How to Search for Videos in Google Photos

This guide shows you how to find a specific video in Google Photos, whether you’re looking for a clip from last week or years ago. You’ll learn the fastest search methods, filters, and tricks to narrow down results, plus what to do when your video doesn’t show up.

What You’ll Need

A Google account with photos and videos backed up to Google Photos.
The Google Photos app (on Android or iOS) or access to photos.google.com in a web browser.
Your videos must be backed up in original or storage-saver quality to appear in search.

Step-by-Step

Open Google Photos. Launch the app on your phone or go to photos.google.com on your computer. Make sure you’re signed in to the correct Google account.
Tap or click the search bar. It’s at the top of the screen. On mobile, it may look like a magnifying glass icon; on the web, it’s a text field that says “Search your photos and videos.”
Type “videos” (without quotes). This is the quickest way to see all your video clips. Google Photos will instantly show a grid of results that are all videos.
Refine by date (optional). After searching “videos,” you can add a date range. For example, type “videos from July 2023” or “videos from last year.” Google Photos understands natural language, so phrases like “videos from last weekend” or “videos from 2021” work too.
Refine by location or event (optional). If you remember where the video was taken, add that to your search. For instance, “videos from Paris” or “videos from Sarah’s birthday.” Google Photos uses location data and labels from your library.
Use the filter chips (mobile app). After you tap the search bar, you’ll see a row of chips below it. Tap “Videos” to filter results to only videos. You can then combine this with other chips like “Favorites” or “Recently Added” to narrow further.
Sort by date (web). On the web, after searching “videos,” click the sort icon (usually a clock or arrows) in the top-right corner to sort by “Most recent” or “Oldest.” This helps when you’re scanning through many results.
Search by content. Google Photos can recognize objects and scenes. Try typing “videos with a dog,” “videos of a beach,” or “videos of a birthday cake.” This works best if the videos are clear and the content is recognizable.
Use the “People & Pets” section. If you’re looking for a video of a specific person or pet, tap the search bar and look at the “People & Pets” row. Tap a face, and then add “videos” to the search to see only clips with that person or pet.
Check the “Explore” tab (mobile). Swipe to the “Explore” tab at the bottom. Here, Google Photos may have automatically grouped videos by theme, like “Videos from your trip” or “Videos of your pet.” This can be a faster way to find a clip without typing.

Common Mistakes

Not backing up videos. If your videos are only on your device and not backed up, they won’t appear in search. Check the backup status in the app’s “Library” tab.
Typing too specific a phrase. Google Photos doesn’t understand every object or action. Instead of “video of my son scoring a goal,” try “videos” and then filter by date or person.
Forgetting to switch to the correct account. If you have multiple Google accounts, you might be searching the wrong library. Switch accounts by tapping your profile picture.
Ignoring the filter chips. Simply typing “videos” works, but combining it with a date or person chip is much faster.
Expecting search to work on videos that are in “archive” or “trash.” Archived items are hidden from search by default; you need to unarchive them first. Trashed items are not searchable.

Tips

Use natural language. Google Photos is designed to understand conversational searches. “Videos from my trip to Japan” often works better than “Japan videos.”
Combine search terms. You can combine multiple descriptors, e.g., “videos of a dog on the beach.” The more context, the better the results.
Search by file name (web only). If you know the original file name (like “IMG_4521.mp4”), you can type that into the search bar on the web version. This doesn’t work on mobile.
Use the “Videos” shortcut in the Library tab. On mobile, go to the “Library” tab and tap “Videos” under “Albums.” This shows all your videos in a simple chronological list, which is often the most reliable way to find something.
Add a date range on the web. On photos.google.com, after searching “videos,” you can click the date filter (the calendar icon) and select a specific month or year.

Troubleshooting

Videos aren’t showing up in search. First, check that your videos are backed up. Open the app, go to “Library” > “Videos.” If you see them there, they are backed up. If not, enable backup in Settings. Also, wait a few minutes after uploading—search indexing can take time.
Search results are showing photos, not videos. Make sure you typed “videos” or tapped the “Videos” filter chip. If you’re on the web, click the “Videos” filter on the left sidebar after searching.
Search returns no results at all. Your videos may not be indexed yet. Try force-closing the app and reopening it, or refresh the web page. If the issue persists, check your internet connection—search requires an internet connection.
Search works on photos but not videos. This can happen if your videos are in a format that Google Photos doesn’t fully index (e.g., some RAW video formats). Try converting the video to MP4 and re-uploading.
Can’t find a video that you know exists. Check if the video is in an album that is shared or in “Archive.” Go to “Library” > “Archive” and see if it’s there. If so, unarchive it to make it searchable again.
Search is slow. Large libraries can take a few seconds. Try narrowing your search with a date range or person to speed things up.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I search for videos by the audio or speech in them?

No, Google Photos does not transcribe audio in videos for search. You can only search by visual content, date, location, or file name.

Does searching for “videos” show all my videos, including ones in shared albums?

It shows videos you own and that are backed up. Videos in shared albums that you didn’t create may not appear unless you’ve added them to your library.

Can I search for videos on the Google Photos website on my computer?

Yes, the web version at photos.google.com has the same search functionality. Type “videos” in the search bar and use the filters on the left side.

Why can’t I find a video I just recorded?

New videos take a few minutes to upload and index. Wait a bit and try again. Also, make sure your device is connected to the internet and backup is enabled.

Can I search for videos by the device they came from?

Not directly. However, you can search by date or by the album where the device’s photos are auto-backed up (like “From My iPhone”).

Does Google Photos search work offline?

No, search requires an internet connection because it uses Google’s servers to process the query.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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