Google Photos is Launching New Update

Google is adding a new feature to Google Photos that lets you hide specific pictures so they won’t show up in your photo feed or other apps. The feature is called Locked Folder and will put whatever sensitive pictures you’d rather not share behind a password.

Google used the example of parents trying to keep a puppy purchase secret from their kids though the feature should be useful for any sensitive images that you don’t want to share with others. Certain times when people show off one or two pictures and unfortunately show the picture they didn’t want others to see. This feature will save the users from embarrassments. Locked Folder will help Photos users avoid that fear by keeping whatever sensitive pictures you’ve got on the service out of your main photos feed.

Google says the feature will launch first on Pixels but will be coming to more Android phones throughout the year. Similar features have been available through third-party apps already, and many Samsung users already have access to a Secure Folder feature included on some Galaxy phones. Google Photos said that Starting June 1, 2021, any new photos and videos you upload will count toward the free 15GB of storage that comes with every Google Account or the additional storage you’ve purchased as a Google One member. Your Google Account storage is shared across Drive, Gmail and Photos.

Once you exceed your 15GBs of free storage, you may be tempted to buy a Google One subscription plan, which starts at 100GBs of cloud storage for $1.99 a month. Google is adding a feature called Cinematic moments, which uses machine learning to create a moving image out of two photos taken in rapid succession. These will go live in the Recent Highlights section of Google Photos