google photosGoogle Photos for iOS offers users several picture and video sharing options like live albums, shared libraries, and shared albums, and now Google has built a messaging service into its ‌Photos‌ app that makes it possible to share individual snaps and video clips as part of an ongoing conversation.

Why Add a Messaging Service to a Photos App?

Previously, sharing individual photos through the app was done by creating an album for the photo and sharing a link to it, but user feedback suggested to Google that this sharing option could be a simpler experience, so it's adding an option to share individual photos as part of an ongoing, private conversation. You can like photos or comment in the conversation, and you can save photos or videos to your own gallery.

Google says the new messaging feature isn't designed to replace the chat apps you already use, but it hopes that by including an option, users will find sharing moments with friends and family easier than before. Here's how it works.

How to Share Media in a Google Photos Chat Thread

  1. Launch the Google Photos app on your iPhone or iPad.
  2. Tap a picture in your library that you want to share.
  3. Tap the Share icon (the square with an arrow pointing out).
    2how to use the messaging feature in Google Photos

  4. Type in the name or email address of the person with whom you want to share the photo, or select a contact from the Share Sheet options. You can also start a group chat by adding as many people as you like.
  5. Type a message to accompany the photo, then tap Send.
  6. You can keep up with the chat thread that you just created via the Sharing tab. You can easily share more photos in the conversation using the picture symbol next to the message input field at the bottom of the chat thread.
    how to use messaging in google photos

The person you shared the photo with will receive an email notifying them, and if they've got the Google ‌Photos‌ app installed on their device, they'll receive an alert inviting them to join the chat.

Top Rated Comments

@meinertzhagen Avatar
68 months ago
After so many years, Google's messaging strategy is still mind-boggling.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Ion-X Avatar
68 months ago

Why?

If I was Google, I'd just add a "Browse my Google Photos" button to the messaging app that they already have, "Hangouts"
Hate to break it to you... but Google is discontinuing Hangouts for consumers.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MisterSavage Avatar
68 months ago

After so many years, Google's messaging strategy is still mind-boggling.
This. So much this. Google Allo, killing Hangouts, etc.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Sasparilla Avatar
68 months ago
Bizarre. Photo's now had a full on messaging app built inside of it that they control and monitor, wonder if they'll spread this to their other apps? Can't imagine why Google would do that. \s
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mrgraff Avatar
68 months ago
Why?

If I was Google, I'd just add a "Browse my Google Photos" button to the messaging app that they already have, "Hangouts"
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JosephAW Avatar
68 months ago
Another way is to long press on the app and press the X when it appears. ;)
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

cook trump

Trump Responds to Apple Keeping Diversity Policies

Wednesday February 26, 2025 6:32 am PST by
In an all-caps post on Truth Social today, U.S. President Donald Trump said Apple should fully end its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. Tim Cook meeting with President Trump in 2017 "APPLE SHOULD GET RID OF DEI RULES, NOT JUST MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO THEM," he wrote. Trump's post comes one day after Apple held its annual shareholders meeting, during which a majority of...
apple watch ultra snow

6 Features Coming to the Apple Watch Ultra 3

Tuesday February 25, 2025 9:00 am PST by
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is expected to launch later this year, arriving two years after the previous model with a series of improvements. While no noticeable design changes are expected for the third generation since the company tends to stick with the same Apple Watch design through three generations before changing it, there are a series of internal upgrades on the way. By the time the ...
iOS 18

Apple Says iOS 18.4 Will Be Released in April With These New Features

Wednesday February 26, 2025 7:15 am PST by
In a recent press release, Apple confirmed that iOS 18.4 will be released in April. From the Apple News+ Food announcement:Coming with iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4 in April, Apple News+ subscribers will have access to Apple News+ Food, a new section that will feature tens of thousands of recipes — as well as stories about restaurants, healthy eating, kitchen essentials, and more — from the...
iPhone Fold Vertical Feature

Apple's 2026 Foldable iPhone Has No Visible Display Crease – Report

Tuesday February 25, 2025 2:58 am PST by
Apple is making significant headway on its long-rumored foldable iPhone, with a new report suggesting the company has achieved a major breakthrough by effectively eliminating the screen crease that plagues current foldable devices. According to Korean publication ETNews, Apple is finalizing its component suppliers for the foldable iPhone, with the selection process expected to be completed...
trump iphone dictation issue

Apple Fixing 'Trump' Dictation Processing Bug

Tuesday February 25, 2025 1:18 pm PST by
Multiple iPhone owners today noticed a pronunciation processing issue that causes the word "Trump" to momentarily show up when using dictation to send a message with the word "racist." In some cases, when speaking the word racist through the iPhone's built-in dictation feature, the iPhone briefly interprets the spoken word as "Trump" and "Trump" text shows up in the Messages app before being ...
airtag orange

AirTag 2 Rumored to Launch in May or June With These New Features

Monday February 24, 2025 6:11 am PST by
Apple plans to launch a second-generation AirTag in May or June this year, according to a post today from a leaker known as Kosutami. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman previously reported that a new AirTag would be released in mid-2025. May or June would align with that timeframe. Below, we recap three new features rumored for the AirTag 2: With a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, the...
airpods pro purple

Here's When AirPods Pro 3 Are Rumored to Launch

Monday February 24, 2025 9:14 am PST by
According to a post on X today from a leaker known as Kosutami, Apple plans to launch AirPods Pro 3 in May or June this year. The leaker also claimed that an AirTag 2 will launch around the same time. Kosutami is best known as a collector of prototype Apple hardware, but they have occasionally shared accurate information about Apple's future product plans. For example, they accurately...
ios 18 4 carplay

iOS 18.4 Includes a Small But Useful Change for CarPlay

Sunday February 23, 2025 2:23 pm PST by
The first beta of iOS 18.4 is now available, and it includes a small but useful change for CarPlay. As we noted in our list of iOS 18.4 features, CarPlay now shows a third row of icons, up from two rows previously. However, this change is only visible in vehicles with a larger center display. For example, a MacRumors Forums member noticed the change in a Toyota Tundra, which can be equipped...