Google Photos may be preparing a trio of long-requested upgrades that could make the app feel significantly more “user-controlled” on Android: a Backup schedule setting, video playback speed controls, and an optional cleaner Photos grid that hides date separators. The changes were spotted in Google Photos v7.58 through APK teardown work and echoed across multiple tech outlets over the past few days—meaning they’re not official launches yet, but strong signs of what Google is actively building. 1
Key takeaways
- Backup schedule may let you choose when photos and videos upload (instead of “whenever you’re online”). 1
- Playback speed controls could arrive inside the Photos video player, with options from 0.25× to 2×. 2
- A new “Show dates in grid” toggle may remove date labels for a more immersive gallery view (though it appears unfinished). 2
- Google also seems to be refreshing the Backup settings page using Material 3 Expressive / Expressive UI, with clearer sections and containers. 1
What’s happening on January 13, 2026
As of January 13, 2026, the story here isn’t one single official Google announcement—it’s a convergence of APK-teardown reporting pointing to the same direction: Google Photos is being redesigned and may finally be getting the kinds of “quality-of-life” controls people have been asking for. Android Authority’s teardown coverage highlights both the Backup schedule work and the playback upgrades, while TechRadar, Mint, The Indian Express, FoneArena, and others have picked up the same signals from the app’s code and UI strings/screenshots. 1
1) Google Photos Backup Schedule: the most wanted feature may finally be coming
If there’s one Google Photos complaint that keeps resurfacing year after year, it’s this: backups happen on Google’s timing, not yours.
Right now, Google Photos backup is essentially “automatic whenever conditions allow,” with only limited control—like toggling backups on/off and restricting uploads to Wi‑Fi. That’s workable, but it doesn’t help when you’re on a busy home network, traveling on a hotspot, or trying to keep your phone from hammering your connection at the worst possible moment. 3
What the leak suggests
In Google Photos v7.58.0.853810532, a redesigned Backup page includes a new item labeled “Backup schedule” under a “Backup tools” section, according to Android Authority’s teardown. 1
Because this is uncovered in unfinished code, the exact behavior isn’t confirmed—but reports consistently suggest it could allow:
- Choosing specific times for uploads, or
- Setting recurring frequency windows like daily, weekly, or monthly. 1
TechRadar’s write-up frames the same point: a “Backup schedule” feature could finally give users a say over when syncing happens, instead of leaving it to “whenever there’s internet.” 3
The most important detail: it’s not live yet
Multiple outlets emphasize the same caveat: the setting is visible in code/UI references but not active for regular users, and there’s no official Google timeline. 4
2) Video Playback Speed controls: 0.25× to 2× inside Google Photos
Google Photos already stores (and often streams) a huge chunk of your personal video library. But for years, one simple feature has been missing: playback speed control.
According to Android Authority, Google is testing a “Playback speed” option in Google Photos that would appear in the video player’s menu, opening a sheet with these speeds: 0.25×, 0.5×, 1×, 1.5×, and 2×. 2
FoneArena describes the same UI behavior (a new option in the three-dot menu when viewing a video) and repeats the same speed ladder, noting the feature appears disabled by default for now. 5
Android Police’s coverage points to the same “Playback speed” menu option and the same set of speeds. 6
Why it matters in real life
Playback speed is a small control with outsized value:
- Skim long clips faster (school events, concerts, meetings recorded as video)
- Slow down moments you want to catch precisely (sports, quick actions, “blink-and-you-miss-it” family moments)
- Get an experience closer to YouTube/streaming apps without leaving your library 2
3) A cleaner Photos grid: hide date separators with “Show dates in grid”
The second “playback-adjacent” change is about the main Photos feed itself.
Android Authority says Google Photos is testing a toggle that would let users hide date labels for a cleaner, uninterrupted grid. The option is described as a “Show dates in grid” toggle, but it didn’t appear to work fully when enabled during testing—suggesting it’s still incomplete. 2
FoneArena and Android Headlines both echo this: the toggle exists, the intent is to remove date separators for a more immersive gallery view, but the feature appears unfinished in the current build. 5
The trade-off (and why Google may make it optional)
A continuous grid can look cleaner, but date separators are also functional: they help you quickly jump to “that day” and select groups of photos. The fact that Google is testing a toggle (rather than forcing a redesign) suggests it understands different users prioritize different workflows. 2
4) Expressive UI redesign: Google Photos Backup page is being reorganized
Alongside new features, Google Photos appears to be receiving a Backup settings redesign aligned with Material 3 Expressive / Expressive UI. 1
What changes visually
Android Authority and FoneArena both describe a Backup page that’s reorganized into clearer, grouped sections—complete with headings such as:
- How to back up
- What to back up
- Backup tools 1
Options like Backup Mode, Backup quality, and device folder backup are shown in container-style blocks meant to improve scanning and navigation. 1
Bigger picture: Material 3 Expressive is spreading across Google apps
A broader Material 3 Expressive rollout has been underway across Google’s apps, with 9to5Google tracking the wave of redesigns and noting how it accelerated with Pixel and Android releases tied to Android 16-era updates. 7
When will these Google Photos features launch?
The honest answer: nobody outside Google can say for sure yet.
All of the reporting cited here is based on APK teardown work—useful for spotting what’s under development, but never a guarantee that a feature will ship unchanged (or ship at all). Android Authority explicitly flags this limitation in its teardown coverage. 1
That said, the fact that multiple features are appearing together (UI refresh + scheduling + playback improvements) suggests a coordinated update cycle rather than a one-off experiment. 5
What you can do today to control Google Photos backups (until scheduling arrives)
If Backup schedule is the feature you’ve been waiting for, there are still a few practical ways to reduce “surprise backups” right now:
- Use Wi‑Fi only for backups (basic, but still the most effective lever) 3
- Back up manually when you’re ready (instead of leaving it on all the time) 3
- Be selective about device folders so you’re not uploading everything automatically 1
- If you’re on limited data, consider system-level tools like Data Saver or background data restrictions (varies by Android device/skin)
The bottom line
As of Jan 13, 2026, the most consistent signal across today’s Google Photos coverage is that Google is working on a more “intentional” Photos experience—one where you can schedule backups, control video playback speed, and declutter the main grid, all while modernizing the app’s settings with Material 3 Expressive. None of it is officially live yet, but the pieces showing up together in Google Photos v7.58 make this one of the most promising quality-of-life leaks the app has had in a while. 1
