Google Photos Makes Hiding Unwanted Faces Easier
Imagine scrolling through your Google Photos, reminiscing over old memories, and suddenly seeing a face that brings back unwanted emotions. Google is now working to make it easier for you to avoid such moments. As hinted by an Android Authority article, their latest APK teardown reveals imminent updates to the Google Photos app, simplifying how you can hide faces from your Memories feed.
Why Google Photos is Making This Change
Breakups, ended friendships, and other such transitions can make looking at certain faces in old photos an unpleasant experience. While Google Photos already offers tools to hide specific people, the current process involves multiple steps that can be quite cumbersome. Users had to either navigate through a series of menus or open the photo’s details to hide a face—a procedure not very user-friendly.
In the current version of the app (v6.92 for Android), you have to:
- Open a photo and swipe up to reveal its metadata.
- Tap on a face in the People section.
- In the resulting screen, tap the three-dot menu at the top right.
- Choose to either show that person less frequently or hide them entirely.
Alternatively, you can:
- Open the Photos app, tap your avatar in the top right corner.
- Go to Photos settings > Preferences > Memories > Hide people and pets.
While both methods work, they aren’t very streamlined, especially if you want to bulk-hide faces.
A Glimpse into the New Method
Thanks to the APK teardown, we’ve learned that Google Photos will soon let you hide faces more efficiently. Here’s how the simplified method will work:
- Open a photo and swipe up to reveal its metadata.
- Click on the three dots next to a face that appears in the People section.
- Choose to either show that person less frequently or hide them entirely, so any image with them is blocked from appearing in Memories.
This new approach requires fewer taps and makes it easier to hide individuals right from the photo’s details. You will no longer need to navigate away from the image you started on, making the process faster and more user-friendly.
Added Benefits
Alongside making faces easier to hide, Google is also upgrading other features within the app. You’ll be able to edit the label for a face or change their cover photo directly from the photo details screen. This provides more control over your Google Photos experience, allowing for a more individualized and curated Memories feed.
What’s Next?
While there isn’t a specific release date yet, it seems these features are practically ready to roll out. If the APK teardown is anything to go by, Google might make these improvements available in the coming weeks or months.
Why This Matters
Many people have a vast digital photo library saved on Google Photos. Memories can be a pleasant trip down memory lane, but they can also bring back people you’d rather not see. By simplifying the process of hiding faces, Google addresses a real need for its users, making photo management more emotionally considerate.
What You Can Expect
Once this update is live, users will find it easier to hide faces without jumping through too many hoops. Whether you’re trying to avoid an ex or keep certain faces out of your search results, the new steps are straightforward and efficient.
Stay Tuned for Updates
If you’re eager to use these new features, keep an eye out for updates to Google Photos in the coming weeks. This promises to bring much-needed relief for those sensitive moments captured in your photos.
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Google Photos is about to make managing your photo Memories less of a chore and more of a joy. Whether past relationships or other personal reasons drive your need to hide certain faces, this update will soon make it easier than ever before.
Stay tuned, and happy photo curating!
Johanna ‘Jojo the Techie’
Joanna is a seasoned mobile technology expert with more than 15 years of experience. Specializing in the Google ecosystem and Pixel devices, she brings accessible and insightful information to her audience. She’s a recognized thought leader and official member of #TeamPixel.
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