Google Photos, a widely utilized cloud media storage platform, is currently undergoing a redesign that may bring significant changes to its user interface. The platform’s Library tab on Android will be revamped and renamed as Collections, according to reports indicating that Google is testing the new layout with a select group of users.
In the new design, the top shortcuts for Trash, Favorites, and Utilities folders will remain accessible within the Collections tab. However, the familiar reverse-chronological grid of cloud albums and device carousel will no longer be present. Instead, users will now see automatically generated groups for Places, Albums, Documents, People (including pets), and On this device displayed in the grid.
To access local folders, users must select On this device. Additionally, the updated collections will include all files, such as screenshots and downloads, up to the current point. Users will need to navigate to the People and Documents folders, located in the Search tab, to access backed-up Albums. Although Google has been working on Library enhancements since 2022, a previous redesign was temporarily rolled back after a small number of users received it. The current redesign is only available to a limited number of users during the testing phase.
Moreover, Google is gearing up to unveil significant announcements at the upcoming Google IO 2024 event scheduled for May 14 at 10:30 PM IST. Speculations suggest that the tech giant may introduce AI enhancements, application updates, and possibly share details about the upcoming Android 15. For now, enthusiasts will have to wait for the event to discover the official announcements on the agenda.