Google Photos Can Now Animate Your Old Pictures: Here’s How

We’ve all got that one photo that feels like it’s frozen in time. It could be a childhood memory, a group selfie, or a candid shot of someone you miss. What if you could bring it to life, just a little? Well, Google Photos is making that happen. A new feature called Photo to video lets you turn still images into short, animated clips. It’s subtle, a little surprising, and very cool. Also Read: Google Photos Expands Conversational Editing From Pixel 10 To More Android Phones

So, what exactly is Photo to Video? Think of it like this: you pick any static photo from your Google Photos library, and the app gently animates it into a six-second video. It’s not a filter or a slideshow — it’s as if your photo takes a deep breath and comes alive. Also Read: Google Photos AI Remix: How To Create 3D, Anime, Sketch And Comic Images In Seconds

This feature is powered by Veo 2, the same AI engine behind Google’s smarter video tools. So yes, it’s doing some serious magic behind the scenes, but for you, it’s just a matter of some clicks. Also Read: New Gemini Tool Animates Your Photos Into 8-Second AI Videos: Here's How

Photo To Video Using Google Photos: How to Make It Work

Here’s how to try it:

• Open the Google Photos app on your phone
• Select a photo, which can be any image you’d like to see come to life. While you can try it on anything, close-up portraits and expressive faces tend to create the most natural-looking animations. 
• Tap the Photo to video option and choose one of two prompts:

– “Subtle movements” if you want a soft, lifelike animation.

– “I’m feeling lucky” for something more experimental.

• The app will generate a short video, ready to watch or share.
• And that’s it. Your still photo is now a living moment.

Who Can Use It?

As of now, the Photo to Video feature in Google Photos is rolling out gradually in the U.S. on both Android and iOS. That means it may not be available to everyone yet — especially if you’re outside the U.S. Even within the U.S., some users might not see it immediately, depending on their app version and device compatibility.