Google Photos
Photo & VideoScreenshots
Analysis by LookedApp · Published
Google Photos is a comprehensive mobile application designed for managing personal photos and videos. It provides users with cloud storage, advanced AI-powered editing features, and intelligent organization tools, making it a suitable solution for individuals seeking an all-in-one platform to store, enhance, and share their digital memories efficiently.
What is Google Photos?
Google Photos serves as a central hub for all personal photos and videos, enabling users to easily store, edit, organize, and search their memories with the assistance of Google AI. It is available for mobile devices, offering a streamlined approach to digital media management.
The application is published by Google LLC on Google Play and by Google on the App Store. It became available to users on 2015-05-28, and has since been regularly updated, with the Google Play version last updated on 2026-05-06, and the App Store version on 2026-10-08.
Its core function revolves around backing up and centralizing media content from various devices and applications into a single location. This approach helps users keep their memories safe and accessible across multiple platforms while also providing tools to free up storage space on their devices.
Latest on Google Photos
- What's newGoogle Photos Update: Enhanced Search and Smarter Storage ManagementRecent updates to Google Photos bring a more powerful search experience to users and introduce a new tool to manage storage more efficiently, according to recent store listings.
- GuideWhat App Release Notes Tell You, and What They Leave OutApp release notes provide valuable insights into updates and new features, but understanding their language and knowing where to look is key. This guide explains how to interpret these notes and what other information on store listings can complement them.
- GuideIn-App Purchases and Subscriptions: Reading the Price LineUnderstanding the different pricing models for mobile applications, from no initial cost to up-front purchases, helps users navigate the digital marketplace effectively. This guide explains how to interpret price lines and pricing sections on app store listings.
Is this the real Google Photos app?
- Verified publisher infoSame developer on Google Play and the App Store (Google LLC), and the developer website support.google.com matches the publisher.
- Established since 2015Listed since May 28, 2015, 10,000,000,000+ installs on Google Play.
| Developer on Google Play | Google LLC |
|---|---|
| Developer on the App Store | |
| Same developer on both stores | Yes |
| Android package name | com.google.android.apps.photos |
| iOS bundle ID | com.google.photos |
| On the stores since | May 28, 2015 |
| Installs on Google Play | 10,000,000,000+ |
| Developer website | support.google.com |
| Content rating | Google Play: Everyone / App Store: 4+ |
These details come from the public store listings. LookedApp doesn't host downloads: install from the Google Play or App Store buttons on this page.
Key features
- Every Google account is provided with up to 15 GB of cloud storage, which is three times more than many other cloud storage services.
- The app includes AI-powered editing tools such as Magic Eraser for removing distractions, Unblur for improving out-of-focus photos, and Portrait Light for enhancing lighting and brightness.
- Photos are easily searchable through natural and descriptive language queries, allowing users to find specific moments effortlessly.
- Google Photos assists in organizing galleries by automatically grouping duplicate and similar photos into photo stacks and creating intuitive folders for various content types.
- A locked folder feature is available, enabling users to save sensitive photos and videos, protected by their device screen lock.
- Users can easily relive and share their favorite memories, photos, videos, and albums with any contact, regardless of whether the recipient uses Google Photos.
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Privacy and permissions
On Google Play, Google Photos requests access to several permission groups, including Identity, Calendar, Contacts, Location, Phone, Photos/Media/Files, Storage, Camera, Microphone, and Device ID & call information. These permissions allow the app to perform its various functions, such as backing up media and organizing content.
The developer states that user photos and videos are safe and protected by advanced security infrastructure from the moment they are stored. The Google Privacy Policy provides further details on how user data is handled. It is also noted that the 15 GB of Google Account storage is shared across Google Photos, Gmail, and Google Drive.
Google publishes its privacy policy at www.google.com.
Google Photos permissions in plain English
The Google Play listing shows 10 permission groups. Google Play also lists 24 other permissions, such as “view network connections”. That is more than most tools & utilities apps LookedApp reviews (typical: 5).
- CalendarCan read or change your calendar
- CameraCan take photos and record video
- ContactsCan read your contacts
- Device ID & call informationCan read your device ID and call status
- IdentityCan find accounts on the device
- LocationCan use your precise location
- MicrophoneCan record audio
- PhoneCan read phone status or make calls
- Photos/Media/FilesCan read and change your photos, media and files
- StorageCan read and change files in shared storage
The App Store privacy label lists these data types:
- Linked to you: Purchases, Financial Info, Location, Contact Info, Contacts, User Content, Search History, Identifiers, Usage Data, Diagnostics, Other Data
- Not linked to you: Diagnostics
Permission names come from Google Play; the plain-English lines describe what each permission group allows, not how this app uses it.
Google Photos at a glance
| Developer | |
|---|---|
| Category | Photo & Video |
| Rating on App Store | 4.8 out of 5 (1.6M ratings) |
| Rating on Google Play | 4.4 out of 5 (54M ratings) |
| Price | Free |
| Age rating | 4+ |
What changed in the latest Google Photos version
App Store · Version 7.96.0, released Oct 8, 2026
The release notes say:
“Thanks for using Google Photos. This release includes bug fixes and performance improvements. We fixed user-reported issues and added new features to provide a more powerful search experience.”
Google Play · Listing updated Oct 13, 2026
The release notes say:
“We are introducing a new storage management tool to help you easily manage the photos that count toward your storage quota. This tool will surface photos or videos you might want to delete — like blurry photos, screenshots and large videos.”
