How Google Photos helps you identify how photos & videos were made

Google Photos supports Content Credentials, a technology that provides media history and transparency about the use of artificial intelligence (AI). The Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA) developed Content Credentials which is an industry standard supported by many products.

Important: Content Credentials aren’t available on Google Photos Web.

How Content Credentials help you make informed decisions

What Content Credentials do

• Provides details about a photo or video’s origin and history through a standard that works across devices and apps from different companies.

• Provides information from the app or device maker about AI or non-AI tools used to create or edit a photo or video.

What Content Credentials don’t do

• Tell you if a photo or video is real or fake, but you can use the information with the photo or video’s content to make informed decisions.

How Content Credentials information works in Google Photos

Important: Content Credentials in Google Photos are available for photo or video files from devices and apps that support compatible versions of the Content Credentials format.

To find a photo or video’s Content Credentials on Android and iOS, in the About panel, check the “How this was made” section, which can display up to 4 categories that summarize Content Credentials from the photo or video. Each category:

• Shows the company that provided and cryptographically signed the information. For example, “Info by Google LLC” shows that Google provided the information.

• May list more than one company. The most recent signer is displayed first.

The summary includes this information, where applicable:

• Media composition: When available, shows the origin of a photo or video. This can be a single origin or a combination of media used to create the photo or video. For example, in a default Pixel 10 capture, “Media captured with a camera” will be displayed.

• AI edits: “Edited with AI tools" appears on photos or videos edited with generative AI like Magic Eraser where new pixels are created in Google Photos.

• Maybe AI edits: Some third-party apps may record Content Credentials information but not indicate if an edit was powered by AI or not. In this case, you’ll see “May have been edited by AI tools.”

• Non-AI edits: When applicable, the non-AI edit line is displayed on a photo or video. Usual edits like crop and rotate are recorded as non-AI edits in media history. In this case, you’ll see “Edited with non-AI tools.”

When Content Credentials information is available

Important: Content Credentials in Google Photos are available for photo or video files from devices and apps that support compatible versions of the Content Credentials format.

When supported media is present in your library, Google Photos displays Content Credentials information:

• Content Credentials provided on capture or creation of the photo or video: Some cameras or tools include Content Credentials when the media file is created. When applicable, this information will show in Google Photos.

When supported media is edited on mobile devices, Google Photos updates and signs Content Credentials information in these cases:

• Editing a photo or video that has Content Credentials: If a photo or video already contains valid Content Credentials, additional edits in the Google Photos app continue to add to the C2PA information. This applies to both AI tools like Magic Eraser and non-AI tools like crop.

• Editing a photo or video that previously didn’t have Content Credentials: If an original photo or video doesn’t have Content Credentials, Google Photos will add Content Credentials to it when an AI edit is saved.

• Sharing: When you share or receive a photo or video with Content Credentials in Google Photos, that information will be available in the “How this was made” section and through third-party tools that support Content Credentials.

Understanding Content Credentials errors in Google Photos

In the “How this was made” section, an error can occur when Google Photos attempts to display Content Credentials but there’s an issue. A message is displayed based on common errors below:

• Incorrectly modified: Content Credentials are built on history that’s maintained and signed by each editor of the photo or video. If the media history was tampered with or modified without an appropriate update of the C2PA data, an error occurs.

• Incompatible or unsupported: Google Photos supports Content Credentials versions 2.1 and 2.2. Some third-party Content Credentials apps store the metadata remotely, separate from the photo or video. Google Photos doesn’t support remote metadata.

• Unrecognized: A file may contain malformed Content Credentials when the app that generated the file experienced a bug. Google Photos may detect metadata, but can’t interpret it in some cases.

Tip: In offline mode, Content Credentials aren't always signed or maintained.

How to find Content Credentials in Google Photos

Important: Content Credentials aren’t available for every photo or video.

To find Content Credentials on Android, version Android 8.0 or above:

1. On your Android device, open the Google Photos app .

2. Select a photo or video to check the info.

3. Tap More About.

4. Scroll to "How this was made."

   • You can view a summary of:

     • Media composition

     • Edit history

     • Whether or not AI was used

To find Content Credentials on iOS devices:

1. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Google Photos app .

2. Select a photo or video to check the info.

3. Tap More About.

4. Scroll to "How this was made."

   • You can view a summary of:

     • Media composition

     • Edit history

     • Whether or not AI was used

Tip: Photos and videos created from devices or apps without C2PA technology may have an “AI info” section instead of the “How this was made” section. Learn how to find out if your photos have been edited with AI.

Related resources

• Create images with Pixel Studio