments.

Understand Retired Shortcuts

An action disappearing from the right-click menu does not necessarily mean the AI capability has been discontinued.

Microsoft’s October 2026 notice says the eight OneDrive Copilot shortcuts will be removed from File Explorer’s context menu while the underlying actions remain available through supported alternatives, including the OneDrive activity center and other Copilot entry points.

If an older tutorial tells you to select Summarize or Create FAQ from a OneDrive file’s right-click menu, the instructions may become outdated during this rollout.

Are Windows 11 File Explorer AI Actions Worth Using?

These actions are useful when they remove an unnecessary step from a task you already perform. Image-editing shortcuts can help with quick visual cleanup, while document summarization can help you review supported cloud documents before reading them in full.

Their value depends on your workflow:

• For image editing: Try the available Windows image tools before paying for a separate editor for occasional, simple changes.
• For document-heavy work: Copilot may be useful if you regularly review long reports, presentations, spreadsheets, or PDFs and already have eligible access.
• For occasional AI use: A paid subscription may not be worthwhile if you rarely use these features.
• For managed work computers: Check your organization’s licensing and file permissions before attempting to enable a missing action.

The key trade-off is convenience versus eligibility. A shortcut can save time, but its usefulness depends on whether it works with your files, account, and existing apps.

Frequently Asked Questions

Choose the Right Next Step for Your PC

Before upgrading your computer or buying a subscription, identify the exact File Explorer AI action you want, check its supported file types and storage requirements, and confirm your account’s eligibility.

If the feature is available but the shortcut has disappeared, check Microsoft’s current Copilot access routes. If the feature is unavailable because of licensing or hardware requirements, make that decision using the requirements for the specific workflow rather than a general claim about Windows 11 AI.

For the latest changes, start with Microsoft’s Windows 11 version 26H2 documentation and the Microsoft 365 Copilot requirements guide.