Google Photos on Android is rolling out a couple of welcome updates: a cleaner, redesigned albums view using Google’s latest Material 3 Expressive style and a super handy new way to share albums instantly using QR codes. These changes aim to make managing and sharing your photo collections smoother and more convenient.
A Modern Makeover for Your Albums
The albums section in Google Photos has received a noticeable refresh. Previously, when you opened an album, you’d see options like “Add description,” “Share,” “Add photos,” and “Order photos” listed directly below the album cover. The new design replaces this setup with a sleek, floating toolbar inspired by Material 3 Expressive principles.
Old Google Photos albums interface
This floating bar now groups the main actions you’ll need: Share, Add photos, and Edit the album details. The Edit option, which used to be tucked away in an overflow menu, is now right there on the main toolbar, making it easier to find. Google also brought the “Sort photos” button up to the top bar for quicker access.
When you tap “Edit,” the view changes to a dedicated screen with a docked toolbar. This is where you can add descriptions, text, or locations to your album. You’ll also find cards at the top specifically for editing the album’s highlight photo and cover. This new layout helps consolidate editing options, making the main album view cleaner and less cluttered. While this update brings many Material 3 Expressive elements, the “full bleed” cover design seen in some previews isn’t live yet, suggesting more visual updates might be coming.
New Google Photos albums interface with floating toolbar
These interface tweaks are part of Google’s broader effort to update its apps with the more dynamic and user-friendly Material You and Material 3 design languages. You might have seen similar updates rolling out in other Google apps, or heard about the upcoming redesigned photo editor interface Google has been teasing.
Share Albums Instantly with QR Codes
Sharing photo albums just got a whole lot easier, especially when you’re with friends or family. Google Photos now lets you generate a QR code for any album. This feature was recently announced and is now showing up for users.
To use it, simply open the share sheet for an album. You’ll see a new option labeled “Show QR Code.” Tapping this will instantly bring up a QR code styled with a clean Material 3 look and the Google Photos logo in the center.
Google Photos album sharing with QR code option
This is incredibly useful for quick, in-person sharing. Instead of sending links via text or email, you can just have someone scan the code with their phone camera, and they’ll be taken directly to the album online. It’s a seamless way to share memories without needing to exchange contact info or navigate through multiple steps.
Both the albums view redesign and the QR code sharing feature are becoming available in Google Photos version 7.30 on Android.
These updates bring a fresh coat of paint and boosted functionality to one of Google Photos’ core features. The cleaner album interface makes managing your collections more intuitive, while QR codes simplify sharing moments with others. Check your Google Photos app on Android to see if you have the update!
