Four OEMs now support accessing Google Photos library from default gallery

After serving activity-based recommendations, Google is now adding another feature to Google Photos. However, the integration between Google Photos and a default gallery app is limited to certain manufacturers as of now. Speaking of which, Xiaomi, Oppo, OnePlus, and Realme have integrated Google Photos into their default gallery apps so far. It allows users to access their entire Google Photos library directly from the OEM gallery app.

Android Police reports that this feature is available on devices running Android 14, with Xiaomi initially introducing basic integration in late 2022. However, Google’s support page notes that this integration will work on devices from the four OEMs that are on Android 11 or above. Notably, users may need to update their default gallery app to make use of this integration with Google Photos.

You can now access the entire Google Photos library from your OEM’s gallery app

Once you enable this feature, you can not only back up the media through the OEM-provided gallery app but also view the entire Google Photos library within the gallery app. This could be especially helpful for people who are used to the default gallery (other than Google Photos) but have to visit Google Photos at times.

To take advantage of this feature, users must ensure they meet specific requirements. Firstly, their device must support default gallery access. For example, Samsung Gallery doesn’t support this integration as of now, even if Samsung utilizes Google AI in its flagships probably more than any other OEM.

Additionally, users need to have the latest version of the Google Photos app installed on their device and be running Android 11 or higher.

Enabling the Google Photos and default gallery integration is quite straightforward

Users can navigate to the settings within the Google Photos app, select “Apps and devices,” and then “Google Photos access.” From there, they can choose the device’s default gallery app name and either grant or remove access as desired. It’s important to note that if users clear their Photos app data, uninstall Photos, reset their device, or get a new device, they will need to allow gallery access again.

While being able to access the Google Photos library directly from the OEM-provided gallery app is cool, some users (including myself) also prefer an option to access the cloud library without enabling the backup. Let’s be honest, not everything needs to make its way to cloud storage and fill it up unnecessarily.

Nonetheless, this integration enables Android users to enjoy a unified photo management experience without the need to switch between apps.