Google Photos Could Revolutionize Image Rotation with New UI"

Google Photos is one of the most popular cloud-based photo storage and management apps, continuously evolving to improve user experience. A recent APK teardown reveals that Google is working on making image rotation more intuitive, potentially streamlining a common yet sometimes frustrating editing task.

What's Uncovered in the APK Teardown Decompiling the most recent version of an app in order to discover hidden or forthcoming features is what APK teardowns entail. Code strings and UI hints in the most recent Google Photos APK (version [X.X.X]) suggest that Google is testing a new rotation interface. Currently, rotating an image in Google Photos requires:

Pressing "Edit" Selecting the rotate icon

Repeatedly tapping to rotate in 90-degree increments

While functional, this method can be cumbersome, especially when fine-tuning an image’s orientation.

The New Rotation Mechanism

The teardown suggests that Google is experimenting with a more interactive rotation tool, possibly allowing:

Free-form rotation (using dragging to manually adjust angles) For a smoother rotation, swipe Auto-straightening suggestions (similar to Google Snapseed)

a new user interface with a dial or slider for rotation This modification would bring Google Photos into line with other editing apps that provide more precise control over image modifications. Why This Matters

Image rotation is a basic but essential editing tool. A more intuitive system could:

✔ Save time – Fewer taps to achieve the desired angle

✔ Improve precision – Especially for slight rotations (e.g., fixing a slightly tilted horizon)

✔ Enhance accessibility – Easier controls for all users

When Will This Feature Roll Out?

Since this is still in development, there’s no official confirmation from Google. However, if testing goes well, we could see the new rotation tool in a future Google Photos update, possibly as part of a Pixel Feature Drop or a server-side rollout.

Final Thoughts

Google Photos continues to refine its editing tools, and this potential rotation upgrade shows the company’s focus on simplicity and usability. If implemented well, this could make quick edits even smoother for millions of users.