Google Photos users can now access Year-End Recap, the photo hosting site’s own version of Spotify Wrapped. Like other annual reviews, the Google Photos Recap lets you look back on the past year in photos, offering a mix of memorable snaps enhanced with graphics and other effects, as well as photo stats and more.
US users will also get access to a new feature powered by Google’s AI, Gemini, which will show your hobbies and other highlights, the company says.
Google Photos Recap first launched in 2024 and aims to capitalize on the data-driven review trend, popularized by services like Spotify Wrapped and, in previous decades, by time-traveling apps like Timehop.
But this year, Google Photos Recap also serves as a testing ground for Gemini, as the company unleashes artificial intelligence on your photo library to help surface more of the moments you’d like to review. Google says Gemini models can understand the context of your photos to extract more details. Specifically, the models were used to determine things like your “one true passion” and the other top four points that “made your year” in the Recap.
In addition, the recap will offer photo stats from the year, such as total number of photos, top people and, new for this year, total number of selfies. The feature also allows you to hide specific people or photos. After doing this, you can then rebuild the Recap for an updated version.
Photos and memories from Recap can be easily shared on social media and elsewhere. A new integration with CapCut will add a button at the end of the Recap to export it to your photo and video editing app, where you can use other Google Photos templates to further customize the Recap.
There’s also a new carousel at the end of the Recap containing short videos, photos and collages designed for sharing in group chats or social media. An option even allows you to share the Recap directly on WhatsApp Status.
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If you don’t see the Summary right away, you can ask Google Photos to create it for you using an option at the top of the app. After you view the Recap, it will remain in your app throughout the month of December. To access this space again, you can find it either at the back of the Memories carousel or pinned to the Collections tab.
In addition to the annual review, Google Photos will release a series of top moments of 2025 during December, the company noted.
