Can’t find your photos among a sea of GIFs and memes? An update to Google Photos could fix this
An update from Google Photos can help you organize photos better and make it easier to find your photos among all those saved memes, WhatsApp photos and GIFs.
Reliable tipster AssembleDebug discovered details of the update in the code for Google Photos version 6.79.0.624777117, which will apparently let you view and organize all the photos on your phone. However, the main Photos tab currently shows not only photos you’ve taken with your phone, but also any downloaded images.
Even if you use the folders carefully, the main Photos tab can easily become a mess of screenshots, album art, and crazy GIFs. Add to that images downloaded from social media apps like X, Facebook and WhatsApp, and it can be difficult to find specific images.
Currently, there are some limited filtering options on the In Library tab, including shortcuts such as Favorites, Utilities, Archive, and Trash. However, the update could allow you to filter the photos section with a toggle called ‘Hide Clutter’, which will filter the results by hiding junk files and making your phone’s storage look less cluttered.
According to AssembleDebug, the feature would be located in the Photos tab under the ‘Personalize your grid’ section, which can be accessed from the three-dot settings menu. However, images are still available in the corresponding album under the Library tab after being filtered and hidden.
New memories
The Memories feature may also be in need of an overhaul. Memories auto-generates collections of related photos set to music, such as those from a day out, and you can edit and customize these selections before easily sharing them.
AssembleDebug claims that an upcoming UI update may change the way memories are displayed from the current collection of grouped thumbnails to a rounded, rectangular single image from the album, providing a cleaner layout.
Another change that AssembleDebug discovered was a new setting that lets you disable the AI memory title suggestions, which can sometimes be inaccurate or wrong, for example labeling a friend or sibling in a romantic context.
You should be able to access the new option in Google Photos settings under Preferences > Labs AI Features. Look for ‘Help me title’, which you can turn on or off. Google also updated it Support page with this information on how to enable and disable this feature.
While the Google Photos app is a useful tool for managing your phone’s image library, the current cluttered view could significantly benefit from options like adding a “Hide Clutter” option and turning off the AI memory title suggestions, and updated UI changes could further streamline and improve the user experience.
However, according to AssembleDebug, these features are apparently in the early stages of development, so it may be some time before we see all or some of them on our phones.