Google is giving its Photos app a fresh upgrade, and iOS users are the first to see it in action.
The update introduces three major changes, enhancing how users interact with their photo libraries.
First up is dynamic light mode support. Instead of the app always using a black background for photo viewing, it will now match your system theme-light or dark. If your phone is set to light mode, your photos will appear with a white background. Prefer the dark look? Keep your device in dark mode to maintain the classic black backdrop.
Next, Google is improving how photo metadata is displayed. Previously, you had to swipe up to see when, where, and how a photo was taken
. Now, this information-including date, time, location, camera details, and storage usage-will appear directly above the photo for quicker access.
Finally, the three-dot menu in the top right corner is becoming more powerful. You’ll now find new options like:
- Google Lens
- Create (make a collage, Cinematic photo, or Highlight video)
- Cast
- Save As (for Live or Motion photos)
- Download or delete
For select photos, a special contextual menu will appear, helping you manage burst and stack shots more easily. You can now change the top image in a stack, remove photos, unstack them, or apply batch actions with multi-select.
Interactive badges are also being added to photos, allowing you to:
- Change a photo’s category
- Play or pause Live or Motion photos
- Save shared photos to your library
- Back up or manage storage
Of course, standard features like the “Add to” button for albums, Locked Folder, and archive remain unchanged. Plus, a new upgrade to the app’s Editor is on the way soon.
The redesigned Google Photos is rolling out now on iOS, with the Android update expected shortly after.