How Google Photos helps you identify how photos were made

What Content Credentials do

• Provides details about a photo’s origin and history through a standard that works across devices and apps from different companies.

• Provides information from the app or device maker about AI or non-AI tools used to create or edit a photo.

What Content Credentials don’t do

• Tell you if a photo is real or fake, but you can use the information with the photo’s content to make informed decisions.

Important: Content Credentials in Google Photos are available for image files from devices and apps that support compatible versions of the Content Credentials format.

To find a photo’s Content Credentials on Android and iOS, in the About panel, check the “How this was made” section, which can display up to 4 categories that summarize Content Credentials from the photo. Each category:

• Shows the company that provided and cryptographically signed the information. For example, “Info by Google LLC” shows that Google provided the information.

• May list more than one company. The most recent signer is displayed first.

The summary includes this information, where applicable:

• Media composition: When available, shows the origin of a photo. This can be a single origin or a combination of images used to create the photo. For example, in a default Pixel 10 capture, you’ll see “Media captured with a camera.”

• AI edits: “Edited with AI tools" appears on photos edited with generative AI like Magic Eraser where new pixels are created in Google Photos.

• Maybe AI edits: Some third-party apps may record Content Credentials information but not indicate if an edit was powered by AI or not. In this case, you’ll see “May have been edited by AI tools.”

• Non-AI edits: When applicable, the non-AI edit line is displayed on an image. Usual edits like crop and rotate are recorded as non-AI edits in media history. In this case, you’ll see “Edited with non-AI tools.”

Important: Content Credentials in Google Photos are available for image files from devices and apps that support compatible versions of the Content Credentials format.

When supported media is present in your library, Google Photos displays Content Credentials information:

• Content Credentials provided on capture or creation of the image: Some cameras or tools include Content Credentials when the image file is created. When applicable, this information will show in Google Photos.

When supported media is edited on mobile devices, Google Photos updates and signs Content Credentials information in these cases:

• Editing an image that has Content Credentials: If a photo already contains valid Content Credentials, additional edits in the Google Photos app continue to add to the C2PA information. This applies to both AI tools like Magic Eraser and non-AI tools like crop.

• Editing an image that previously didn’t have Content Credentials: If an original image doesn’t have Content Credentials, Google Photos will add Content Credentials to it when an AI edit is saved.

• Sharing: When you share or receive an image with Content Credentials in Google Photos, that information will be available in the “How this was made” section and through third-party tools that support Content Credentials.

In the “How this was made” section, an error can occur when Google Photos attempts to display Content Credentials but there’s an issue. A message is displayed based on common errors below:

• Incorrectly modified: Content Credentials are built on history that’s maintained and signed by each editor of the image. If the media history was tampered with or modified without an appropriate update of the C2PA data, an error occurs.

• Incompatible or unsupported: Google Photos supports Content Credentials versions 2.1 and 2.2. Some third-party Content Credentials apps store the metadata remotely, separate from the image. Google Photos doesn’t support remote metadata.

• Unrecognized: A file may contain malformed Content Credentials when the app that generated the file experienced a bug. Google Photos may detect metadata, but can’t interpret it in some cases.

Tip: In offline mode, Content Credentials aren't always signed or maintained.

Important: Content Credentials aren’t available for every photo.

To find Content Credentials on Android, version Android 8.0 or above:

1. On your Android device, open the Google Photos app .

2. Select the photo you want to check the info.

3. Tap More About.

4. Scroll to "How this was made."

   • You can view a summary of:

     • Media composition

     • Edit history

     • Whether or not AI was used

To find Content Credentials on iOS devices:

1. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Google Photos app .

2. Select the photo you want to check the info.

3. Tap More About.

4. Scroll to "How this was made."

   • You can view a summary of:

     • Media composition

     • Edit history

     • Whether or not AI was used

Tip: Photos created from devices or apps without C2PA technology may have an “AI info” section instead of the “How this was made” section. Learn how to find out if your photos have been edited with AI.