How to Use Google Photos Memories and Highlights

Google Photos automatically creates memory slideshows of past photos — here's how to find them, personalize what appears, and share them with family.

In this guide (4 steps):

1.Find your Memories in Google Photos
2.Share a Memory with family
3.Customize or turn off specific Memories
4.Create a custom movie from a set of photos

Find your Memories in Google Photos

~36s

Open Google Photos on your phone. At the top of the home screen, swipe through the Memories cards — these are collections of photos from past years shown as mini slideshows. Tap any Memory to open it and tap the play button to watch it as an animated slideshow with music. Memories are also organized in the "Memories" section: tap the three-line menu → "Memories" to see all available collections organized by year and theme.

Quick Tip

Quick Tip: Google Photos creates memories based on the dates and locations from your photos. Photos tagged with a location (which happens automatically if your phone had Location Services enabled) create richer, more contextual memories.

Share a Memory with family

~31s

Open any Memory → tap the share icon. You can share directly to Messages, WhatsApp, email, or any other app. You can also share the Memory as an animated GIF or a short video. Tap "Send a copy" to choose how to share it. Recipients can watch the slideshow even if they don't have Google Photos — it opens as a web link.

Quick Tip

Quick Tip: Memories make wonderful shareable moments for family group chats. A "5 years ago today" memory from a family reunion or a grandchild's birthday is the kind of content that delights people.

Customize or turn off specific Memories

~24s

If a Memory contains photos you would rather not revisit: open the Memory → tap the three-dot menu (⋮) → "Hide memory." This removes it from your Memories feed. To stop memories about certain people or time periods: tap your profile picture → "Photos settings" → "Memories" → "Control your memories." You can remove specific people from Memories, hide certain time periods, or turn off Memories entirely if you prefer.

Create a custom movie from a set of photos

~28s

Beyond automatic Memories, Google Photos lets you create custom movies from any photos you choose. Tap the + button → "Movie." Select the photos you want to include. Google Photos automatically assembles them into a slideshow with transitions and music. You can rearrange photos, change the music track, and preview before saving. The finished movie saves to your Google Photos library as a video you can share or download. This is a great way to create a tribute video or event highlight reel.

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Google Photos automatically analyzes your photo library and surfaces "Memories" — collections of photos taken on the same day in past years. Every day, Google Photos shows you what was happening in your life 1, 2, 5, or 10 years ago. It also creates animated highlight videos for trips, seasonal events, and gatherings.

These Memories appear at the top of the Google Photos home screen, often formatted as animated slideshows with music. You can share them directly to messages, social media, or as printed photo books.

This guide shows you how to find Memories, customize what appears, and share the best ones with family.

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