Google Photos adds toggle to switch off AI search after user backlash over speed and accuracy

After complaints, Google will make it easier to disable gen AI search in Photos

Google has spent the past few years in a constant state of AI escalation, rolling out new versions of its Gemini models and integrating that technology into every feature possible. To say this has been an annoyance for Google's userbase would be an understatement. Still, the AI-fueled evolution of Google products continues unabated -- except for Google Photos. After waffling on how to handle changes to search in Photos, Google has relented and will add a simple toggle to bring back the classic search experience. The rollout of the Gemini-powered Ask Photos search experience has not been smooth. According to Google Photos head Shimrit Ben-Yair, the company has heard the complaints. As a result, Google Photos will soon make it easy to go back to the traditional, non-Gemini search system. If you weren't using Google Photos from the start, it can be hard to understand just how revolutionary the search experience was. We went from painstakingly scrolling through timelines to find photos to being able to just search for what was in them. This application of artificial intelligence predates the current obsession with generative systems, and that's why Google decided a few years ago it had to go. Google launched the beta Ask Photos experience in 2024, rolling it out slowly in the Photos app while it gathered feedback. Google got a whole lot of feedback, most of it negative. Ask Photos is intended to better respond to natural language queries, but it's much slower than the traditional search, and the way it chooses the pictures to display seems much more prone to error. It was so bad that Google had to pause the full rollout of Ask Photos in summer 2025 to make vital improvements, although it's still not very good.

Google gives in to users' complaints over AI-powered 'Ask Photos' search feature

In a slight capitulation to those who don't want AI infused into their everyday apps, Google said it's now offering a toggle that will allow users of its Google Photos app to return to the previous and often faster "classic" search experience instead of the newer AI-powered option known as "Ask Photos." The Ask Photos feature, launched in the U.S. in 2024, lets users search their photos using natural language queries, including complex requests. The product's rollout was briefly paused last summer as the company worked to address issues around latency, following user feedback. Some Google Photos users never warmed up to the AI-powered experience, complaining that Ask Photos still failed to find some of their photos and that searches were less accurate than before. While Google offered an option to disable the use of Gemini in Google Photos, it was buried in the settings and was often overlooked. The company said it will offer users an easier and more visible way to switch between the two search experiences. Via a new toggle button on the search screen, users can turn the Ask Photos AI search off and view the classic results instead. Google said it will still lead with whichever results best fit the user's query, however. In the announcement, shared by Google Photos lead Shimrit Ben-Yair, the company suggested that the move was driven by users' complaints about the Ask Photos feature. In a post on X, Ben-Yair wrote, "We've heard your feedback that you want more control over the type of results you see when searching in Google Photos." The exec also noted that Google had improved the quality of some of the most popular searches, also based on user feedback. "We know search in Photos is one of the most loved and used features and we're committed to getting this experience right, so please keep the feedback coming! It helps us build a more magical experience for everyone," she said.

Google Photos is undoing part of its Gemini upgrade

Rajesh started following the latest happenings in the world of Android around the release of the Nexus One and Samsung Galaxy S. After flashing custom ROMs and kernels on his beloved Galaxy S, he started writing about Android for a living. He uses the latest Samsung or Pixel flagship as his daily driver. And yes, he carries an iPhone as a secondary device. Rajesh has been writing for Android Police since 2021, covering news, how-tos, and features. Based in India, he has previously written for Neowin, AndroidBeat, Times of India, iPhoneHacks, MySmartPrice, and MakeUseOf. When not working, you will find him mindlessly scrolling through X, playing with new AI models, or going on long road trips. You can reach out to him on Twitter or drop a mail at [email protected]. Google has integrated Gemini into almost all its products and services. Even Google Photos now features a Gemini-powered Ask Photos search tool that lets you ask natural-language questions to find pictures more easily. However, the experience is not something that every Google Photos user wants. So, based on user feedback, Google is now giving users the option to switch back to the classic search experience. Shimrit Ben-Yair, Google Photos, Google One, and AI subscriptions lead at Google, posted on X that, based on user feedback, the company will provide users with more control over the search experience. That means you can switch to the Classic Search experience or stick to using the Gemini-powered Ask Photos option if that's what you prefer. Compared to the regular search option, Ask Photos is more suited for more complex, natural language-oriented queries. It's great for finding specific photos, but that's not something you always want. Plus, with my photo library being almost 1.5TB, Ask Photos take sa while to return the results. These issues have been one of my biggest pain points with the Google Photos search experience since Ask Photos expanded beyond the U.S. So, it's good to see Google finally acknowledging the issue and giving users more control. You should soon see a toggle to switch between Ask Photos and the Classic Search option in Google Photos. Google tweaks Ask Photos for better search results Shimrit also announced improvements to Ask Photos that should deliver better results for some popular and commonly used queries. Google says the changes come from refining the feature based on user feedback. Subscribe for smart coverage of Google Photos AI tools Join the newsletter for focused, no-fluff coverage of Google Photos' AI features like Ask Photos and Gemini integration, plus clear explanations and practical guidance to help you understand changes and choose the right settings. Get Updates By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. If Ask Photos still isn't delivering the results you expect, you can share your feedback with Google to help improve the experience further.

