Google Photos on Android has received a significant update, introducing powerful tools to declutter and organize your photo library. These new features offer greater control over the default view, allowing you to prioritize photos taken with your device’s camera while managing media from other apps more effectively. This update may be a precursor to a larger Google Photos redesign on the horizon.
Enhanced Sorting Options in “Photos View”
Replacing the previous “Personalize your grid” option, the updated “Photos view” consolidates and expands sorting capabilities. As reported by Android Authority, the new settings include the ability to “show content from other apps,” providing granular control over what appears in your main photo feed.
Google Photos feature to hide clutter from other apps.
This streamlined approach eliminates the need to navigate to separate albums within the app’s Collections tab to access your core photos. By prioritizing images from your device’s camera, you can quickly access your most important memories.
Hiding Clutter from Messaging and Other Apps
Another valuable addition is the “hide clutter from other apps” feature. This option filters out media like screenshots, GIFs, and attachments from various apps, including those pesky daily greetings from your family WhatsApp group. This allows your main timeline to focus on your captured moments rather than miscellaneous media.
Furthermore, you can whitelist specific apps, ensuring that media from these chosen sources remains visible alongside your camera photos. This provides a customizable balance between decluttering and retaining important media from select apps.
Backup and Visibility Options
You have the flexibility to hide “clutter” from third-party apps after it’s backed up to Google Drive or hide it entirely. While it’s unclear whether the feature uses specific rules to exclude shared photos of people or pets, it doesn’t appear to do so initially. To ensure these shared photos appear in your timeline, you may need to add them to your library or back them up to the cloud.
Rollout and Availability
The update is currently rolling out with Google Photos version 7.14.0.720276279 on Android. While not yet universally available, the update is expected to reach all users gradually. A similar feature for iOS has not yet been announced, but its arrival seems likely.
