Google Photos is undergoing a significant update. A new menu called ‘Collections’ will replace the existing ‘Library’ menu. According to a recent blog post by Google, the new ‘Collections’ menu aims to simplify the process of finding and organizing content stored in your Google Photos account.
Upon opening the Google Photos app, users will now notice the ‘Collections’ option at the bottom of the screen, replacing the previous ‘Library’ tab. This new menu sits alongside the familiar ‘Photos,’ ‘Memories,’ and ‘Search’ options.
To navigate your albums, click ‘Collections,’ then select ‘Albums.’ This will grant access to both public and private albums, all conveniently grouped together. Users can easily toggle between “All,” “Shared with me,” and “My Albums” to locate specific albums.
The new ‘Collections’ menu retains easy access to frequently used folders like ‘Favourites’ and ‘Trash,’ which are located at the top of the screen, similar to their previous positions in the ‘Library’ menu. However, there is a notable change regarding the ‘Locked’ folder, which stores hidden photos and videos that require access to the device’s screen lock. This folder is now at the bottom of the ‘Collections’ view, making it slightly less prominent.
In addition to the folders previously found in the ‘Library’ menu, ‘Collections’ introduces new organizational features. Google has added folders such as ‘People & pets,’ ‘Places,’ and ‘Documents,’ which automatically categorize content based on the type of photos and documents stored. This update is designed to enhance the user experience by providing more intuitive ways to sort and find specific types of content.
For users looking to import photos, the “Create+” option at the top of the ‘Collections’ screen offers an easy way to do so. By selecting “Get photos” and then “Import from other places,” users can seamlessly add photos to their Google Photos account.
The “Create+” option also allows for the creation of new albums, collages, and highlight videos, providing additional creative tools directly within the ‘Collections’ menu.
To free up storage space, users can tap their account profile photo at the top of the screen and select “Free up space on this device,” a feature that remains easily accessible despite the changes.
Google has announced that the ‘Collections’ menu is currently rolling out to users worldwide and is expected to be available to all users within the coming weeks.
