Google Photos automatically generates nostalgic throwback slideshows—such as “One year ago today” or “Recent highlights”—at the top of your photo feed. While rediscovering fond travel memories and celebrations is delightful, automated algorithms frequently surface photos of ex-partners, estranged acquaintances, or deceased pets that can evoke painful or unwanted emotions. Google Photos includes granular facial recognition controls that let you block specific individuals or pets from ever appearing in Memories without having to delete photos from your library.
Two Ways to Filter People from Memories
Google Photos provides two distinct levels of visibility control:
- Show Less: The person or pet will not appear in standalone single-subject memories, but may still appear if they are part of a larger group photograph with other people.
- Block Face (Hide Completely): Removes the individual or pet from all Memories, highlights, and creation animations entirely, ensuring their face never surfaces automatically.
How to Hide Faces via Google Photos Settings (Mobile)
Filtering specific faces from automated throwbacks is fast and private on iOS and Android:
- Open the Google Photos app on your iPhone or Android smartphone.
- Tap your profile avatar in the top-right corner of the screen.
- Select Google Photos settings (or Photos settings).
- Tap on Preferences.
- Tap on Memories.
- Select Hide people & pets (or Hide faces).
- Google Photos will display a visual grid of all automatically recognized human and animal faces indexed across your cloud library.
- Tap on any face you wish to suppress. An eye icon with a slash will appear over their thumbnail, marking them as hidden.
- Tap the back arrow to exit. Google Photos will immediately update its algorithmic filters and purge that person from past and future Memories.
How to Hide Faces Directly from an Active Memory
If an unwanted photo surfaces while you are actively viewing a throwback slideshow:
- Pause the memory by tapping and holding the screen.
- Tap the three vertical dots menu in the bottom or top corner of the viewing frame.
- Select Hide from the action sheet.
- Choose whether to Hide this person from all memories or Hide this photo only.
- Confirm your choice to dismiss the memory immediately.
How to Unhide a Face Later
If your relationship changes or you decide you are ready to see memories again, navigate back to Settings > Preferences > Memories > Hide people & pets, and tap the crossed-out face thumbnail to restore normal visibility.