More on recent updates: Google Photos Update: Enhanced Search and Smarter Storage Management.
Quoted from the store listings' release notes.
Pricing
The Google Photos application is available without an upfront cost. On Google Play, it is listed with a price of 0, and on the App Store, it is marked as "Free."
Users receive up to 15 GB of cloud storage with their Google account, which is shared across Google Photos, Gmail, and Google Drive. While the app itself is complimentary, it does offer services such as turning memories into photo books, photo prints, and canvas wall art. The price for these printing services varies by product, and they are available in specific regions, including the US, EU, UK, and CA.
Google Photos compared with similar apps
| App | Rating | Installs | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 Google Photos | 4.4 | – | Free |
 Google Chrome | 4.1 | – | Free |
 Google Maps | 3.3 | – | Free |
 Wifi Speed Test | 4.0 | – | Free |
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How to get Google Photos safely
To ensure a safe installation of Google Photos, users should only obtain the application from reputable sources like Google Play or the App Store. It is crucial to verify that the developer name listed is either Google LLC for Google Play or Google for the App Store.
Users are advised to avoid downloading the app from unofficial sources or installing modified versions, as these may pose security risks. Before completing the installation, it is recommended that users review the permissions requested by the app to understand what data and device functions it intends to access.
How to install Google Photos
On Android (Google Play)
- Open the Google Play Store app on your Android phone or tablet.
- Search for Google Photos, or use the Google Play button on this page to open the listing directly.
- Check that the developer under the app name is Google LLC.
- Tap Install (or the price, for a paid app) and wait for the download to finish, then open the app from your home screen.
On iPhone and iPad (App Store)
- Open the App Store on your iPhone or iPad.
- Search for Google Photos, or use the App Store button on this page to open the listing directly.
- Check that the developer under the app name is Google.
- Make sure your device has iOS 18.0 or later and about 424 MB of free space, as the listing states.
- Tap Get (or the price), confirm the download, then open the app from your home screen.
- The listing shows in-app purchases, so review any purchase prompts before you confirm.
Google Photos version and app details
| Google Play | App Store | |
|---|---|---|
| Latest version | – | 7.96.0 |
| Last updated | Oct 13, 2026 | Oct 8, 2026 |
| First released | May 28, 2015 | May 28, 2015 |
| Package name | com.google.android.apps.photos | – |
| Bundle ID | – | com.google.photos |
| Requires | – | iOS 18.0 or later |
| Download size | – | 424 MB |
| Content rating | Everyone (Users Interact, In-App Purchases) | 4+ |
| In-app purchases | No | Yes |
| Contains ads | No | – |
| Languages | – | 38 (including English) |
| Developer | Google LLC |
Who Google Photos is for
Google Photos is designed for individuals who require a comprehensive and intelligent solution for managing their extensive collections of photos and videos. It is particularly beneficial for users who wish to consolidate their digital memories into a single, easily accessible platform, enhanced by AI-driven features.
The application caters to those who value advanced editing capabilities, such as removing unwanted elements or improving photo clarity, and smart organization that helps declutter their media library. With content ratings of "Everyone" on Google Play and "4+" on the App Store, it is deemed suitable for a broad audience looking for effective memory management and sharing tools.
Google Photos for kids and families
Pros
- Offers a substantial 15 GB of cloud storage included with every Google account.
- Incorporates powerful AI-powered editing tools like Magic Eraser, Unblur, and Portrait Light.
- Provides highly intuitive and descriptive search functionality for finding specific photos and videos.
- Features effective organization tools, including automatic photo stacking and smart folder creation.
- Facilitates easy sharing of memories with contacts, even if they do not use Google Photos.
Cons
- The provided 15 GB of storage is shared across multiple Google services, including Gmail and Google Drive.
- Printing services for physical products are geographically limited to the US, EU, UK, and CA.
- Requires access to a wide range of permissions on Android devices, such as Identity, Contacts, and Location.
- Deep integration with a Google account is central to its functionality, which may not be preferred by all users.
Google Photos: frequently asked questions
Is Google Photos a paid application?
The Google Photos app is listed as having a price of 0 on Google Play and is marked as "Free" on the App Store.
Which devices can use Google Photos?
Google Photos is available on Google Play for Android devices and on the App Store for iOS devices, requiring a minimum iOS version of 18.0.
Who developed Google Photos?
Google Photos was developed by Google LLC for Google Play and by Google for the App Store.
What storage is included with Google Photos?
Every Google account receives up to 15 GB of storage, which is shared across Google Photos, Gmail, and Google Drive.
When was Google Photos released?
Google Photos was released on 2015-05-28.
Does Google Photos offer editing tools?
Yes, it includes AI-powered editing tools such as Magic Eraser, Unblur, and Portrait Light.
Google Photos
- Category
- Photo & Video
- Version
- 7.96.0
Download
Looking for the Google Photos website or sign-in? Go to support.google.com →The developer's website, as given on the store listing.
Google Photos ratings breakdown
Google Play 4.4 average from 54,162,582 ratings
- 574%
- 411%
- 35%
- 23%
- 18%
App Store 4.8 average from 1,615,781 ratings
- 591%
- 45%
- 31%
- 21%
- 12%
Share of ratings for each star level, as shown on the listings, as of Oct 15, 2026.
