Google had a feature that lets its users view the estimated location of their photos based on Location History. Now, the company warns both iOS and Android users that it will be using a different method to tag where the video or photo was taken.
Location Data Update
The feature will be able to determine the location of a photo or video by examining the contents of the background in the file. Using your phone's camera, the Google Photos app will tag landmarks that can be seen in the media and link them to a location.
Google claims that it no longer used Location History to determine the estimated place where the photo or video was taken. However, upon opening the app, it does say that it continues to estimate using other sources when "Estimate missing locations" is on.
Along with the alert, users will be asked if they want to keep any estimated locations or permanently remove them. If they tap on Keep, then the user can use the existing estimated locations to organize photos, as mentioned by Phone Arena.
The photo's locations can help users search and explore media based on where they were taken. A location on the photo can be seen if a device's camera saves the location, or if a user manually adds one.
If you don't choose to keep the existing estimated locations before the 1st of May 2023, the app will automatically remove the estimations. Your photos will not be deleted in the process, according to Google.
Estimated Location
To edit or remove an estimated location from a photo, you can do the following steps:
Open the Google Photos app
Pick a photo or video
Tap on More, which is the icon that has three dots
Once you see the options, go ahead and tap on Edit
Add or select a location from recent locations, or remove the estimate location by tapping on Remove location
It is important to note that you can only update or remove estimated locations. Should your phone automatically add the location using your device's camera, you can't edit or remove it. Removing it will also permanently delete location data.
For estimated missing locations, you can turn them off by opening the Google Photos app and then tapping on your profile photo or initials. Once you do, open Photos Settings, and under Location, tap on Location Sources. You can then turn estimate missing locations on or off.
Once you turn off estimated locations, the app won't estimate locations for new photos. Although, you can still manage estimated locations by using previously estimated locations before you turned the feature off.
You can find them by heading back to the app's Photo Settings, and then tap on Location, and then Location Sources. After that, you go ahead and select "View and manage estimated locations," and you'll see your previously saved estimated locations.
