Google Photos 7.85 update adds shimmer toggle and AI camera features

Google has released version 7.85 of its Photos app for Android (and accompanying iOS updates). The update introduces a dedicated switch to turn off the "shimmer" animation that highlights objects for sticker creation, accessible via the three‑dot menu or Settings → Preferences → Display. A new floating camera button lets users capture images directly within the app for instant use with generative AI tools such as Photo Remix and Photo‑to‑Video, eliminating the need to exit the app.

The redesign also rolls out parts of the Material 3 Expressive design language, with refreshed visual containers in Backup and Preferences, while sections like Notifications and Privacy retain the older look. Additional controls let users hide date stamps in the photo grid and restore previously removed tools, including the Auto‑Trim video‑adjustment feature and a "Save as photo" button for extracting stills from videos.