Google Photos continues expanding its feature set, and a newly discovered addition hidden inside the app’s code could surprise many users. The update suggests Google may rely on a rival platform for a task it has spent the past year developing internally.
A New Edit Button Could Be Coming to Memories
Memories has long served as the lightweight, auto-generated section of Google Photos, surfacing older images and video clips at the top of the app. Until now, user controls remained limited to muting audio or removing unwanted images.
An earlier attempt at introducing editing capabilities inside Memories surfaced in 2024, but the latest version appears significantly more advanced.
According to a recent teardown of Google Photos version 7.78.0.920664585, an upcoming “Edit” button has been discovered within Memories. Selecting the option reportedly opens an “Edit as video” panel offering two choices: edit directly inside Google Photos or continue editing in CapCut.
The built-in editing path may allow users to adjust clip duration, modify audio, and add text overlays. The interface appears similar to the existing Highlight video tool currently available in the Create tab.
Why CapCut Is Appearing Inside Google Photos
The most notable detail is CapCut’s inclusion inside a Google app. CapCut is owned by ByteDance, the company behind TikTok, making the integration particularly interesting given Google’s recent push toward strengthening its own video editing ecosystem.
The same report also indicates that the Highlight video feature could receive additional image filters alongside new “Fit” and “Fill” framing options. Another teardown points to a future “New for you” hub inside the Create tab that may centralize generative AI tools such as Remix and Animation.
What This Could Mean for Google’s Video Strategy
The integration may suggest that Google’s in-house editing tools still fall short of the flexibility and depth offered by dedicated editing platforms like CapCut.
Another interpretation is more practical. Casual users could benefit from quick edits directly inside Google Photos, while advanced users gain a faster path to a more powerful editor without manually exporting files through multiple menus.
Google Photos Keeps Growing More Complex
Google Photos has steadily introduced AI-powered editing tools that improve convenience and streamline photo management. However, Memories remains a feature many users interact with only occasionally, such as during yearly recaps.
Adding a deeper video editor inside Memories could complicate an app originally praised for simplicity and ease of use. The growing number of tools may eventually make navigation less intuitive for casual users.
It is also important to note that teardown findings do not guarantee a public release. Features discovered in testing phases may still change or never officially launch.
