Shared albums are a big part of Google Photos. We’ve seen Google making some tweaks to the experience recently, while also working on an updated way to react to the contents of a shared album. However, it’s not without its limitations. It now looks like the app’s developers are nearly ready to rectify one such shortcoming in shared albums.

Thanks to Android Authority, we’re learning that Google may finally let users search for pictures and videos that are part of shared albums. In Google Photos version 7.31, the publication found a string that reads: “Search can show photos of people, pets, and more, including those that have been shared with you.”

This enhanced search functionality has been in the works for a while

A screenshot showing Google Photos' upcoming banner notifying users about the ability to search for all photos, including those shared with them by someone else

Source: Android Authority

The site has managed to activate this particular banner in version 7.45 of the app, suggesting that the updated search option is nearing rollout. However, it is noted that the feature isn’t working at the moment, so we don’t yet have a visual of this enhanced search option in action.

In its current form, users who have been invited to join a shared album cannot easily search for individuals or pets in those albums through the Photos app’s central search option. This is unless they have saved the contents of the shared album using the “Save photos” option, accessible from the three-dot menu in the top right of a shared album.

Furthermore, Android Authority has also uncovered evidence of a filter for the Google Photos search bar, specifically in an older app version (7.39):

<string name=”photos_search_menu_filter_action_include_shared”>Include shared with me</string>

This should fit in nicely with the primary Google Photos search experience, and we should get a better look at it in future leaks. Like with most of these under-development features, there’s really no date to mark on our calendars for their arrival. However, the fact that this has been in development for a while suggests its rollout may not be far away.

In my opinion, the ability to search for pictures or videos directly within shared albums would also be a great addition to the app, especially if you’re getting hundreds of photos from familiar people.