Overview
- The interface changes began appearing in Google Photos version 7.85 for Android on July 28–29 and are rolling out gradually so some users will see them before others.
- A new 'Show shimmer' toggle lives in Photos view and Settings > Preferences and lets users stop the app from automatically drawing a glowing outline around people or objects while they browse.
- Turning off the shimmer only stops automatic highlights and does not remove shimmer when you deliberately trigger features such as long-pressing a photo to create a sticker.
- A large floating camera button has been added inside AI creation templates like Remix and Photo to video so you can snap a quick, temporary photo and send it straight into the app’s generative-AI tools without leaving Photos.
- Parts of Settings have received a Material 3 Expressive redesign for clearer containers on the main Settings page, Backup, and Preferences, and the changes reflect Google’s push to make Photos an AI-first editing hub that reduces friction for spontaneous edits.