TLDR;
- Google Photos is rolling out a redesigned editor with an “AI Enhance” tool for smarter, faster photo editing.
- Features once exclusive to Pixel phones, like Auto Frame and Reimagine, are now available to all users.
- A new QR code sharing option simplifies album sharing.
- The update celebrates Google Photos’ 10th anniversary, with Android users getting it first.
To celebrate its 10th anniversary, Google Photos has launched one of its most significant updates to date: a complete redesign of its photo editor, headlined by a new “AI Enhance” mode.
Available to Android users starting next month and coming to iOS later this year, the overhaul represents Google’s growing push to embed artificial intelligence more deeply into everyday tools.
At the heart of the revamp is a new user interface that puts all editing tools in one easy-to-access place. From brightness and contrast controls to more advanced AI tools, users will no longer have to dig through menus to find what they need. The streamlined layout aligns with Google’s new Material 3 Expressive design system, offering a more colorful and animated experience, especially in Android 16.
AI Editing Goes Mainstream
The standout feature of the update is “AI Enhance,” a new tool that uses artificial intelligence to analyze a photo and apply multiple edits in one go. Instead of manually tweaking filters, exposure, and contrast, users can rely on the AI to generate three enhanced versions of the original image, selecting the one they prefer with a single tap.
For the past 10 years, we've loved being a home to your 9T+ photos & videos! Now with 1.5B+ monthly users, you’ve made it so much more! Come celebrate our birthday with tips & a peek at new features → https://t.co/pjFuRIlR3R pic.twitter.com/hUyMMzcxS2
— Google Photos (@googlephotos) May 28, 2025
For those wanting more control, the app now allows users to tap on specific elements in a photo, like the subject or background, and receive tailored editing suggestions. This brings precision to editing without adding complexity.
Also making their way from Pixel exclusivity to the broader Android and iOS user base are Auto Frame and Reimagine. Auto Frame can extend photo backgrounds seamlessly, ideal for reframing shots or preparing social media-ready posts. Reimagine, on the other hand, lets users rewrite parts of an image using a text prompt ,a feature akin to generative AI magic.
Smarter Sharing and Smarter Memories
In addition to editing, Google Photos is making sharing easier. The app now supports QR code generation for albums, allowing users to instantly share collections with family, friends, or even print shops. Privacy controls remain intact, ensuring users can limit who can view or contribute to shared albums.
Google Photos also continues to evolve as a digital memory vault. A new Places feature maps users’ photo collections geographically, making it easier to relive trips and events. Smart search enhancements let users describe what they’re looking for in natural language rather than relying solely on keywords.
The app’s signature memory recaps , like “Best of the Month” and “Year in Review” , are getting smarter too, allowing more user customization. Whether you want to hide screenshots and memes or group similar photos, the control is now in your hands.
Notably, Google Photos isn’t just a popular app , it’s a digital ecosystem. With over 1.5 billion monthly users and more than 9 trillion photos and videos stored, it’s clear that this platform is essential to how people capture and preserve their lives. Each month, over 210 million photos are edited using Google Photos — a number expected to climb as the new AI-powered tools roll out.
