Key Takeaways
- Google Photos is introducing a new Collections view that replaces the existing Library tab within the app.
- This new collections view brings together both shared and locally created albums in one place.
- The new interface update is currently rolling out on both Android and iOS, but it may take a few weeks before it reaches all users.
Google will begin rolling out a new Collections view within the Google Photos app for Android and iOS, the company announced in a blog post.
This new Collections section of the Google Photos interface replaces the existing Library tab and brings in shared albums, locally created albums, and a host of related photo tools.
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“We heard loud and clear that people had trouble finding their shared albums in the previous experience. With Collections view, you can access all your private and shared albums in one place,” said Sushmitha Varanasi, community manager at Google.
As well as bringing your shared and local albums together in one place, the new Collections tab will also display “dynamic titles” for quick access, like Favorites, Trash, etc. The Locked Folders section will no longer be displayed at the top of the interface, and Google cites user feedback as the catalyst for this change.
The new Collections View has started rolling out within Google Photos on both Android and iOS. “If you’re still missing Collections View, check back in the coming weeks,” the Google Photos team said.
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This Google Photos refresh comes alongside a major redesign of Photos in Apple’s iOS 18.
Both the tech giants are introducing new layouts to improve the usability of their gallery apps.
Google’s Library redesign comes alongside Apple’s own big Photos update, which is due to be released this fall alongside iOS 18. Mobile photo gallery applications have become more complex and feature-rich over the years, but the existing interface paradigm simply doesn’t scale well enough.
Unlike Apple, Google has the advantage of being able to update its native apps independent of major software releases: if, for example, Google Photos’ new Collections view isn’t well-received by users, Google can quickly make adjustments and release an update via the Play Store.
It remains to be seen how users will react to the Google Photos interface changes. Past experience has shown that users tend to dislike UI changes, at least initially. It will depend on how intuitive the new Collections view is in real-world usage.
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