Google Photos toggle lets you switch between classic search & Ask Photos
9to5 Google 2026-07-20 22:16:16
Context: Google Photos has introduced a new "classic search" toggle for its Ask Photos feature, allowing users to seamlessly switch between the two search experiences. This update, first mentioned in March, is now fully rolled out to users. The toggle is available on both Android and iOS versions of Google Photos.
Key Facts
- The new toggle appears at the top of the search results page for users who have "Ask Photos" enabled, allowing them to switch between classic search and the AI-powered Ask Photos experience.
- When testing the toggle with simple, single-word queries, it remained set to classic search, but switching to more complex questions, such as "what's my license plate?", automatically switched the toggle back to Ask Photos.
- The toggle is displayed differently for users who do not have Ask Photos enabled, with the goal of encouraging them to try the AI-powered experience.
- The update is available on Google Photos for both Android and iOS platforms, as confirmed by a community post and testing by 9to5Google.
- The classic search toggle was first mentioned by Google in March 2026, and its full rollout was announced in a community post on July 20, 2026.