Google Photos for Android may get features that were exclusive to iPhone version: Here's what to expect

Google Photos on Android is expected to gain several features that have so far been exclusive to the iPhone version. According to an Android Authority report, code related to the same was discovered in the latest Google Photos v7.66 update. The additions include manual photo stacking, a floating navigation bar, and further Expressive UI redesign work, bringing the Android app closer in line with changes that iOS users have had access to for some time.

No official release dates have been confirmed, but the state of the code suggests a public rollout is not far off.

Google Photos for Android to get manual photo stacks

Google Photos introduced automatic Photo Stacks in late 2023. This feature groups similar photos taken around the same time to reduce clutter in a user's library without deleting anything from their collection. It was a well-received addition, but the automated grouping was not always accurate. Photos that looked similar but were distinct ended up bundled together, and users had little recourse.

To address that, Google introduced Manual Photo Stacks last year, giving users direct control over which photos get grouped. The catch: the feature launched exclusively on iOS and never made it to Android.

As per the report, code in v7.66 suggests that it is about to change. Developers have enabled Manual Photo Stacks on Android, and it works the same way as on iOS. When it rolls out, users will be able to select multiple photos from their feed and tap a "Stack photos" option from the bottom sheet to manually create a group.

Given how complete the implementation appears, the feature could arrive soon.

Google Photos Android app gets iPhone version-exclusive floating navigation bar

One of the more visible gaps between the two versions of Google Photos has been the floating navigation bar. Google rolled it out to iOS as part of a broader visual refresh, which made it all the more noticeable given that the feature was originally shown off as part of Android's new Expressive UI redesign. Android users were, in effect, waiting on a feature that was demoed on their platform but shipped first on a competitor's.The v7.66 update includes an enabled version of this redesigned UI on Android, featuring the floating navigation bar alongside a gradient status bar that creates a full edge-to-edge look. It is a meaningful visual upgrade that brings the Android app in line with the iOS version's more polished feel.

Google Photos' Expressive UI redesign extends to the folder selection menu

Google has been gradually rolling out its Expressive UI redesign across different parts of the Photos app for some time.

The Backup section has been the main focus of this work, with Google chipping away at the visual overhaul across multiple updates. The v7.66 update reportedly extends those changes to one more area: the folder selection menu, which now reflects the new design language when choosing which folders to back up.It is a smaller change compared to the navigation bar or manual stacking, but it signals that Google is pushing to finish the redesign across the full app rather than leaving pockets of the old interface behind.Taken together, the three updates suggest Google is making a deliberate effort to close the gap between its Android and iOS apps, a gap that has been a quiet source of frustration for Android users who expect Google's own platform to be first in line for new features.