Google Photos is stepping up its game as a creative tool, moving beyond simple storage to become a more capable platform for video storytelling. A significant overhaul of its video editing interface, now rolling out to users, introduces a suite of features designed to make professional-looking edits accessible to everyone. The centerpiece of this update is an intelligent "highlight video" creator that automates the editing process, syncing clips, text, and music seamlessly. This refresh, available on both iOS and Android, marks a clear push by Google to integrate more AI-assisted creativity directly into its popular photo management app.
Key New Features in Google Photos Video Editor:
- Redesigned Interface: Material 3 Expressive design with large video preview, universal timeline, and carousel toolbar (8 tools: Auto, Crop, Adjust, Filters, Audio, Speed, Music, Text).
- Highlight Video Creator: AI-powered templates that automatically sync cuts, text, and transitions to a selected soundtrack. Supports up to 50 photo/video clips.
- Platform Availability: Core editor available on iOS and Android. Highlight video feature and text tool currently specific to Android.
- Music Library: Users can add music from device storage or a categorized in-app catalogue (e.g., Bright, Chill, Dramatic, Funky).
- Text Overlays: Offers ~15 font choices and over 20 color options for customizable text.
- AI Integration: Utilizes Gemini AI for automatic image enhancement within videos.
A Complete Visual Overhaul for Easier Editing
The most immediate change users will notice is the completely redesigned editing interface, which adopts Google's modern Material 3 Expressive design language. The new layout prioritizes the video preview, giving it the majority of the screen real estate for a clearer view of the work in progress. Below this, a compact universal timeline allows for precise scrubbing and trimming of clips. The editing tools themselves are now housed in a carousel toolbar, providing one-tap access to eight core functions: Auto, Crop, Adjust, Filters, Audio, Speed, Music, and Text. This streamlined design, which Google confirms is now the default video editor on Android, aims to reduce complexity and make the editing workflow more intuitive for both single clips and multi-clip projects.
Introducing AI-Powered "Highlight Videos"
The standout feature of this update is the new "highlight video" creator, a template-based tool that automates the most tedious aspects of video editing. Found in the app's Create tab, this feature allows users to select up to 50 photos and videos. The AI then analyzes the content, automatically syncing cuts and transitions to a user-selected soundtrack. Users can choose from their own music library or pick from a categorized in-app catalogue with moods like dramatic, reflective, or upbeat. The system also employs an "adaptive canvas" that dynamically adjusts the layout as users rearrange their chosen clips. The result is a polished, shareable video composite generated in minutes, requiring minimal technical skill from the user.
Enhanced Control with New Editing Tools
Alongside the automated highlights, Google has bolstered the manual editing capabilities for users who prefer a hands-on approach. The new multi-clip editor supports working with several videos simultaneously on a unified timeline. The text tool offers a selection of about 15 fonts and more than 20 colors for customizable overlays. The music integration has also been refined; when adding a background track, the audio is intelligently balanced so it doesn't overpower the original video's sound, preserving dialogue and ambient noise. Furthermore, the update leverages Google's Gemini AI, which can be used to automatically enhance images within a video project, applying optimizations for color, lighting, and detail.
Availability and User Experience
The redesigned video editor began its server-side rollout on December 9, 2025, and is becoming widely available on Android, with iOS receiving the same core interface updates. To access it, users can simply open a video and tap the Edit button. Early impressions suggest the tools are effective for creating quick, social media-friendly content. The highlight video feature, in particular, demonstrates Google's strategy of embedding smart, context-aware assistance into its consumer products, lowering the barrier to content creation. While not a replacement for advanced desktop editing software, these upgrades solidify Google Photos as a powerful and convenient option for on-the-go video editing for millions of users.