Google Photos Unleashes New AI Editor on Android

After first being announced back in May, the major redesign for the Google Photos image editor is now widely available for Android users. This update introduces a refreshed interface and places a stronger emphasis on AI-powered editing tools, making them more accessible than ever.

A Streamlined Editing Experience

The most noticeable change is a completely reorganized user interface. At the bottom of the screen, a new carousel of tools makes navigation more intuitive. It features a magnifying glass icon that allows you to search for specific editing functions or view a comprehensive list of all available tools, complete with descriptions.

The tools are now grouped into logical categories:

• Auto: Enhance, Dynamic, AI Enhance
• Actions: Crop, Magic Eraser, Move, Best take, Portrait blur, Pop, Sharpen, Denoise
• Markup: Pen, Highlighter, Text
• Filters: Filters, Sky styles
• Lighting: Ultra HDR, Portrait light, Brightness, Tone, Contrast, Black point, White point, Highlights, Shadows, Vignette
• Color: Saturation, Warmth, Tint, Skin tone, Blue tone

Above this main carousel, the tools are displayed in modern, rounded rectangles, replacing the old circular icons. When you select a tool, adjustment sliders appear in a new pill-shaped design that includes a smooth opening and closing animation.

Controls for framing, aspect ratio, flipping, and rotating have been moved to the top of the image preview for easier access, alongside the main close and Save buttons.

AI Takes Center Stage

A primary goal of this redesign is to bring AI features to the forefront. The 'Auto' tab is now the first option, offering one-tap solutions like Enhance, Dynamic, and AI Enhance, which use a combination of tools to generate multiple improved versions of your photo.

Furthermore, the editing process is now more interactive. By tapping, circling, or brushing over a specific area of your photo, Google Photos will suggest a list of relevant tools to edit just that selection. This contextual menu includes powerful features like Magic Eraser, moving objects, and Reimagine (Magic Editor), creating a more integrated workflow without needing to hunt through different tabs.

How to Get the New Editor

Google has confirmed that this is a server-side update that is now widely available on Android. To receive it, ensure you are on the latest version of the app (7.44), which you can get from the Play Store. If the new editor doesn't appear, try force-stopping the Google Photos app from your device's App info page. For iOS users, this update is planned for a future release.

This new editor is the latest in a series of visual updates for the app, following the redesigned photo viewer, a new Create tab, and an updated Material 3 backup indicator.