Google Photos Memories Widget: Android & iOS Setup

This guide shows you how to add the Google Photos Memories widget to your Android or iOS home screen, so you can see your favorite photos and videos without opening the app. You’ll need the Google Photos app installed and signed in to your Google account.

What You’ll Need

An Android phone (Android 8.0 or newer) or an iPhone (iOS 14 or newer).
The Google Photos app installed from the Play Store or App Store.
A Google account signed in within the app.
At least one photo or video backed up in Google Photos (Memories are generated from your library).

Step-by-Step

On Android

Unlock your phone and go to the home screen where you want to add the widget.
Long-press on an empty area of the home screen (not on an app icon). This opens the home screen customization menu.
Tap “Widgets” from the menu that appears at the bottom.
Scroll down or search for “Google Photos” in the widget list. You may need to swipe left/right to find it.
Tap and hold the “Memories” widget (it looks like a photo thumbnail with a play button). Do not release yet.
Drag the widget to your desired location on the home screen and release your finger. The widget will place itself, and you may be able to resize it by dragging its edges.
Tap the widget to open Google Photos and confirm it’s working. If you have multiple accounts, make sure the correct one is selected in the app.

On iOS (iPhone/iPad)

Unlock your iPhone and go to the home screen (or the Today View by swiping right from the first page).
Long-press on any empty area of the screen until the icons start to jiggle.
Tap the “+” button in the top-left corner of the screen. This opens the widget gallery.
Search for “Google Photos” using the search bar at the top, or scroll down to find it in the list.
Tap “Google Photos” to see the available widget sizes. You’ll see options like “Small”, “Medium”, and “Large”. The Memories widget is usually the medium or large size.
Swipe through the size options to find the one labeled “Memories” (it shows a preview of a photo). Tap “Add Widget” below the chosen size.
Tap “Done” in the top-right corner to exit edit mode. The widget will appear on your home screen.
Tap the widget to open Google Photos and ensure it’s displaying your memories.

Common Mistakes

Choosing the wrong widget size: On Android, there may be multiple Google Photos widgets (e.g., “Memories”, “Favorites”, “Search”). Make sure you pick the one that says “Memories”. On iOS, the small widget only shows one photo, while the medium/large shows a slideshow.
Not having Memories enabled: If your Google Photos library has no memories (e.g., you turned off “Memories” in settings), the widget will show a blank or placeholder. Check in the app: tap your profile picture > “Photos settings” > “Memories” and ensure it’s on.
Placing the widget on a page that’s full: On Android, if you try to drop the widget on a page with no space, it won’t place. Move an icon or two first.
Expecting real-time updates: The widget updates periodically, not every second. If you just added a new photo, it may take a few minutes to appear.

Tips

Resize for better viewing: On Android, you can long-press the widget and drag the handles to make it larger or smaller. On iOS, you can long-press and choose “Edit Widget” to switch sizes.
Use multiple widgets: Add the same widget on different home screen pages to see different memories.
Tap the widget to open the full memory: Tapping the widget will open the specific memory in the app, where you can share it or save it to your library.
Customize what appears: In the Google Photos app, go to “Memories” settings to hide certain people or dates. The widget will respect those preferences.
Battery impact: The widget uses minimal battery, but if you notice drain, you can reduce the widget’s refresh rate (Android) or remove it and re-add it.

Troubleshooting

Widget not showing any photos: Make sure you have memories in your library. If you have photos but no memories, go to Google Photos > profile picture > “Photos settings” > “Memories” and tap “Review memories” to see if any are hidden. Also, check that your account is synced (open the app and let it load).
Widget is blank or gray: This usually means the app hasn’t loaded yet. Try restarting your phone, or remove the widget and add it again. Also, ensure Google Photos has permission to access your storage/photos (on Android: Settings > Apps > Google Photos > Permissions).
Widget shows “No memories” or “Something went wrong”: This can happen if your internet connection is weak. Check your Wi-Fi or cellular data. Also, make sure the Google Photos app is updated to the latest version.
Widget is not interactive (tapping does nothing): On Android, try long-pressing the widget and selecting “Edit” or “Settings” to ensure it’s linked to your account. On iOS, remove and re-add the widget.
Widget disappeared after a phone restart: This is rare but can happen. Simply re-add the widget from the widget list.
On iOS, the widget shows a different account: If you have multiple Google accounts, the widget may show the first one. To change it, open Google Photos, tap your profile picture, switch to the desired account, then re-add the widget.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I choose which memories appear in the widget?

Not directly. The widget shows a rotating selection of your Memories, similar to the “Memories” tab in the app. You can hide specific people or dates in the app’s Memories settings, and those won’t appear.

Does the widget work offline?

No. The widget needs an internet connection to fetch your memories from the cloud. If you’re offline, it will show a placeholder or nothing.

Why does the widget only show one photo on iOS?

That’s the small widget size. To see a slideshow, choose the medium or large size when adding the widget.

Can I add the widget to my lock screen?

On Android, some launchers allow lock screen widgets, but it’s not standard. On iOS, you can add it to the Today View (swipe right from the lock screen) by editing the widgets there.

Will the widget drain my battery?

Generally no, it’s lightweight. If you notice battery drain, try removing it and re-adding, or check if your phone has a battery optimization setting for the Google Photos app.

How often does the widget update?

It updates periodically, typically every few hours or when you unlock your phone. You can manually refresh by tapping the widget to open the app and then going back to the home screen.

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

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