Google Photos is the most-used photo app in the world — and most people use about 20% of what it can do. These ten features are all free, all built-in, and all worth knowing about.
1. Locked Folder
A password-protected folder that only unlocks with your fingerprint. Photos in the Locked Folder don't appear in your main library, don't show in Memories, aren't backed up to the cloud, and don't appear in shared albums.
Open Google Photos → Library → Utilities → Set up Locked Folder
2. Magic Eraser (Free on Pixel, Subscription on Others)
Removes unwanted objects and people from photos. On Google Pixel phones it's free. On non-Pixel Android it requires Google One subscription. Workaround for non-Pixel users: the Google Photos web app at photos.google.com sometimes shows the option during editing even without a subscription.
3. Search by Content — Not Just Date
Google Photos' search understands content, not just file names. Try searching for: "beach 2024," "birthday cake," "receipts," "screenshots," "dogs," or even "blue car." It works remarkably well. You can also search for faces (if Face Grouping is enabled in your settings).
4. Memories — Customise or Hide Them
The "Memories" cards at the top of your feed can be controlled. Tap the three dots on any Memory → "Turn off memory" or "Hide people/dates." You can hide specific date ranges (useful if you want to hide a difficult period) or specific people from appearing.
Settings → Memories → adjust which years and people appear.
5. Partner Sharing
Automatically share all new photos with one person — a partner, parent, or close friend — as you take them. They see your photos in their own Google Photos app as if they took them.
Photos → Sharing → Partner sharing → choose a contact
6. Export Your Data (Google Takeout)
Download all your photos at original quality at any time. Google Photos isn't a trap — you can always leave and take your photos with you.
Go to takeout.google.com → select Google Photos → choose your format and frequency → Create export. Google emails you a download link when it's ready.
7. Smart Suggestions in Albums
When you create a shared album, Google Photos suggests which photos to add based on who's in them and when they were taken. It also suggests photos to people you've shared the album with, asking them to contribute their shots from the same event.
8. Remove Location Data Before Sharing
Every photo taken with a modern phone contains GPS coordinates in its metadata. Before sharing a photo publicly or with strangers, remove this data.
Open the photo → tap the three dots → Remove location
This permanently removes GPS data from that copy of the photo.
9. Photo Books
Google Photos can create printed photo books from any album — delivered to your door. Pricing starts at around $9.99 for a softcover. Not free, but the ordering process is significantly easier than any third-party service since it pulls directly from your library.
10. Offline Access
Download specific photos or albums for offline access — useful before a flight or in areas with poor signal.
Open a photo or album → tap the three dots → Download (photo) or Download all (album)
Downloaded photos stay available even with no internet connection, and sync any changes when you're back online.