Sharing photos and videos from your phone should be a seamless experience, but sometimes it can be challenging to locate the specific media you want to share. Google’s Photo Picker, introduced in Android 13, aimed to simplify this process by allowing users to select specific media for sharing with apps. However, it lacked a crucial feature: search functionality.

According to a report by Android Authority, the absence of search functionality has been a source of frustration for many users, especially those with extensive cloud media libraries. Currently, the Photo Picker only offers two tabs: “Photos” and “Albums”, which may suffice for users with smaller local libraries but can be overwhelming for those with thousands of images to sift through.

This issue is particularly problematic for users who store their media in the cloud since the Photo Picker does not provide a way to search through cloud libraries like Google Photos. This omission is surprising considering that Google is responsible for both the Photo Picker and Google Photos.

Fortunately, Google has taken note of user feedback and is addressing this issue. During Google I/O 2024, the company announced plans to add both local and cloud search functionality to the Photo Picker. This update will enable users to easily find the photos and videos they want to share, regardless of where they are stored.

Although the exact timeline for this update remains unclear, Google has indicated that it will be available “later this year”. It is expected to be compatible with all Android versions that support the Photo Picker, including devices running Android 4.4 and newer.

This upcoming update will undoubtedly enhance the Photo Picker’s capabilities and user-friendliness, making it a more powerful tool for Android users. While it remains uncertain whether the search function will match Google’s advanced AI-powered “Ask Photos” feature, any improvement in this area is a step in the right direction.