Google Photos on Android gained face-focused touch-up tools Monday, letting users remove blemishes, smooth skin, brighten eyes and whiten teeth without leaving the app. Google began a staged rollout for qualifying Android phones.

What’s new in the editor

Google has expanded its in-app image editor with targeted touch-up controls for quick, subtle fixes. The available tools are: heal, smooth, under eyes, irises, teeth, eyebrows and lips. Each tool applies a specific enhancement to a face in the photo and includes an intensity slider so users can dial the effect up or down.

How the tools work

  • Tap a photo, select a face, choose a tool, then move the slider.
  • Edits are applied to facial features rather than the whole image, intended for small corrections like a stray blemish, an under-eye shadow, or a slight iris brightening.
  • Google positions the features as "touch-up tools" for fast edits inside the Photos app so users don’t need to export images to another editor.

How to access the tools

  • Open the Google Photos app on a qualifying Android device.
  • Tap a face within a picture; the app will offer the face-focused options.
  • Use the slider on each option to set the desired intensity.

Rollout and device requirements

The controls are rolling out gradually around the world on Android phones that have at least 4 GB of RAM and run Android 9.0 or newer. Google described the rollout as gradual, so availability will spread over days or weeks rather than arriving for all users at once. For now, the announcement covers Android; Google did not provide a timetable for other operating systems or older devices.

Why Google is building these tools

Adding touch-ups into Photos reduces friction for users who want fast edits without opening a separate editor. This approach keeps photo-editing activity inside one app and aligns with broader mobile imaging trends toward automated, targeted edits that simplify routine corrections.

Design trade-offs and user behavior

The tools are framed for subtlety: the intensity slider acknowledges many users prefer small adjustments that look natural. That same slider also allows stronger alterations if users push effects higher, so actual usage may range from light fixes to more pronounced edits.

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The tools are rolling out globally for Android phones with at least 4 GB of RAM running Android 9.0 or later; Google says availability will expand gradually.