Google Photos is rolling out an exciting new feature that simplifies photo searches, potentially saving users hours of scrolling through their libraries. This update allows users to search for specific text contained within images by enclosing the desired words in quotation marks.
This means if you’re trying to locate a document, a sign, or even a handwritten note with a particular word, just type that word in quotes, and Google Photos will present only the images where that word appears. For instance, searching for “passport” will yield results exclusively showing photos where the word “passport” is visible.
While this improvement may seem minor, it represents one of the promised enhancements from Google as part of the 10th anniversary celebration of Google Photos. The update emphasizes Google’s commitment to helping users organize their memories and find images more efficiently.
This functionality will be particularly beneficial for individuals who use Google Photos to save screenshots, documents, receipts, and other images containing text. Previously, searches relied on broader keywords, often resulting in unrelated photos.
The introduction of quotation marks transforms these searches into a more precise and focused tool. Despite some limitations—such as challenges in recognizing text that is difficult to read or obscured—the feature is a significant advancement in AI capabilities within the app.
Users can expect to benefit from ongoing improvements in managing large photo libraries more effectively. If the update has not appeared in your account yet, there is no need to fret.
Google is gradually rolling it out, meaning it will become available to all users in the near future. Once it is active, you can test the new search functionality by entering specific words in quotes to see how well it performs with your own photos.