Google Photos could be getting a cleaner way to blur sensitive data

Credit: Lucas Gouveia / Android Police Published Jul 23, 2026, 12:56 PM EDT Timi is the news and deals reporter for Android Police, who has been reporting on technology since 2008. He has worked in tech retail and also the IT space, providing hardware and software support, which gives him a unique perspective on the tech that he covers. This allows him to effectively break down complex subjects into easy-to-read pieces that even casual readers can enjoy. Before joining Android Police, he was a news writer for XDA, where he eventually transitioned to covering deals. He also worked as an editor and reporter for Neowin, where he covered news and attended major tech events like CES. He also reviewed phones, tablets, PC products, and other devices. In addition, he also created video content for the Neowin YouTube channel. Sign in to your Android Police account Google Photos has enough tools to keep most people satisfied. However, that doesn't mean Google won't keep adding more. While scribbling out sensitive information in a screenshot or photo is acceptable, Photos could offer a more professional-looking solution with a redact option. An elevated way to hide stuff you don't want seen Credit: Lucas Gouveia / Android Police The feature was discovered by Android Authority, looking into the code of Google Photos version 7.85.0.950510832. The feature appears in the Markup tool section, alongside the Pen, Highlighter, and Text features. Now, Android Authority wasn't able to get this feature to work because it's just being extracted from the code, so how it works is really anyone's guess. With that said, it doesn't really take too much imagination, with the Redact feature most likely providing a cleaner way to conceal data you don't want exposed. Whether that's vital information from a screenshot or just a picture that contains information you don't want to share. It would be nice if the Photos app provided different patterns to conceal your data when using the Redact feature. While blur and pixelation would be nice, adding some additional patterns to the mix could be a great touch. We've seen this feature pop up in apps built by competitors, so getting this in Google Photos would level the playing field. Photos is always evolving For most Android users, Google Photos is the go-to app when it comes to viewing and editing photos. Over the years, the app has gotten more robust, offering impressive features that really harness the power of AI. The brand has also focused its efforts on ensuring that video support is there as well. We even saw Wardrobe go live, giving users a new way to try on clothes without the hassle of hopping into a changing room. While there are competing apps in this space, Google always manages to keep things fresh by adding more features and refining the details. If you're not already using it, we highly recommend giving it a try. If you're not really feeling Google Photos and want something simpler, we recently explored using Gallery by Google. And if you want to take things even further, you can host your own photos using Immich. We have to warn you though, Google doesn't make it easy to ditch its service for something new.