- Light mode support now matches your phone’s theme.
- Photo info (date, time, location) appears above images.
- Three-dot menu now includes tools like Lens, Save As, Cast, and more.
- Interactive badges give one-tap access to common actions.
- iOS users are getting the update first, Android support is coming soon.
Google is launching a major update on the Google Photos app, adding some of the features and interface improvements that users have asked Google to change, improving usability, customization, and organizing photos. The changes are being released first on iOS, with Android users set to receive them soon.
Let’s explore everything new coming to Google Photos.
Light Mode Support for a Brighter Experience
The first major change is the introduction of dynamic light mode. Until now, photos were always displayed against a black background, regardless of your system settings.
Dynamic light mode is the first major change. Until now, photos were always shown with a black background, no matter what settings you had. With this update:
- Google Photos will now follow the system theme on your phone.
- If your phone is in light mode, photos will display on a light background.
- If you are using dark mode, the black background remains in place.
It adds consistency across apps and provides a fresh, more customized look.
Photo info is now easier to access
It is easier to find when and where you took a photo.
Previously, to view such details, you had to swipe up on an image to view it, including:
- Date and time
- Location
- Device used
- Camera settings
Now, with the new update, this information will be visible above the photo, and you can view the major details of the images in a view-at-a-glance, no more swiping or menu diving.
It is also adding new tools and smarter options to the three-dot menu in the top-right corner of the app. New options include:
- About – Quick access to photo metadata.
- Google Lens – Get information about objects or text in the photos.
- Create – Turn your images into collages or highlight videos.
- Cast – Display your photos on nearby smart displays.
- Save As – Convert Live or Motion photos.
- Download/Delete – Manage your photos.
Contextual three-dot menus will now also appear on a few types of images, such as bursts or photo stacks. These will allow you:
- Replace the cover photo of a stack
- Unstack or remove specific images
- Multi-select to do batch actions
It makes it easier to manage multiple related images without scrolling or opening each one.
Interactive badges for quick actions
Google Photos will also add the interactive badges on the preview images, using which users will be able to:
- Play or pause Live and Motion photos
- Change photo categories
- Back up photos or manage cloud storage
- Save shared photos directly to your gallery
These changes will make daily use easier and quicker when dealing with a large photo library.
Core functions remain intact
All previous features in Google Photos remain unchanged. You can still:
- Use the “Add to” button to move photos into albums or the Locked Folder
- Archive selected images
There is also a redesigned photo editor in the future, so that the changes will be coming regularly.
The new Google Photos experience is already being made available to its iOS users, with the mobile Android users due sometime in the coming weeks. If you are using iOS, update it to get the new features.
