Quick Links Cast Photos to a Larger Screen Search Photos by Face, Location, and Keywords Use Google Lens for Extra Insights Enhance Photos With Magic Editor Create Collages, Animations, and Reels Remove Location Data When Sharing Secure Photos With Locked Folder Order Physical Copies of Photos Manage Google Photos Notifications Download All Photos at Once

Google Photos is more than just a basic photo storage app; it offers a range of fun and useful features that are often overlooked. From smart search options to creative editing tools, here are some of the best Google Photos tips you should need to try.

1 Cast Photos to a Larger Screen

One of the most useful features of Google Photos is its ability to cast photos and videos to any Chromecast-enabled device, like your TV. This feature is especially handy when reliving vacation memories or flipping through an album with friends, as it eliminates the hassle of passing your phone around.

All you have to do is ensure your TV and phone are connected to the same Wi-Fi network, tap the Cast icon in the Google Photos app, and select your TV. You can then enjoy your photos and videos on the big screen.

Close 2 Search Photos by Face, Location, and Keywords

When you have thousands of photos in your Google Photos library, finding that one special moment can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. Fortunately, Google Photos' powerful search features make this task effortless.

It also organizes images by location; simply enter the name of a place -- like Paris or Chicago -- and you'll see all the photos taken there.

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Additionally, there's a keyword search feature. You can use terms such as birthday, sunset, or dog, and Google Photos' AI analyzes the content of the images to deliver relevant results. You can also search for specific dates, such as August 2018. With these tools, finding specific photos only takes seconds.

3 Use Google Lens for Extra Insights

Every once in a while, you may need to extract text from an image or identify an object or landmark in your photo. In such cases, you can use the built-in Google Lens feature in Google Photos. Simply open a photo in the app and tap the Lens icon to identify objects, plants, animals, and even famous landmarks.

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For example, if it's a photo of a book, tapping on the Lens icon will show you reviews or links to buy it online. Spot a flower? Google Lens can help you identify the species instantly. You can also use it to recognize, copy, or translate text within an image.

4 Enhance Photos With Magic Editor

You may already be familiar with Google Photos' basic image editing tools like cropping, rotating, and adjusting colors. But one standout feature you shouldn't miss is the Magic Editor. With it, you can resize, reposition, or even remove subjects from your photos. Whether you want to shift elements around or erase unwanted objects or people, Magic Editor can do it all.

To use it, simply select a photo, tap Edit, and tap the Magic Editor icon. It works for all photos and videos backed up to your Google Photos library.

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Additionally, there are options to edit videos as well. You can use them to stabilize shaky footage, adjust the speed, apply filters, or even mute the video with ease. All of this makes Google Photos a great all-in-one tool for quickly enhancing both your photos and videos.

5 Create Collages, Animations, and Reels

Google Photos isn't just for storing and editing photos -- it's also a fun tool for creating content for your social media. For instance, Google Photos can quickly create eye-catching collages from the photos you select. It can also turn a series of photos into a smooth, looping animation. If you want to share something even more engaging, you can create reels directly within the app.

To do this, just tap the plus icon in the Photos tab, choose your desired option -- Collage, Animation, or Highlight video -- and let the app do the work.

Close 6 Remove Location Data When Sharing

When sharing photos via Google Photos, you may not want to reveal the exact location where they were taken. Fortunately, Google Photos offers a simple way to remove location data before sharing.

Open the photo in the Google Photos app, and tap the three-dot icon in the top right corner. Then, tap the pencil icon next to the location and select Remove Location. This feature helps protect your privacy by ensuring that no one can trace the exact spot where your photos were captured when you share them with others.

Close 7 Secure Photos With Locked Folder

Google Photos' Locked Folder is the perfect solution for anyone looking to keep their private photos and videos hidden from prying eyes. This feature adds an extra layer of security, allowing you to store sensitive media behind a fingerprint, face recognition, or PIN lock.

To do this, find and select the photo you want to move the Locked Folder. Tap the three-dot icon in the top right corner, select Move to Locked Folder, and hit Move to confirm.

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Photos and videos you move to the Locked Folder will no longer appear in your main gallery, ensuring they stay private. The best part? Locked Folder is device-specific, meaning the items are not backed up to the cloud -- giving you extra peace of mind.

8 Order Physical Copies of Photos

Google Photos may be all about digital storage, but it also offers a seamless way to turn your memories into physical prints. With just a few taps, you can order high-quality photo prints, photo books, and canvas prints.

To get started, select your favorite image, tap the three-dot menu in the top right, and choose Order Photo. From there, you can select between photo prints, a custom photo book, or a stylish canvas print. Prices start as low as $0.18 per print, with photo books starting at $14.99.

9 Manage Google Photos Notifications

Let's face it -- Google Photos' constant notifications about new memories, suggestions, and shared albums can become a bit annoying after a while. Fortunately, you don't have to put up with these alerts, as it's fairly easy to turn them off once and for all.

Go to Google Photos Settings, select Notifications and you'll find a list of all the types of alerts you can disable. Simply toggle off the options for memory suggestions, shared content, and other notifications that you find unnecessary.

Close 10 Download All Photos at Once

Google Photos makes it easy to download your backed-up photos and videos when needed. However, if you want to download your entire library at once, you won't find an option for that within the app. For that, you'll have to use Google Takeout. You can find the detailed steps in our guide for downloading all your Google Photos at once.

This is especially convenient when you want to create an offline backup of all your photos and videos or transfer them to another platform.

There's so much you can do with Google Photos, and the tips listed above are just a few examples. Be sure to try out these features -- they'll definitely elevate your Google Photos experience.