Google Photos Updates Collections Tab With Enhanced Personalisation

New Capabilities in Google Photos

Google has begun a major update for the Android version of its popular photo service, Google Photos. The changes primarily target the Collections tab, the primary tool for organising photos and videos. The new design prioritises personalisation, enabling users to rearrange the interface to suit their specific needs.

Previously, the Collections tab used a fixed 2×2 grid layout, with 'Favorites' and 'Trash' pinned at the top, while the remaining two shortcuts changed automatically based on user activity. With this update, that rigid approach has been replaced.

What Has Changed in the Interface?

The most significant addition to the new design is the 'Pinned' section. Users can now choose which categories appear at the top of the screen. While 'Favorites', 'Screenshots', and 'Trash' are included by default, the entire section can be hidden if preferred. This allows users to keep their most frequently accessed albums in a prominent position.

Additionally, a carousel-style menu has been added for categories such as 'On this device', 'Albums', 'People & pets', 'Wardrobe', 'Places', and 'Documents'. Each of these sections can be moved, hidden, or reordered using the 'Reorder' button. For those who prefer a comprehensive view, the 'View all' button in the top right corner displays a full grid or list.

How to Get the Update

The update is part of Google Photos version 7.97 and is rolling out globally in stages. Although this is a server-side update, some users have noted that restarting the application or the device may be necessary for the changes to take effect. If the feature has not yet appeared on your phone, ensure you have updated the app to the latest version via the Play Store.

This change is a significant step for users who rely on the service daily to store thousands of photos and videos. The flexibility of the interface helps users find content faster and spend less time managing media files. For users who actively rely on cloud storage, this update will make the process of sorting photos significantly more convenient.