Google Photos adds setting to disable shimmer, AI camera shortcut - 9to5Google

What the report says

9to5Google reports that Google Photos for Android has received three smaller interface and workflow updates, with the most notable being a new control for the app’s “shimmer” effect. According to the report, shimmer is the outline that appears around people or objects in photos when Google Photos identifies an available action, such as making a sticker. The effect remains on by default, but users can now disable it through a “Show shimmer” toggle under Photos view or in Settings > Preferences.

The publication also says Google Photos version 7.85 on Android is showing a Material 3 Expressive redesign for parts of the Settings area. The refreshed look uses more visual containers on the main Settings page and in sections such as Backup and Preferences. Other areas, including Notifications, Sharing, Apps & devices, and Privacy, have not yet adopted the newer design, suggesting the rollout is partial rather than app-wide.

A third change affects AI-based creation tools inside Google Photos. When using features such as Remix, Photo to video, or other AI templates, users may now see a large camera floating action button that opens the device camera. 9to5Google says this lets someone capture a quick new image for immediate use in those tools instead of leaving Google Photos or choosing an existing library image.

The changes matter mainly as refinements to Google Photos’ usability: one gives users more control over AI-related visual prompts, another continues Google’s broader Android design update, and the camera shortcut reduces friction for creating AI-assisted media.