Discover the new interface of the “Google Photos” app for phones

The “Photos” app is the favorite app for many users to browse and organize photos and videos on smartphones, not only because it’s the default app for Android phones, but also because it’s simple and has some great features. It offers the backup feature for photos and videos on your phone, as well as the ability to transfer photos and videos from your Facebook account directly to the app. Despite being one of Google’s least updated apps, the company recently surprised us with a complete interface change through the latest update. In this article, we will explore the most prominent changes and new features in this update.

First, it’s important to note that the update is available to all smartphone users, whether on Android or iOS. However, the update is being rolled out gradually as it’s a server-side update, relying more on updates from Google’s servers themselves. So, you just need to update the app to the latest version through your phone’s app store to get the new Google interface. If you haven’t received the new interface yet, don’t worry, it’s just a matter of time.

The update didn’t introduce many new features but mostly rearranged the main app interface, merging some menus and removing others. We will detail these changes in the following lines. One of the new features was the heat map feature for capturing places where photos and videos were taken in your library.

New Icon

The most noticeable change in this update was the modification of the traditional app icon. While the colors of the icon remain the same, it has become simpler with a slight change in shape, featuring the four iconic colors in a half-circle. Some users received the new icon only without the updated app interface when the update was first sent out before Google activated the new interface later.

Main Interface Adjustments

The app doesn’t have many menus, so you’ll immediately notice changes in the bottom bar elements upon opening it. The bar now consists of only three tabs instead of four, with the “For You” tab removed and its elements merged into the “Photos” tab, along with the “Search” tab and the “Library” tab now available.

The famous sidebar menu known as the “Hamburger Menu” was also removed and replaced with the “Sharing” menu. Through this menu, you can add and invite friends to share content with them, such as photos or videos, by clicking on the “Add Partner” option, entering the friend’s name or email, and selecting sharing options.

“Photos” Tab

The “Photos” tab, like the previous version, displays photos and videos on your phone, with larger display icons for photos and videos. It also supports automatic playback of videos while browsing. You’ll find a “Memories” section at the top, showing highlights of photos and albums related to today’s date from your photo library in a “Stories” format. You can navigate through them in a specific timeline and pin any photos by long-pressing on them.

“Search” Tab

In previous versions, the search option was accessed through an icon in the search bar at the top of the main interface. In the new update, a tab dedicated to the search feature was introduced. You can search for photos, places, or people within it, with different categorizations for your photo library. You can also view photos based on people in them under the “People” section at the top.

Additionally, the “Things” categorization has been moved into this tab, allowing you to browse photos based on objects and elements within them, such as cars or animals. Under this categorization, you’ll find various sections to view photos based on their content or folder, such as videos, selfies, screenshots, and 360-degree photos if supported by your phone.

The major change in this version is the heat map feature, which was announced earlier. By clicking on the “Explore Maps” option within the search tab, you’ll see a full-screen map highlighting the locations where your photos were taken, provided you enabled location tagging when taking those photos. You can zoom in on the map, click on heat points to see thumbnail images captured in that location, and view the album of photos taken in that location below the map upon clicking on that spot. Double-clicking on any thumbnail on the map will open the full-screen image.

“Library” Tab

The last tab, the “Library” tab, hasn’t seen many changes. Through this tab, you can browse photos and videos on your phone, either in album form under the “Albums” section at the bottom or by viewing folders containing photos on your device memory through the “Photos on this device” option. You can also access favorite photos, trash, and other folders like “Favorites” and “Trash”.