Google Photos finally lets you turn off its most annoying visual effect - Android Authority

What the report says

Android Authority reports that Google Photos has added a setting that lets users disable the app’s shimmer animation, a visual effect that appears across photos in the gallery. The publication said the option is arriving with Google Photos version 7.85 and is aimed at people who prefer a cleaner, more static browsing experience.

According to the report, the shimmer effect remains enabled by default, so users who do not want it must switch it off manually. Android Authority says the control can be found in the Google Photos app by tapping the profile icon, opening Photos settings, going to Preferences, selecting Photos view, and turning off the “Show shimmer” toggle. The author noted seeing the setting after updating the app on an OPPO Find X9 Pro, and advised users who do not see it to check whether they are on version 7.85 or a newer build.

The change follows Android Authority’s earlier reporting that Google was preparing such a toggle. While the update is relatively small, it matters because it gives users more control over the interface of a widely used photo-management app. The shimmer effect was designed to make photos feel more dynamic and is tied to sticker creation, but Android Authority described it as potentially distracting for people scrolling through memories or searching for a specific image.

The report also says Google has added a new shortcut in Google Photos for quickly capturing images for AI-powered edits. Android Authority did not frame the update as a major redesign, but as part of Google’s continued adjustments to Photos features and user controls.