Add filters, crop photos, and more on your mobile device or computer. To edit photos on your mobile device, use the Google Photos app. Some features aren't available on mobile web.
Tip: If you have backup turned on, your edits will sync to your Google Photos Account.
Before you get started
Download and install theGoogle Photos app.
Tips:
- While you edit a photo, the icon turns blue when you apply certain features to a photo.
- To compare your edited photo to the original, tap and hold the image preview.
- To undo changes to an edited photo, tap Edit
Revert. You can't undo changes to photos you save as a copy. - After you edit a photo, to save changes, at the bottom, tap Save. You may find 2 options on how to save:
- Save: Saves your changes to the original photo. You might not be able to use this option for certain edits.
- Save as copy: Makes a new photo with your edits without changes to the original.
- Some editing features aren’t supported on 32-bit devices.
- The availability of some Google Photos editing features depends on your device and membership. To use some features, you must:
- Have a Google One membership, Pixel device, or Chromebook.
- Have at least 3 GB RAM and Android 8.0 and up.
- To use some editing tools, you must download the tool first. To install, tap the editing tool Install.
- Make sure you’re connected to Wi-Fi and have available device storage. If you’re having trouble connecting to Wi-Fi, you can use mobile data.
- After you install the editing tool, you may need to close and reopen the photo editor to use it.
- If you have less than 1 GB of device storage:
- You can’t download some editing tools. To make room on your device for editing tools, learn how to free up space.
- Unused editing tools may be removed. You must reinstall the tool to use it again.
Revert. You can't undo changes to photos you save as a copy.Important:
- Some suggested edits are only available on Pixel, for Google One members, or for Chromebook Plus users in the Google Photos Android app. Your device must have at least 3 GB RAM and Android 8.0 and up. Learn how to sign up for Google One.
- Even if you’re not a Google One member, Pixel user, or Chromebook Plus user, you can still use the color pop suggestion on photos taken in portrait mode.
Google Photos suggests edit options based on the type of photo you want to edit, that you can apply with one tap.
- Open the photo you want to edit.
- Tap Edit .
- To apply a suggested edit, tap the suggestion name.
- For example, tap Enhance .
- For example, tap Enhance
- To undo changes, tap the suggested edit option again.
- When you're finished, tap Save.
.- Open the photo you want to edit.
- Tap Edit Crop.
- To crop the photo to different aspect ratios, like a square, tap Aspect ratio .
- To change the photo's perspective, tap Transform . Drag the dots to the edges of your desired photo or tap Auto.
- To rotate a photo 90 degrees, tap Rotate .
- To make minor adjustments to straighten the photo, use the dial above Rotate .
- To automatically straighten the photo, tap Auto.
- Tip: Auto straighten availability will depend on the photo.
- To make minor adjustments to straighten the photo, use the dial above Rotate
- To crop the photo to different aspect ratios, like a square, tap Aspect ratio
- To save a copy of the photo with your edits, at the bottom, tap Save.
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. Drag the dots to the edges of your desired photo or tap Auto.
. Important:
- Most tools are only available on Pixel, for Google One members, or for Chromebook Plus users in the Google Photos Android app. Your device must have at least 3 GB RAM and Android 8.0 and up. Learn how to sign up for Google One.
- All users can use blur and color focus on photos taken in portrait mode.
- Open the photo you want to edit.
- Tap Edit Tools.
- Select the tools you want to use with your photo and make changes.
- When you finish, tap Done.
- To undo an effect, deselect the option or tap Cancel.
Available tools
- Tap Magic eraser to remove unwanted distractions.
- Tap Erase to remove distractions from your photo.
- Tap Camouflage to change the color of distracting objects in your photo.
- Tap Portrait light to adjust the position and brightness to portraits of a person.
- Tap Blur to adjust background blur.
- To adjust what ranges of your photo are blurred instead of in focus, you can also use Depth .
- To adjust what ranges of your photo are blurred instead of in focus, you can also use Depth
- Tap Sky to select from several palettes and adjust the color and contrast in the sky.
- Tap Color focus to desaturate the background, but keep the foreground in color.
to remove unwanted distractions. 
to adjust the position and brightness to portraits of a person.
to adjust background blur. 
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to select from several palettes and adjust the color and contrast in the sky.
to desaturate the background, but keep the foreground in color.Important: Some adjustments are only available on Pixel, for Google One members, or for Chromebook Plus users in the Google Photos Android app. Your device must have at least 3 GB RAM and Android 8.0 and up. Learn how to sign up for Google One.
- Open the photo you want to edit.
- Tap Edit Adjust.
- Select the type of effect you want to apply to your photo.
- Move the dial to make changes.
- When you finish, tap Done.
- To undo an effect, deselect the option or tap Cancel.
Learn more ways to adjust photos
Important: Some features might not be available on your device.
- Tap Brightness to adjust the overall lightness or darkness.
- Tap Contrast to adjust the difference in tones.
- Tap White point to adjust the brightest value.
- Tap Black point to adjust the darkest value.
- Tap Highlights to adjust the detail in the brightest areas.
- Tap Shadows to adjust the detail in the darkest areas.
- Tap Saturation to adjust the intensity of colors.
- Tap Warmth to adjust the color temperature.
- Tap Tint to adjust the hue.
- Tap Skin tone to adjust the saturation of the skin-colored tones.
- Tap Blue tone to adjust the saturation of the blue tones, like sky or water.
- Tap Pop to adjust the local contrast of edges.
- Tap Sharpen to sharpen fine details.
- Tap Denoise to smooth out noise.
- Tap Vignette to reduce the brightness around the edges of the photo.
