You can edit or change what a photo looks like on your Pixel device. You can also edit older photos and photos taken on other devices in your Google Photos storage. Learn how to open your Camera app on your Pixel phone.
Your camera saves your image files in JPEG + RAW format when you enable RAW/JPEG in camera settings. You can tell the difference between your RAW and JPEG photos at the top of your photos with the icon for RAW .
To enable RAW + JPEG files:
- Open the Camera app .
- At the bottom left, tap Settings More settings.
- Under 'General options', tap Advanced.
- Turn on RAW/JPEG control.
Tip: This step isn't required on Pixel 8 Pro.
To turn on RAW:
- In photo mode, at the bottom left, tap Settings .
- Turn on RAW + JPEG.
To find, view and edit a RAW file:
- Open the Google Photos app .
- In the gallery grid, a 'RAW' badge indicates that the RAW + JPEG photo pairs were taken with RAW setting on.
- Tap to view RAW.
- You can see the JPEG image, but you can tap on the second tile to see the RAW image.
- To edit RAW, tap Edit.
- When you edit your RAW files in your favourite editor, you can set a default RAW editor directly from Google Photos.
Tip: If backup is enabled in Google Photos, your RAW photos are automatically backed up.
To use RAW files:
- Take a photo in Night Sight or default mode.
- Go to your home screen.
- Gesture navigation: Swipe up from the bottom of the screen.
- Three-button or two-button navigation: Tap Home.
- Open Google Photos.
- At the bottom right, tap Library Raw.
Use gridlines to straighten photos
- Open the Camera app .
- At the bottom left, tap Settings .
- Tap More Settings Grid type.
- Select the type of grid that you want.
Adjust the photo's ratio
- Open the Camera app .
- At the bottom left, tap Settings .
- Select a ratio option:
- Wide crop (16:9)
- Full image (4:3)
Crop a photo
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In the Photos app, go to the photo that you want to edit.
- Tap Edit photo Crop .
- Adjust the borders to your desired size.
- Find the photo that you want to edit.
- Tap Edit Tools.
- From here, you can adjust the light, colour or blur of a photo.
Photo Unblur
Important: This feature is available on Pixel 7 and later, including Pixel Fold.You can improve your blurry photos with Photo Unblur.
- Open your Photos app .
- Select the photo that you want to edit.
- Tap Edit photo Tools Unblur.
Tip: You can use Photo Unblur on new photos or older photos in your photo library.
Pop
Important: This feature is available on Pixel 4a (5G) and later.
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In your Google Photos app , tap Edit photo Tools Pop.
- Then, adjust the scale slider.
Colour pop
Important: This feature is available on Pixel 4a and earlier.
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In your Google Photos app , tap Edit photo Colour pop.
- Then, adjust the colour pop slider.
Portrait Light
Important: Add light and Balance light features are only available on Pixel 6 and later, including Pixel Fold.
You can adjust the lighting in your photos of people. Portrait Light is available when a photo shows small groups of people from the waist up.
- In your Google Photos app, tap Edit photo Tools Portrait Light.
- To brighten the photo: Tap Add light.
- Move the white ring to where you want more light.
- Lower or raise the brightness manually or automatically:
- To set the brightness yourself, adjust the slider.
- To let your device set the lighting, tap Auto.
- To soften shadows: tap Balance light.
- To brighten the photo: Tap Add light.
Adjust brightness or shadows
Important: This feature is available on Pixel 4 and later, including Pixel Fold.Adjust brightness: On the right, adjust the slider to lower or raise brightness .
Adjust shadows: On the right, adjust the slider to lower or raise shadows .
- In the Photos app, go to the photo that you want to edit.
- Tap Edit Tools Magic Eraser.
- Tap a suggestion. You can also use the circle or brush to erase more distractions from the photo.
- To make objects blend in with the photo, tap Camouflage and use the brush.
- To finish, tap Done.
Important: This feature is available on Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro only.
To reduce unwanted sounds from videos, you can use Audio Magic Eraser on your Pixel phone.
- Open the Google Photos app .
- Tap on the video that you want to edit.
- At the bottom, tap Edit Audio Audio eraser.
- To have your phone automatically adjust the audio for you, tap Auto.
- To manually adjust sounds, tap on a sound and adjust the slider.
- At the bottom right, tap Save copy.
- Open your Camera app . Learn how.
- Tap Portrait Capture .
- To view the enhanced version, in the bottom-right corner, tap the photo.
Tip
- To add a blurred background after you take a photo, tap Edit photo Tools Blur . Then, move the blur slider.
- On the Pixel Tablet, Portrait mode is supported on the front camera only.
Important: This feature is available on Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro only.
If someone blinks or looks away in your group photos, Best take combines similar photos into one photo where everyone looks their best. You can choose your favourite facial expressions for everyone and create your own Best take.
To edit a photo with Best take:
- Open the Google Photos app .
- Open a photo from a sequence of similar photos that includes one or more people.
- At the bottom, tap Edit Tools Best take.
- Tap on a face bubble to choose a different expression.
- When you’re satisfied, tap Done.
Important: This feature is available on Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro only and for users 18+. This feature is still experimental and may not always work as you expect.
You can move around or erase parts of a photo and apply special-effect presets.
To use Magic Editor:
- Open the Google Photos app .
- Tap on the photo that you want to edit.
- Tap Edit Magic Editor .
To apply preset effects in Magic Editor:
- When you’re in Magic Editor mode, tap Preset .
- To scroll through your options, swipe left.
- Select a preset.
- Tap the tick.
- If you want to continue to edit your photo, repeat steps 1–3.
- When you’re finished with your edit, tap Save copy.
Tip: Preset options depend on your photo. Not all options are available at the same time.
Move, erase or resize part of your photo in Magic Editor:
- When you’re in Magic Editor mode, tap, draw a circle around or brush to select part of your photo.
- Zoom in for better accuracy.
- To move your selection, long press and drag it to the area that you want.
- To change the size of your selection, long press and pinch it with two fingers.
- To remove your selection, tap Erase.
- To apply the edit, tap the tick .
- If you want to continue to edit your photo, repeat steps 1–2.
- When you’re finished with your edit, tap Save copy.
Tip: Magic Editor may take a moment to generate photo options.