- What you can make with Microsoft Designer
- Editing tools inside Designer
- How to use Microsoft Designer
- How Microsoft Designer credits work
- Image limits on each Microsoft 365 plan
- Why Microsoft Designer isn't available on your account
- Designer inside Word, PowerPoint and Photos
- Is Microsoft Designer good for a small business?
- My verdict
- Frequently asked questions
Microsoft Designer is Microsoft's AI graphic design and image editing app. You describe what you want, such as a social post, an invitation or a banner, and it generates designs you can edit. You can start free at designer.microsoft.com or in the mobile app, and it runs on monthly AI credits, with more credits on paid Microsoft 365 plans.
The detail that surprises people is how credits are counted. Microsoft's FAQ says one credit comes off your balance each time you use Copilot or Designer's AI features, and those credits are shared across Microsoft's AI apps, so drafting in Word can eat into your design allowance.
Everything here comes from Microsoft's own Designer pages and its support article on AI usage, which I read in October 2026.
What you can make with Microsoft Designer
| Type | What it does |
|---|---|
| Images | Describe an idea and AI generates custom images to choose from |
| Social posts | A custom post for any occasion from a short description |
| Greeting cards and invitations | A personalised card with words and images |
| Stickers, emojis and icons | Small graphics to share or use in designs |
| Banners, backgrounds and wallpapers | Wider formats for headers and screens |
| Monograms | A custom monogram or symbol |
| Collages, clip art and colouring pages | Listed in the app's create menu |
Editing tools inside Designer
- Remove backgrounds in one click.
- Enhancements that upscale an image to a cleaner, higher resolution.
- Transform images to change an AI-generated result creatively.
- Edit image tools to erase distractions or blur a background.
- Design suggestions with tips to improve a layout.
How to use Microsoft Designer
- Go to designer.microsoft.com, or download the Designer mobile app.
- Sign in with your Microsoft account.
- Pick a starting point from the menu, such as Images, Social posts, Invitations or Remove background.
- Describe what you want in plain words, or try one of the prompt templates.
- Choose a result, then edit the text, images and layout.
- Download or share the finished design.
Microsoft also lists saving and editing your images in Microsoft OneDrive and Photos, so the designs you keep are easy to find again on another device.
If you're new to describing images, my AI image prompt generator helps you write a clearer brief before you spend a credit.
How Microsoft Designer credits work
Microsoft's FAQ says you get a fresh set of credits at the start of each month, and one credit is used each time you interact with Copilot or Designer's AI features, for example creating an image from a description. If you run out of free credits, Microsoft's answer is to upgrade to Microsoft 365 Personal or Family.
- Paid plans give more. Microsoft says Personal, Family or Premium give the account owner up to 4X more credits for Designer.
- Credits are shared. They're used across AI experiences in Microsoft apps, including Copilot, Photos, Paint, Notepad, Word and Excel.
- They're not for sharing with family. Microsoft says AI benefits are only for the subscription owner.
- You can check your balance under Services and subscriptions in your Microsoft account.
Microsoft has also dropped the old boosts system. Its FAQ says every image is now automatically boosted, so creation speed no longer depends on how much you've used it.
Image limits on each Microsoft 365 plan
Microsoft's support article on AI usage, updated in October 2026, lists image generation by plan rather than as a fixed number:
| Microsoft 365 plan | Image generation |
|---|---|
| Personal | Standard usage |
| Family | Standard usage |
| Premium | Extensive usage |
| Pro | Extensive usage |
Microsoft says limits can vary by feature, entry point and system conditions, and may change as new AI models arrive. If you're already on Personal, Family or Premium and keep hitting the ceiling, Microsoft's suggestion is to switch to Microsoft 365 Pro for the highest limits.
Why Microsoft Designer isn't available on your account
If Designer won't open for you, check this first. Microsoft says Designer is powered by generative AI, and those features are limited to people who meet age requirements that differ by region. If your personal Microsoft account doesn't meet the minimum age for your region, Designer may not be available.
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Designer inside Word, PowerPoint and Photos
You don't have to open Designer to use it. Microsoft says certain Designer features are built into apps such as Photos, Word and PowerPoint. You can ask Copilot to create images or banners for a document without leaving Word, or describe an idea in Copilot in PowerPoint and drop the image straight into a slide. Designer is also available in the Microsoft 365 Copilot app, and app availability varies by device and language.
Is Microsoft Designer good for a small business?
For quick social graphics, event invitations and simple banners, yes, especially if you already pay for Microsoft 365. It's weaker if you need a full brand system with saved templates for a team, which is where design tools built for that work better. My guide to Canva alternatives compares the options, and if you just want free images, see my guide to creating AI images for free.
My verdict
Microsoft Designer is a handy free starting point for social posts and simple graphics, and it's at its best when you already live in Word and PowerPoint. Just watch your credits: they're shared across Microsoft's AI apps and reset monthly, so plan your design work for the start of the month if you're on the free allowance.
Frequently asked questions
Is Microsoft Designer free?
You can start for free at designer.microsoft.com or in the mobile app with a monthly set of AI credits. Microsoft 365 Personal, Family or Premium give the account owner up to 4X more credits.
How many credits does a Microsoft Designer image use?
Microsoft says one credit is deducted each time you interact with Copilot or Designer's AI features, such as creating an image from a description.
Why is Microsoft Designer not available for me?
Designer uses generative AI, which Microsoft limits to people who meet age requirements that vary by region. It may not be available if your account doesn't meet the minimum age.
Do Microsoft Designer credits reset?
Yes. Microsoft's FAQ says you receive a fresh set of credits at the start of each month.
Can I use Microsoft Designer in Word and PowerPoint?
Yes. Microsoft says certain Designer features are built into Photos, Word and PowerPoint, so you can create images through Copilot without leaving the document.
