Edit your photos

Before you get started

Download and install the Google Photos app.

• To compare your edited photo to the original, tap and hold the image preview.
• To undo changes to an edited photo, tap Edit Revert. You can't undo changes to photos you save as a copy.
• After you edit a photo, to save changes, at the top, tap Save. You may find 2 options on how to save:
  • Save: Saves your changes to the original photo. You might not be able to use this option for certain edits.
  • Save as copy: Makes a new photo with your edits without changes to the original.
• Some editing features aren’t supported on 32-bit devices. To use some features, you must have at least 3 GB RAM and Android 8.0 and up.
• Some features are only available on Pixel. If you can’t find the feature you’re looking for, learn more about Google Photos features for Pixel devices.
• To use some editing tools, you must download the tool first. To install, tap the editing tool Install.
  • Make sure you’re connected to Wi-Fi and have available device storage. If you’re having trouble connecting to Wi-Fi, you can use mobile data.
  • After you install the editing tool, you may need to close and reopen the photo editor to use it.
• If you have less than 1 GB of device storage:
  • You can’t download some editing tools. To make room on your device for editing tools, learn how to free up space.
  • Unused editing tools may be removed. You must reinstall the tool to use it again.

With the available editing features, you can edit photos to your preference no matter your skill level.

Remove or edit unwanted objects in photo

1. On your Android device, open the Google Photos app .
2. Open the photo that you want to edit.
3. At the bottom, tap Edit .
4. To select an area of the photo you want to edit, tap, draw a circle around or brush the area.
   • To start over on your selection: Tap Deselect.
   • To add or subtract objects from your current selection: Tap Refine selection Add selection or Subtract.
5. From the suggested tools or features, select an option.
   • To move your selection: Tap Move.
     • If you want to change the size of your selection, touch and hold, then pinch it with 2 fingers.
   • To remove your selection: Tap Erase.
   • The suggested tools or features may vary based on their availability.
6. After you’re finished, tap Done.

Tip: To remove unwanted distractions, in the “Actions” tab, tap Magic Eraser .

Reimagine a part of your photo

If you select “Reimagine” from the suggested tools and features:

1. In the corresponding text field, enter a prompt to change the content or the elements of your selection.
   • For best results, be specific and descriptive. For example, start with a simple phrase like “field of yellow flowers” or “fall leaves.”
2. Swipe to check other options.
3. When you find the one you like, tap the Checkmark .

Tips:

• Use only nouns and adjectives for better results.
• To change the background, select the background and make sure that the subjects aren’t included.

Important: Your device must have at least 3 GB RAM and Android 8.0 and up.

1. On your Android device, open the Google Photos app .
2. Open the photo you want to edit.
3. At the bottom, tap Edit .
   • To crop the photo directly from the landing page: Drag the crop handles to the desired size.
   • To crop the photo to different aspect ratios, like a square: Tap Aspect ratio .
   • To rotate a photo 90 degrees: Tap Rotate .
   • To adjust the photo’s orientation: Tap Framing .
   • To recompose or extend the background of a photo that’s too cropped or not properly framed: Use Auto frame.
     • You can access Auto frame through the “Crop” modal.
     • Auto frame uses AI to fill in parts of a picture or expand as needed.
   • To flip the photo: Tap Flip .
4. When you’re finished, tap Checkmark Save.

Important:

• Certain features are only available on Pixel. If you can’t find the editing feature you’re looking for, learn more about Google Photos features for Pixel devices.
• To use Add light and Balance light in the Portrait light tool and improved Unblur, your device must have at least 4 GB RAM.

You can edit your photos in unique ways with select features like portrait blur, Ultra HDR, or enhanced zoom. To make photo enhancements easy for you, editing features are sorted by function.

1. On your Android device, open the Google Photos app .
2. Open the photo you want to edit.
3. At the bottom, tap Edit .
4. Select the tools you want to use with your photo and make changes. You can find different editing features categorized within:
   • Actions: This includes Crop, Magic Eraser, Unblur, Best Take, and more.
   • Markup: This includes Pen, Highlight, Text, and more.
   • Filters: This includes Sky and more classic filters.
   • Lighting: This includes HDR effect, Portrait light, Brightness, Contrast, and more.
   • Color: This includes Saturation, Warmth, and more.
5. When you finish, tap the Checkmark .
6. To undo an effect, tap Cancel .

