How to sort photos by Favorites in Windows 11

Learn how to easily organize your photos by marking them as Favorites in Windows 11. Discover efficient photo management tips on our website.

Sorting through a large collection of photos can be a daunting task, especially when you are looking for specific ones that hold a special meaning to you. With the new Windows 11, managing and organizing your photos has become easier and more efficient. One of the new features in the Photos app is the ability to sort photos by favorites, allowing you to quickly access your most cherished memories. In this article, we will guide you on how to sort photos by favorites in Windows 11.

Step 1: Open the Photos app

To begin sorting your photos by favorites, you need to open the Photos app on your Windows 11 device. You can easily find it by typing ‘Photos’ in the search bar or by clicking on the Photos icon in the taskbar. Once the app is open, navigate to the ‘Favorites’ folder located in the left sidebar.

Step 2: Sort photos by Date/Name

In the ‘Favorites’ folder, click on the ‘Sort by’ option at the top of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear with various sorting options. You can choose to sort your photos in ascending or descending order based on Date Taken, Date Created, Date Modified, or Name. This will help you organize your photos in a more systematic manner and make it easier to find your favorite ones.

Step 3: Enable the ‘Ratings’ column in File Explorer

To delete non-favorites from the folder, you need to enable the ‘Ratings’ column in File Explorer. To do this, open File Explorer and navigate to the ‘Favorites’ folder. Right-click on any of the column headings and select ‘More’. In the ‘Choose Details’ window, scroll down and check the box next to ‘Rating’. This will add the ‘Ratings’ column to your File Explorer.

Step 4: Mark photos as ‘Favorites’

Now, go back to the ‘Favorites’ folder in the Photos app and select the photos you want to mark as ‘Favorites’. You can do this by clicking on the ‘Select’ button at the top of the screen and then clicking on the photos you want to mark. Once the photos are selected, right-click on one of them and select ‘Add to favorites’. You can also use the keyboard shortcut ‘Ctrl+F’ to mark the photos as ‘Favorites’.

Step 5: Access the ‘Ratings’ column

When you mark a photo as ‘Favorites’, Windows automatically sets a ‘four-star’ rating for it. To view the ratings, go to File Explorer and click on the ‘Ratings’ column. This will sort the photos in ascending order based on their ratings. You can also right-click on the space next to the column headings and select ‘Rating’.

Step 6: Delete non-favorites

Now that you have marked your favorite photos and sorted them by ratings, you can easily delete the remaining non-favorites from the folder. You can either select the photos you want to delete and hit the ‘Delete’ button on your keyboard or right-click on the selected photos and choose ‘Delete’.

Sorting photos by favorites in Windows 11 is a simple and efficient process. The Photos app offers various sorting options to organize your photos, and the ‘Ratings’ column in File Explorer makes it easier to identify and delete non-favorites. With these steps, you can easily manage and access your favorite photos and relive your cherished memories.