Existing keywords first
Windows keywords, XMP subjects and IPTC keywords are read and combined, so an old library arrives with much of its organisation intact.
Keywords, read and extended
Tags are yours, not the app’s.
Read the keywords already in your files, add the tags that are missing, and filter the library by tag with a real count behind each one.
- User tags
- Folder tags
- Local only
Organisation that travels
Start with the keywords already there.
A tag is only useful if it is easy to apply and easy to trust. Live Gallery reads existing keywords, lets you add your own, and makes the count visible so you can see whether a tag is doing real work.
User and system tags
Your tags sit beside folder-derived and imported tags. The Tags page shows both without hiding where they came from.
Counts and filtering
Each tag has a count, and tags can be combined with people, folders and dates in the filter surface.
Read the old tags
The metadata pass collects keywords from the file and supported sidecars.
Add what is missing
New tags are stored in the local database and applied to the images you choose.
Filter with confidence
Use the tag count and combine tags with other facets to narrow the library.
The honest part
No tag write-back
- New tags are stored in SQLite, not written back into XMP or IPTC.
- Picasa album names are imported as tags. There is no separate Album entity.
- Tags are part of the library, not an account or a cloud taxonomy.
Good questions
Tags, answered.
Does it read Windows Live Photo Gallery tags?
Yes, where the tags were written into the file metadata. It also reads XMP and IPTC keywords and combines them.
Does it write new tags into the photo?
No. New tags live in the app database. The original file is not modified.
What happened to Picasa albums?
Picasa album names are imported as tags. The app has no separate Album entity or album page.
Keep exploring
Related features.
Photo metadata
The story is already in the file.
Read keywords, ratings, dates, camera and GPS from the library you already have.
Star ratings
Five stars. One quick decision.
Rate 1–5, import xmp:Rating, and find the keepers with Ctrl+R.
Browse the library
Browse by face, tag and location.
Dedicated people, tags and locations views, plus folder and date filters. Search and object recognition are coming.
See it on your own library
Bring the folder.
Keep the originals.
Download the free beta, point it at a folder and try this on your own photos. No account, no upload, no card.
Windows 11 · Free 5,000-photo beta · No account needed