Google Photos finally lets you turn off that annoying Shimmer feature
Android Police 2026-07-28 22:58:20
Context: Google Photos has introduced a new update that allows users to turn off the "Shimmer" feature, which was added to the Android app earlier this year and has been widely criticized for its annoying effects. The Shimmer feature adds a sparkly outline around people or objects in photos, and users have been complaining about it since its introduction. The update also includes a new feature that allows users to use their phone's camera when selecting photos to use AI features.
Key Facts
- The Shimmer feature in Google Photos adds a sparkly outline around people or objects for a few seconds after opening an image, and is an AI-powered way to create a sticker or copy or share the focus of a photo.
- Users have been complaining about the Shimmer feature since its introduction, citing reasons such as not knowing what the effect was, having their motion sickness triggered by it, and desperately searching for ways to turn it off.
- To turn off Shimmer, users can go to Settings > Preferences in Google Photos and find a “Show shimmer” toggle, which is on by default and can be clicked to turn the feature off.
- The latest update to Google Photos also includes a new feature that allows users to use their phone’s camera when selecting photos to use AI features like Remix and Photo.
- According to Google, the new camera feature is designed for situations where a quick and temporary input is needed, such as taking a simple photo or making a funny face, and helps users access the "magic" of AI editing.