Google Photos adding toggle to quickly swap between Ask Photos and classic search

Google Photos is once again tweaking its search experience, with a new quick toggle rolling out that allows users to swap back and forth between the AI-powered Ask Photos experience and classic search. Ask Photos started rolling out for Google Photos back in October 2024, but the AI overhaul to search wasn't everyone's cup of tea. Google ultimately introduced a "classic search" option and toned down the UI ahead of a wider rollout in 2025, even allowing users to turn off Ask Photos entirely. Now, in a continued effort to listen to user feedback, Google Photos is adding a dedicated toggle that lets you quickly switch back and forth between Ask Photos and classic search without diving into any menus. The new toggle was announced by Google Photos lead Shimrit Ben-Yair on Twitter/X. It appears within the search UI and gives the user control over what search experience is in use at any given time. We've heard your feedback that you want more control over the type of results you see when searching in Google Photos. To address this, we're starting to roll out a new experience that puts you in the driver's seat, letting you choose between fast classic search and intelligent Ask Photos results. We'll lead with the results that best fit your query, but you always have the control to switch views to help you find exactly what you need. Beyond the toggle, Ben-Yair says that the "most popular searches" should see improved quality, while Ask Photos as a whole has seen "a significant increase" in positive feedback in recent months. We've yet to see the toggle go live, but it sounds like we're still pretty early in the rollout. Let us know in the comments below if you see it go live!

Google caves, lets people search Google Photos without AI -- here's how to use it

AI has been an integrated part of Google Photos since 2024, but user feedback -- read backlash -- made Google tone down its AI features and let people opt out more easily. Now, the company has added a new quick toggle that lets you easily swap between the AI-powered Ask Photos experience and the classic search. The toggle was announced by Photos head Shimrit Ben-Yair on X. "We're starting to roll out a new experience that puts you in the driver's seat, letting you choose between fast classic search and intelligent Ask Photos results," Ben-Yair wrote. "We'll lead with the results that best fit your query, but you always have the control to switch views to help you find exactly what you need." Ask Photos initially began rolling out in September 2024 as an experimental feature powered by Google's Gemini AI models. It was meant to contextually understand what was going on in your photos and find images based on conversational prompts. However, the rollout was paused due to user criticism concerning latency, quality and the overall experience. Eventually, Ask Photos made its way back last summer. The wider rollout brought back a "classic search" option, simplified the UI and even allowed you to turn off Ask Photos. This new version seems to finally find a compromise with the ability to quickly switch between classic and Ask Photos without turning it off completely. As with all Google rollouts, you may not immediately get the feature update. If you're not seeing it wait a week or so and check for updates again. If you do have it, you should see the toggle in the search UI. Ben-Yair also said that the "most popular searches" should be improved. I'm in the process of transferring between an older Galaxy S22 and the new Galaxy S26 Ultra, but have yet to see the toggle go live on either device. Let me know if you've seen the toggle and how it's working for you. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds.

Maybe Good News: Google Photos Gets Another Search Fix

We may earn a commission when you click links to retailers and purchase goods. More info. Google Photos first saw its AI-powered "Ask Photos" search feature arrive at the end of 2024. As you likely know, that rollout was paused pretty quickly because of its shortcomings. Google eventually resumed rolling it back out and has continued to try and improve it after listening to feedback, which has most definitely not been the most positive. This week, Google Photos VP Shimrit Ben-Yair took to Twitter to acknowledge that Google are "committed to getting this experience right" when it comes to Google Photos and its AI search features. They continued by showcasing a change to search that will allow you to toggle between Classic Search and Ask Photos results. From the image they shared, this doesn't necessarily look like a change to the function of searching, only the results. You can see this change above, where a toggle sits to the top left corner under your search heading. When toggled off, you will see only Classic Search results, while a toggle to "ON" brings in more AI results and a description to match. Again, this is simply a toggle for results, not the search function itself. What I'm saying here is that Google Photos search is likely to remain slow and clunky when Ask Photos is enabled. To default to Classic Search at the point of searching, you would still have to turn off Ask Photos within Photos settings. We have instructions on how to do that here. In a bit of related news, Ben-Yair mentioned that they've improved quality for some of the most popular searches. You'll have to let us know if your searches seem better.