Google Photos rolling out ‘Collections’ redesign to replace ‘Library’ tab

After rolling back the last Library redesign in 2022, Google Photos is trying again with a new tab called “Collections.” 

That previous attempt had a grid with 10 recent albums, including Favorites and your Camera roll. Everything else can be sorted by the carousel of filters at the top: All, Your albums, On device, and Shared albums. It was briefly rolled out before Google pulled the design.

Previous vs. attempted Library redesign in 2022

Instead of Library as the third tab in the bottom bar, you have “Collections,” which uses the same icon as before. There’s quick access to Favorites, Trash, Screenshots, and Archive at the top as a grid of pill-shaped buttons.

The big change is how the “Photos on device” carousel has been replaced by a folder called “On this device.” This takes you to a grid view of all your local albums. This might take some time to get used to as accessing your camera roll is now an extra step. 

Meanwhile, the rest of this tab is no longer your grid of cloud albums. Instead, you also get an “Albums” folder that you have to first tap through. Your view options are a grid or list. 

Collections is also home to a “People” folder (which includes pets), Documents, and Places.

This is followed by a list with Favorites, Screenshots, Videos, Recently Added, Archive, Locked, and Trash.

Meanwhile, Search has been redesigned — presumably ahead of the Gemini-powered Ask Photos — to be just a list. After the search bar, you get “Recent” queries and that’s followed by “Suggestions,” like Screenshots, Selfies, and Menus.

This Collections and Search redesign is more widely rolling out to Google Photos for Android (version 6.93) and iOS.