Search by people, things and places in your photos

Google Photos offers multiple ways to find your photos, from classic keyword searches to conversational summaries in results with Ask Photos, if you opt in to this experience.

You can also use the search to find different features and collections in Google Photos, like 'People and pets', 'Albums', 'Documents' and more.

Important:

• Some features aren't available in all geographic regions, domains or account types.
• To search your photos using Ask Photos, you'll first need to opt in to Gemini features in Photos. Learn how to start using Ask Photos.

Before you get started

Download and install the Google Photos app.

Determine your desired search experience

Understand the classic search experience

If 'Ask Photos' isn't enabled, you'll have a more classic search experience. This type of search works best when you have a simple goal in mind.

Use this experience when you want to find:

• All the videos of a person.
• A photo of a pet's vet invoice using the vet clinic's name.
• Pictures of colourful sunsets in Mexico.

Understand the Ask Photos search experience

With 'Ask Photos' enabled, you expand on what you can accomplish with a single search.

Use this experience when you want to:

• Try a complex search, such as 'Photos that'd make a great phone background' or 'What did I eat on my trip to Barcelona?'

This feature is still experimental, so it may give unexpected or inaccurate results. When you leave feedback, you can help to improve Ask Photos for everyone.

Search for your photos

Important:

• When you use your voice to search, your voice recordings aren't stored anywhere. Learn more about what data is stored when you use voice input for Ask Photos.
• To easily search and manage your photos, apply a label to people or pets. These appear in photos grouped with Google Photos. Learn how to set up Face Groups.

1. On your Android device, open the Google Photos app .
2. At the bottom, tap Search or Ask .
   • To use voice input during your searches: tap Microphone .
   • If you're not opted-in to Ask Photos: you may find a toggle to opt in at the top of your search page if you're eligible.
     • You can follow the prompts to opt in at any point. Learn how to opt in to Ask Photos.
3. Enter your search into the text box or find the face labels.
   • Use quotation marks if you want to find exact text matches in filenames, camera models, captions or text within photos.
   • Without quotation marks, you'll get a wider range of results not limited to text.
   • Your search results may include photos and videos from the shared albums or conversations that you didn't save in your library. You'll find a shared content badge at the bottom left of the shared item.
     • To exclude shared items from your search results, at the top right of the search results page, tap More Include shared with me.
4. Review the results by relevance or recency.
   • If you're opted-in to Ask Photos: you can toggle between the Ask and classic search views at the top of your search results page.
     • This doesn't impact your overall opt in to the Ask Photos feature.
   • If the Ask view is enabled for your search:
     • You can see a descriptive summary of your search.
     • You can keep the conversation going with a follow-up question or clarification about your search.
     • You can also start a new search when you enter a completely different question in the text box.

Tips:

• To get new results for the same question when the Ask view is enabled: at the top right, tap More Redo .
• To show which album or conversation an item is from: at the top left, tap the owner's Profile picture or Initial.
• Searching for your unsaved shared content is only available in classic search at this time.

Search for a photo or video

Learn how Face Groups help you to search

To easily search and manage your photos, apply a label to people or pets that appear in photos grouped with Google Photos.

Once you've applied these labels, you can search by face labels.

To search by face labels:

1. On your Android device, open the Google Photos app .
2. At the bottom, tap Search or Ask .
   • To go to the page of one of your top people or pets: tap on their face.
   • To find pages of other people and pets: tap More .

Tips:

• You can only use the text box to search photos with a name or nickname if you've labelled people or pets. Learn how to set up Face Groups.
• You can only find face labels when the Face Groups feature is on. Learn how to turn Face Groups on or off.

Leave feedback on Ask Photos

This experimental feature from Google Labs won't always get it right and may give inaccurate or inappropriate answers that don't represent Google's views.

1. On your Android device, open Google Photos .
2. Tap Ask .
   • Toggle on to enable Ask Photos.
3. Ask a question.
4. Tap Thumbs up or Thumbs down .
   • If the Thumbs up and Thumbs down buttons aren't displayed, tap Menu Help and feedback to share input.
5. Optional: If you tap Thumbs down , you can send additional details and feedback.
   1. Write your own feedback.
   2. Tap Send.

Tips:

• When you send feedback, use the tick box to indicate if you wish to grant Google permission to communicate with you about your feedback.
• To remove feedback, including any additional feedback, tap Thumbs up or Thumbs down again.
• Learn more about what's shared when you give feedback.

Navigate the Photos app using search

You can use search to find other content organised in:

• Albums
• Archive
• Documents
• Favourites
• Locked Folder
• Partner Sharing
• People and pets
• Places
• Recently added
• Screenshots
• Bin
• Videos

You can also search for these items:

1. On your Android device, open the Google Photos app .
2. At the bottom, tap Search or Ask .
3. Enter the name of the item that you want to find.
   • You can use words like 'Abigail', 'Documents', 'Favourites' and more.
4. When it appears in the search suggestions, tap the item's name.

Related resources

Can't find your photos? Get help finding photos.