Google Photos’ Library is dead — say hello to Collections

Google Photos’ Library is dead — say hello to Collections

Collections is replacing the Library tab, but keeping its bookshelf symbol. | Image: Google

You can say goodbye to your library tab in Google Photos, because Google is introducing a new destination called Collections that’s supposed to make “finding content easier than ever.” Collections house all of your albums in one place, such as your private albums and those that have been shared with you by other users, as well as new folders for people and pets, documents, and places.

The changes are presumably in support of Google’s upcoming Gemini-powered Ask Photos assistant, which CEO Sundar Pichai said would be arriving sometime this summer. 9to5Google notes that the search tab has also been redesigned, replacing the previous image tiles with a list of suggested options like Screenshots, Selfies, and Menus.

Image: Google

Same location as the Library tab, but with a new name, look, and layout.

The Collections view — which replaces the existing library tab but retains the same bookshelf-style icon — is currently rolling out to all Android and iOS Google Photos users, but may take a few weeks to arrive on all devices.

Users can head into the Collections tab and tap on Albums to switch between different views like “All,” “Shared with me,” and “My albums.” Folders for “Favorites” and “Trash” will be displayed up top, while Google says the remaining two tiles “may rotate based on the items you navigate to the most.” Users’ Locked Folders will no longer be suggested at the top of the Collections view following complaints about the placement.

The Utilities folder is being removed entirely, but the tools under it are simply being relocated. For example, the option to create a Locked Folder can now be found by scrolling to the bottom of Collections. Options for importing images and making creations like albums, collages, and highlight videos can be found by tapping the “+” symbol, while things like freeing up space on the device and managing photo frames now require you to tap your Google Photos account profile.