Photo credit: www.theverge.com
Google Photos simplifies the process of backing up images and videos from your mobile device by working in the background, ensuring that your valuable memories are cleverly stored in the cloud without requiring any additional effort on your part.
However, this ease of use can lead to a significant accumulation of photos over time, which may pose challenges when searching for specific items within your extensive collection. Fortunately, there are several techniques to efficiently navigate through an expansive photo library.
Here are some effective search strategies to locate images and videos in Google Photos.
Search by Person or Pet
Google Photos can identify all images that feature the same individual or pet. Screenshot: Google
The platform employs facial recognition capabilities to detect people and pets in your images, adapting even as they age. To initiate a search for a person or pet, utilize the search bar located at the top of the interface on the web, or select the People and pets option from the left navigation panel. On mobile, simply tap the search icon positioned at the bottom right of the display.
If the system has not previously recognized the individual, you will need to provide some identification assistance.
Ensure that face grouping is activated — this is typically on by default. In the web app, you can verify this by clicking the gear icon in the top right corner, selecting Group similar faces, and confirming that Face Groups is enabled. For mobile users, tap your personal icon at the top right, navigate to Photos settings > Preferences > Group similar faces, and enable the feature.
After setting up face groups, you should see an example photo marked as “me,” allowing you to tag both people and pets.
When attempting to identify someone in a photo, open the image in full screen. On the web, a panel on the right will display detected faces alongside names you’ve assigned to them. If the panel is not visible, click on the info button (the “i” in a circle). In the mobile app, tap the three dots located in the upper right; detected faces will appear at the bottom of the screen.
For any unnamed faces that you wish to identify, simply click on the face thumbnail to view all photos featuring that person or pet. By selecting Add a name, you can assign a name to the face by pressing Enter.
Additionally, you may encounter a “faces available to add” link in the info panel that allows you to view and identify other faces not yet named.
It is worth noting that sometimes, the system may fail to detect faces in certain photos, and there is currently no mechanism to indicate that another person should be recognized in these cases.
Using location data, you can easily search for photos taken in specific places. Screenshot: Google
Searching for images based on their location is generally more straightforward than facial recognition. Simply enter the desired location in the search box at the top of the web app, or utilize the search icon located at the bottom of the mobile app. You can enter names of countries, cities, towns, and even various places marked on Google Maps.
To dive deeper into your location-tagged photos, select the Places option from the left navigation panel on the web, or click the Collections icon on mobile.
While most smartphones include location data automatically, you have the option to add location details to photos that may lack this metadata. In the web app, access the info panel while viewing an image in full screen and click on Add a location. In the mobile app, you can swipe up to reveal the Location section and then select the pencil icon.
You can modify the date of any image if the existing date information is incorrect. Screenshot: Google
As you navigate through your Google Photos library, you’ll notice years indicated along the right side. By selecting a particular year in this sidebar, you can quickly jump to that timeframe.
You can also specify a time frame in the search box; entering a year, a month accompanied by a year, or a specific date will yield the relevant results. Seasonal searches are permissible as well; for instance, typing “summer 2023” or “winter 2024” will work. To search for a range of dates, use the “#date_range:yyyymmdd-yyyymmdd” format, like “#date_range:20250101-20250201” for all photos taken in January 2025.
Images missing date metadata will default to the date they were uploaded to Google Photos. To change a photo’s date, click the pencil icon next to the currently displayed date within the info panel when viewing the image.
Searching for food images can reveal just how many you have captured over time. Screenshot: Google
Thanks to advanced AI features in Google Photos, users can employ keyword searches for various subjects, such as beaches, bedrooms, trains, people engaging in sports, or even specific colors. To find what you’re looking for, simply type the relevant term into the search box at the top.
However, the current capabilities do not allow for combinations of terms in a single search; therefore, it is advisable to keep your queries limited to one subject at a time. For example, you can search for either “cats” or “dogs,” but not both simultaneously.
Additionally, Google Photos enhances its search functionality by scanning the text present in images, providing another avenue for locating specific pictures. For instance, a search for “table” will return both images depicting tables and those containing the word “table” in the picture.
Source
www.theverge.com