5 Hidden Features of Google Photos

Google Photos is a great little app that lets you automatically move all your photographs from your phone to the cloud. This not only keeps your precious photos safe, but it also frees up storage on your phone. But Google Photos is capable of a whole lot more than that. Here are 5 hidden features of Google Photos that you may not be aware of:

1. Animated GIF Creation

Everybody loves those cool animated GIFs, but did you know that you could make them yourself with Google Photos? It works by taking your photographs and animating them, making it one of the best hidden features of Google Photos.

To make an animated GIF, do the following:

1. In the sidebar, press the Assistant Button.
2. Press the Animation button, which is available under the Create New option.
3. In the Create Animation window, choose up to 50 photographs to use.
4. Press the Create button.

The app will then create the animated GIF, which you can download by pressing the More Options button.

2. Collage Creation

Collages let you combine multiple photographs into one big one that represents a specific theme, like your family or friends. With Google Photos, not only can you create a collage of your stored photos, but you also can upload them to Instagram as well.

To make a collage, do the following:

1. In the sidebar, press the Assistant Button.
2. Press the Collage button, which is available under the Create New option.
3. In the Create Collage window, choose up to 9 photographs to use.
4. Press the Create button.

The app will then create the collage, which you can download by pressing the More Options button.

3. Sideshow Creation

If you have ever wanted to make a sideshow out of your photo albums, you know can with Google Photos. What’s more, it is really easy to do.

To make a sideshow, do the following:

1. In the sidebar, press the Albums Button.
2. Press the More Options button.
3. A dropdown menu will display, and you should choose Sideshows from it.

The app will then create the sideshow. You can use the controls at the bottom of it to fast-forward, fast-backward or pause the sideshow.

4. Photo Search

It is not uncommon for people to create albums for their photos so that they can find them later. But Google Photos also has a powerful built-in search engine that lets you do this as well.

If you are looking for a specific photograph, simply express what is about in the search bar on the top of the page. You will be surprised just how well this works.

5. Fast Photo Downloads

The fact that Google Photos automatically moves your photos from your phone to the cloud is a great feature, but sometimes you want to have your photos on your local device. There is a very easy and fast way to do this.

Just do the following:

1. In your web browser, go to https://takeout.google.com.
2. It will automatically select all your Google data, so you want to press the Select None button to deselect this.
3. In the list, find Google Photos and select it.
4. Select “All photo albums.”
5. At the bottom of the screen, press the Next button.
6. A new page will display, and there you should choose both the file type of your photos and the download method.
7. Press the Create Archive button and Google will let you know when your photos are ready.