Google Photos continues to evolve with new features aimed at improving user experience across different platforms. Recent updates focus on addressing long-standing limitations and providing more control over how users interact with AI-powered tools in the popular cloud storage service.
Android Users Can Finally Edit Shared Album Photos
Google Photos has eliminated a significant limitation for Android users by introducing the ability to edit photos and videos within shared albums. Previously, this feature was only available on iOS and web versions of the application, forcing Android users to create duplicate copies when they wanted to make changes to shared content.
The new functionality allows Android users to edit their own photos within shared collections using the same familiar editing process as with regular photos. Once edits are complete, users will see a prompt to save and share edited copy, which automatically replaces the original version with the modified image. This streamlined approach eliminates the need for workarounds that previously resulted in duplicate images cluttering shared albums.
There are some important caveats to note with this new feature. Edits made to shared photos will be visible to everyone who has access to the album, and users can only edit photos they own within the collection. For those wanting to make private edits, saving a separate copy is still required.
Google Photos Recent Updates:
- Shared album editing now available on Android (previously only on iOS and web)
- Long-press or double-tap shortcut to access classic search instead of AI search
- AI search (Ask Photos) introduced late 2023, powered by Gemini AI
- Classic search supports natural language queries while being faster than AI search
AI Search Shortcut Provides Faster Alternative
Google Photos now includes a helpful shortcut that allows users to bypass the Gemini AI-powered Ask Photos search feature when desired. While the AI search capability introduced late last year offers advanced photo discovery, many users find it slower than the classic search method, particularly for more general queries.
Android users can now access the traditional search functionality by either long-pressing or double-tapping the Ask button located in the bottom-right corner of the app. This provides a faster, AI-free alternative that still supports natural language search terms like forest photos from 2023 while generally delivering accurate results.
The shortcut addresses concerns about the speed and efficiency of AI-powered searches, as well as potential energy consumption issues associated with AI tools. Google appears to be experimenting with different UI approaches for Ask Photos, with some users reporting a redesigned interface that reduces screen space dedicated to AI search, though most U.S. users still see the full-screen AI search page by default.
Balancing AI Features with User Control
These updates reflect Google's ongoing efforts to balance innovative AI capabilities with user preferences for speed and control. The Ask Photos feature remains useful for specific search scenarios that benefit from advanced image recognition, such as finding photos with particular costumes or visual elements. With the new shortcuts, users can easily choose which search method best suits their needs on a case-by-case basis.
The shared album editing capability represents a long-awaited feature parity between Android and other platforms, addressing what many users considered a significant limitation in Google Photos' collaborative features. As these updates roll out, Android users should check they have the latest version of Google Photos installed, though some changes may be activated through server-side updates rather than app version updates alone.