Google Photos is rolling out an updated Collections tab that replaces its fixed layout with customizable, reorderable sections. The change arrives a few months after the app introduced a floating navigation bar in July, continuing a broader push to make the interface more flexible on Android and iOS.
What's changing in the layout
The previous Collections screen opened with a static 2x2 grid: Favorites and Trash always appeared at the top, alongside two shortcuts that shifted automatically based on usage patterns. Below that sat large cards for Albums, On this device, People & pets, Wardrobe, Documents, Places, Stickers, and Moments. Android users also saw an additional list further down covering Screenshots, Videos, Recently Added, Archive, and Locked items.
The redesign replaces that rigid structure with a new "Pinned" section at the top, where users choose which cards appear. By default, it shows Favorites, Screenshots, and Trash, but the entire section can also be removed if preferred.
Carousels and full control over ordering
Beneath the Pinned row, the app now displays horizontal carousels for On this device, Albums, People & pets, Wardrobe, Places, and Documents. Each carousel includes a "View all" link in the top-right corner that jumps directly to the complete grid or list for that category. Users can also hide individual sections entirely or drag them into a different order, giving more control over which content surfaces first.
At the bottom of the page, an "Other Collections" grid consolidates the remaining categories: Favorites, Screenshots, Moments, Videos, Recently Added, Stickers, Creations, Archive, Locked, and Trash. A dedicated "Reorder" button sits at the very bottom, letting users rearrange this grid as well.
Rollout and availability
The redesigned Collections tab is now rolling out broadly with Google Photos version 7.97 on Android and 7.98 on iOS. Because this is a server-side update, it may not activate immediately even after installing the latest app version. Notably, the usual Android workaround of forcing the app to stop hasn't been necessary in testing; simply restarting the device and reopening Photos has been enough to trigger the new interface for some users, though availability may still vary by account and region.