Google Photos Tips: Search, Edit, Share and Save Space

By Ammar Aslam · Updated September 29, 2026 · 3 min read

Google Photos backs up your pictures and makes them easy to find and share. These tips help you make the most of it.

Turn on backup

Tap your profile → Photos settings → Backup and turn it on. Choose backup quality: Storage saver uses less space; Original quality keeps full resolution. Both count toward your Google storage.

Smart search

Search for "beach", "cake", "car", "receipt", a place name or a person's face group. Google Photos recognises content automatically, making old photos easy to find.

People and pets

Name face groups to search by person, like "Ammi" or "Ali".

Editing tools

One-tap Enhance.
Crop, rotate and straighten.
Adjust light and colour.
AI tools on supported devices, like removing unwanted objects.

Create a shared album for events so everyone can add their photos. Great for weddings and trips.

Partner sharing

Automatically share photos of specific people with a family member.

Locked folder

Move private photos to the Locked Folder, protected by your screen lock. Note: on some devices, locked folder items may not be backed up; check the setting.

Free up device space

After backup, use Free up space to remove backed-up copies from your phone. Confirm backup first.

Manage Google storage

In Photos settings → Backup → Manage storage, find blurry photos, screenshots and large videos to delete.

Download everything

Use Google Takeout to download your full library to a computer as an extra backup. See organising photos.

Memories, collages and videos

Google Photos automatically creates Memories ("1 year ago", trips, people) that appear at the top of the app. You can also create:

Collages: select photos → + → Collage.
Animations: combine burst photos into a short animation.
Highlight videos: automatic videos with music from selected photos and clips.

Hide people or dates you don't want to see in Memories through Photos settings, which is helpful for painful memories.

Find text and documents in photos

Google Photos recognises text in images. Search for words that appear in photos, like a shop name, receipt or Wi-Fi password sticker. Use Google Lens on a photo to copy text, translate it, or look up objects.

Keep your library tidy

Archive screenshots and receipts so they don't clutter your main photo grid.
Use Favourites (the star) for your best shots.
Create albums for important events.
Delete blurry and duplicate shots regularly.

More organisation ideas: how to organise thousands of photos.

Frequently asked questions

Is Google Photos free?

You get 15 GB free shared across Google services; more requires a Google One plan.

Deleted a photo by mistake?

Check Trash. See recovering deleted photos.

Ammar Aslam
Ammar writes clear, practical tech guides that help everyday users fix problems, stay safe online and get more from their devices.