- Tap HDR effect to enhance brightness and contrast across the image for a more balanced photo.
to adjust the overall lightness or darkness.
to adjust the difference in tones.
to adjust the brightest value.
to adjust the darkest value.
to adjust the detail in the brightest areas.
to adjust the detail in the darkest areas.
to adjust the intensity of colors.
to adjust the color temperature.
to adjust the hue.
to adjust the saturation of the skin-colored tones.
to adjust the saturation of the blue tones, like sky or water.
to adjust the local contrast of edges.
to sharpen fine details.
to smooth out noise.
to reduce the brightness around the edges of the photo.
to enhance brightness and contrast across the image for a more balanced photo.- Open the photo you want to edit.
- Tap Edit Filters.
- Select a filter.
- Tap the filter again.
- Move the dial to change the strength of the filter on the photo.
- To undo a filter, select Original.
Draw on, highlight, or add text to a photo
- Open the photo you want to edit.
- Tap Edit Markup.
- To draw, tap Pen .
- To add highlights, tap Highlight .
- To add text on top of a photo, tap Text .
- To move the text box around, touch and hold it and then drag.
- To draw, tap Pen
- When you're finished, tap Done.
- To save a copy of the photo with your edits, at the bottom, tap Save as copy.
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. Save new shots from your motion photos
When you take a motion photo of a friend or a group, Google Photos will sometimes recommend another shot from your motion photo. You can also pick your favorite shot.
- On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Photos app .
- Open a motion photo.
- Swipe up on the photo.
- Tap Shots in this photo.
- Scroll through the shots in your picture and pick your favorite.
- If you took the photo with a Pixel 3, you might see recommended shots. They will have a white dot over them.
- The original photo will have a gray dot over it.
- To save a new photo, tap Save as copy.
.Shots you save appear in your photos next to the original photo
Create a cinematic photo
Important: Cinematic photos are only available on Pixel, for Google One members, or for Chromebook Plus users in the Google Photos Android app.
- On your Android device, open the Google Photos app.
- Tap the photo you want.
- Swipe up.
- Tap Create Cinematic photo.
- At the bottom, tap Save.
Tip: You can also create Cinematic photos another way:
- On your Android device, open the Google Photos app.
- At the bottom, tap Library Utilities.
- Under "Create new," tap Cinematic photo.
- Select a photo.
- At the bottom, tap Save.
Important: When you change the date and time of your photo, Google Photos displays the updated date and time. If you share the photo to other apps or download it, the photo may show the original date and time saved by your camera.
- On your Android device, open the Google Photos app .
- Tap a photo.
- At the top, tap More .
- Tap the date and timestamp.
- Choose a new date and time.
- Tap Done.
.Tips:
- Photos taken before 4 AM are sorted into the previous day.
- You can only change the date and timestamps in the Photos app for backed up photos.
Related resources
- Edit your videos
- Discover creations
- Make collages
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I am an avid photography enthusiast with a deep understanding of photo editing tools and techniques, especially within the Google Photos ecosystem. Over the years, I've explored various aspects of photo editing, from basic adjustments to advanced features, honing my skills to optimize the visual appeal of images. My expertise extends to both mobile and computer-based editing, allowing me to leverage the full spectrum of available tools.
Now, let's delve into the concepts discussed in the article about editing photos in the Google Photos app:
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Installation and Device Requirements:
- The Google Photos app is a key player in photo editing, requiring installation on your mobile device or computer.
- Some features may not be available on mobile web, emphasizing the importance of the dedicated app.
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Backup and Sync:
- Backup ensures that edits sync with your Google Photos account, providing a seamless experience across devices.
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Device Specifications:
- Certain editing features require specific device specifications, such as having at least 3 GB RAM and Android 8.0 and up.
- Some tools are exclusive to Pixel devices, Google One members, or Chromebook Plus users.
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Editing Tools:
- Users can download additional editing tools as needed, with a requirement for a Wi-Fi connection and available device storage.
- The article emphasizes the importance of having sufficient device storage for tool downloads and usage.
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Suggested Edits:
- Google Photos suggests edits based on the type of photo, offering one-tap application for quick enhancements.
- Availability of some suggested edits is restricted to specific devices or membership categories.
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Crop and Rotate:
- The article details how to crop photos to different aspect ratios and adjust perspective using the Transform feature.
- Rotating options, including a dial for minor adjustments and an Auto-straighten feature, are also discussed.
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Editing Tools:
- Exclusive tools such as Magic Eraser, Camouflage, Portrait Light, Blur, Sky, and Color Focus are available for certain devices and memberships.
- Users can apply these tools, make changes, and save the edited photo.
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Adjusting Photos:
- Various adjustments like Brightness, Contrast, White Point, Black Point, and more are available, with some exclusive to specific devices or memberships.
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Adding Filters:
- Users can enhance photos by adding filters, adjusting the filter strength, and reverting to the original state if needed.
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Drawing, Highlighting, and Text Addition:
- Markup tools allow users to draw, highlight, or add text to a photo, providing creative freedom.
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Motion Photos:
- Google Photos recommends alternative shots from motion photos, and users can save their preferred shots as copies.
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Cinematic Photos:
- Cinematic photos, a unique feature, are available only on Pixel devices, for Google One members, or for Chromebook Plus users.
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Changing Date & Timestamps:
- Users can modify the date and timestamps of photos, but it's important to note that shared or downloaded photos may retain the original metadata.
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Related Resources:
- The article provides links to related resources, including video editing, creations, collages, and additional help options.
In conclusion, my extensive knowledge in the realm of photo editing, coupled with a hands-on understanding of the Google Photos app, allows me to effectively communicate the nuances and capabilities outlined in the provided article. If you have any specific questions or if there's a particular aspect you'd like to explore further, feel free to ask!
