A Step-by-Step Guide to Crafting Manual Photo Stacks in the Google Photos App for Android
In May 2025, Google Photos introduced an exciting new capability: the ability for users to manually create photo stacks. While the app had previously automatically organized similar images into stacks, this process often led to clutter, failing to meet every user’s organizational preferences.
Manual stacking addresses these issues effectively, but until now, it was limited to the iOS version of the app. Users had been anticipating the arrival of this feature on Android for some time, but it continued to be absent month after month.
However, after waiting anxiousingly for over a year, the feature has finally become available—and it’s a welcome addition.
Requirements for Accessing Manual Photo Stacks in Google Photos
As is common with updates from Google, a pertinent question arises: What do you need to utilize this new feature?
I first discovered the manual stacking option in the Photos app on my Pixel 11 Pro, which is running version 7.90.0.973970263. Additionally, it appeared on my Pixel 11 Pro XL with version 7.91.0.973540846 of the app.
Interestingly, my Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, using the Photos app on version 7.90.0.971743778, does not currently offer this feature. It is likely that manual stacking is part of a phased rollout, so it’s advisable to check the Play Store for any updates. If an update is unavailable and you still do not see the manual stacking option, patience may be required.
How to Create Manual Stacks in the Google Photos Android App
Creating manual photo stacks in the Google Photos Android app is just as straightforward as it is on the iOS version. Here’s how to do it:
- Press and hold the images you wish to stack.
- Swipe left on the pop-up menu at the bottom of the screen.
- Select Stack photos.
Once completed, those chosen images will be combined into a single stack in your Photos library. For instance, if you picked five separate pictures from your camera roll, they will now be represented as one icon in your main library. Opening the stack allows you to easily scroll through all the grouped photos.
While the process of creating photo stacks manually is straightforward, the lack of an official announcement from Google regarding this feature’s introduction in the Android app could lead many to miss it.
The automatic stacking feature will still function as it always has, but now you can take the initiative to organize your photos manually if desired. Although it may seem like a minor capability, for someone who has been using manual stacks on the iOS version, it has become one of my favorite ways to stay organized within Google Photos.
