Google Photos has enhanced its Photo to Video tool with two major updates. Starting January 2026, users can add custom prompts to control animations and effects, and videos now include audio tracks by default. This makes creating highlight reels more engaging and personalized.

The feature is powered by Google’s Veo 3 model, which handles both video generation and audio synthesis. When users type prompts like “slow zoom on faces” or “cinematic fade transitions”, the AI translates them into structured animation instructions. At the same time, generative audio models add suitable background music or sound effects to match the visuals. Processing happens in the cloud, so even mid-range phones can handle the output smoothly.

The process is simple:

  1. Select photos from your library.
  2. Choose Photo to Video under the Create tab.
  3. Enter a prompt such as “soft piano with slow cinematic zoom.”
  4. Preview the draft video, refine prompts, or replace audio.
  5. Save and share directly to social media, messaging apps, or cloud storage.

This upgrade opens new storytelling options. Families can highlight emotional moments with prompts like “focus on smiles, fade into sunset.” Indian festivals such as Diwali or Holi can be captured with vibrant audio tracks that reflect cultural moods. Small businesses can quickly produce promotional reels, while teachers can animate classroom photos with explanatory audio.

Compared to rivals like Apple Photos or Samsung Gallery, Google’s prompt-based customization and audio integration stand out. Videos can be shared seamlessly across Google’s ecosystem, including YouTube, Drive, and Gmail. The update also encourages users to upgrade to Google One Pro/Ultra, since free accounts face stricter generation limits.

Not all devices have received the update yet, and free users may find daily generation limits restrictive. While prompts allow customization, fine-grained manual editing—like timeline control—is still limited compared to professional video editors.

Google may soon add voice-based prompts, multi-track audio, advanced editing tools, and cross-device sync. These improvements would further transform Google Photos from a storage app into a powerful storytelling platform.