Tip: You can use tool search to find tools like Brightness. At the bottom, tap Edit Tools Search . From there, enter the tool name.

1. On your Android device, open the Google Photos app .
2. Open the photo you want to edit.
3. At the bottom, tap Edit Markup.
   • To draw, tap Pen .
   • To add highlights, tap Highlight .
   • To add text on top of a photo, tap Text .
     • To move the text box around, touch and hold it and then drag.
4. When you're finished, tap Checkmark .
5. To save a copy of the photo with your edits, tap Save as copy.

When you take a motion photo of a friend or a group, Google Photos will sometimes recommend another shot from your motion photo. You can also pick your favorite shot.

1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Photos app .
2. Open a motion photo.
3. Swipe up on the photo.
4. Tap Shots in this photo.
5. Scroll through the shots in your picture and pick your favorite.
   • If you took the photo with a Pixel 3, you might see recommended shots. They will have a white dot over them.
   • The original photo will have a gray dot over it.
6. To save a new photo, tap Save as copy.

Shots you save appear in your photos next to the original photo

Important: Your device must have at least 3 GB RAM and Android 8.0 and up.

1. On your Android device, open the Google Photos app .
2. Tap the photo you want.
3. At the top, tap Menu Create Cinematic photo .
4. At the bottom, tap Save.

Tip: You can also create Cinematic photos another way:

1. On your Android device, open the Google Photos app .
2. At the top, tap Create Cinematic photo.
3. Select a photo.
4. At the top, tap Create.
5. At the bottom, tap Save.

1. On your Android device, open the Google Photos app .
2. Tap a photo.
3. At the top, tap More About .
   • Alternatively, you can swipe up.
4. Next to the date and timestamp, tap Edit .
5. Choose a new date and time.
6. Tap Save.

Tips:

• Photos taken before 4 AM are sorted into the previous day.
• You can only change the date and timestamps in the Photos app for backed up photos.

1. On your Android device, open the Google Photos app .
2. At the bottom, tap Collections.
3. Tap Albums.
4. Open a shared album.
5. Tap the photo or video that you want to edit.
6. To save and share the edited copy, tap Edit Save.
7. A warning dialog will prompt:
   • To keep changes private, tap Don’t save. You’ll need to edit in your gallery instead of in the shared album.
   • To keep the edits visible with others in your shared album, tap Save and share.

Tips:

• Only the owner of the original photo can edit a photo or video in a shared album.
• When editing shared photos or videos from your gallery:
  • To reflect edits to the shared album, edit and tap Save.
  • To edit privately, edit and tap Save as copy.

Important:

• This feature only edits photos that are backed up.
• You can only generate a limited number of videos per day.

You can animate your photo and turn static moments into dynamic six-second video clips by choosing one of the 2 options for movement effects.

To help you generate a short video from your photos, Photo to video uses Generative AI. This feature is still experimental, so it may give unexpected or inaccurate results. When you leave feedback, you can help improve Photo to video for everyone.

Terms of Service

You agree that your use of Photo to video is subject to the Google Terms of Service and the Generative AI Prohibited Use Policy.

Create a video from a photo with Generative AI

1. On your Android device, open the Google Photos app .
2. At the top right, tap Create new Photo to video .
3. To try out Photo to video, tap Try now.
4. Select a photo.
5. Tap Next.
   • If you selected a landscape photo: The photo will be automatically cropped to fit the portrait video format.
   • If you want to change your photo: At the bottom, tap Change photo.
6. Choose an effect:
   • Subtle movements : Add photorealistic motion to the subjects in your photo like waving or smiling.
   • I’m feeling lucky : It can sometimes be a subtle movement or it may turn your photo into a video with more movement like dancing or add special effects like confetti or balloons.
7. Wait a few moments while your video generates.
8. You can find the finished video at the results page.
   • To save the video: Tap Save.
   • To share the video: Tap Share.
   • To get a different result in the same effect: Tap Regenerate.
   • To share your experience and help us improve: Tap Send feedback.

Tip: The video you created saves to the day you created it and not on the original date the photo was taken.

• Edit your videos
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