Google Photos' new feature turns your Android phone into a digital photo frame

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Google Photos albums on the Pixel 4
Google Photos albums on the Pixel 4 (Image credit: Hayato Huseman / Android Central)

What you need to know

  • Google is rolling out a new Memories-based feature to the Google Photos app on Android.
  • The app now offers a live wallpaper option that lets you cycle through photos saved on your device.
  • You'll be able to choose the new Memories live wallpaper with the stock wallpaper picker on your phone.

The Google Photos app on Android has gained a new feature that lets you relive your memories. As reported by the folks at XDA Developers, Google Photos v5.52 comes with a live wallpaper option that allows you to cycle through stored photos on your phone's home screen.

To start using the feature, you'll need to make sure you have the latest version of the Google Photos app installed on your phone. Once you update the Google Photos app from the Play Store, you will be able to access the new live wallpaper option in the stock wallpaper picker on your device. After you select the Memories live wallpaper, you'll see a preview pane showing how your stored photos will appear on your home screen. To apply the live wallpaper, tap on the "Set wallpaper" button in the bottom right corner.

Unfortunately, however, Google isn't giving users any control over the images that are shown as wallpapers. Whether Google plans to add more customization apps to the Memories live wallpaper feature in the near future, is something that remains to be seen. There is also no word yet on when the feature will begin rolling out to iOS users.

Google Photos is still better than the competition even if you have to pay

Babu Mohan
Babu Mohan
3 Comments
  • So, they released this without even the ability to choose an album? So we'll get various pictures of that snapshot we took of the post office receipt to get the tracking number. Great. Google's definition of "Minimum VIable Product" is lower than anyone else's.
  • I've been using Dakboard for this-- you can pick a Google Photos album, and it will act as a digital frame. Throw the time and weather on top of it, and it makes that 9 year old Touchpad running Android useful. (Also, I have a 9 year old Touchpad that's still working.)
  • How about letting me slideshow my photos and videos in the app itself at least. What a revolutionary feature that would be!