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Microsoft has made its AI-based Designer creative app widely available, including on mobile for Android and iOS.
The mobile tool uses generative AI to produce designs and images based on prompts, including templates. You can create avatars, emojis, greeting cards, wallpapers, and other common content using only a description.
You can also edit existing photos to restyle them, reframe them, or stitch them together in a collage. A preview feature coming to some regions will also let you replace the background if it’s too plain.
Designer was already available on the web for desktop users, but Microsoft is now providing access through the Photos app to Windows Insider preview users. Some of Photos’ functionality will be coming to the Edge browser sometime in the future.
The tool is normally free, but a Copilot Pro subscription is needed if you want to use it right in Microsoft 365 apps like PowerPoint and Word.
The cloud-based nature of the AI is evident in its performance. Every Designer user gets 15 daily “boosts” to speed up generation when time is essential. If you want more, you need to get a Copilot Pro subscription to unlock 100 daily boosts.
The app could be helpful if you’re not an artist but want a quick way to produce a wedding invitation or messaging app sticker. With that said, you may still want to turn to professional apps like Adobe’s Photoshop if you want to blend AI with specific imagery.
There’s pressure for Microsoft to expand Designer access. The Apple Intelligence beta is coming to iPhone, iPad and Mac users this fall, and will include image generation that could negate the need for Designer. Google also wants to expand the use of Gemini on Android. The more ubiquitous Microsoft’s tool becomes, the less likely users are to switch to the competition.
