Google Photos text search now supports exact word matches

Google Photos just got a smarter way to search your photo library. The latest update adds support for exact word matches. All you have to do is type your search term in text using quotes, and Google Photos will find images where that specific word appears.

Google Photos text search was already handy for finding text in images. However, the results could be broad and sometimes miss the mark. Now, with quotation marks, the search gets more focused. This is especially useful if you have tons of screenshots, receipts, or scanned paperwork.

This new feature is great if you need to track down a photo of a document, a sign, or even a note with a certain word in it. For example, if you’re searching for something specific, like a flight or order number, searching for it in quotes will only show images where that exact word is found. According to a Google support post, this is rolling out gradually, so not everyone will see it right away.

There are still a few quirks. The feature works best when the text in your images is clear and readable. Fancy fonts or blurry writing might get skipped, and accuracy can vary across languages. Still, this is a solid upgrade for anyone who relies on Google Photos to organize images with text.