Google Photos updates video player UI with easier navigation and gesture controls

Google Photos is rolling out a redesigned video player as part of its Material 3 Expressive update. The new interface includes a larger progress bar, a vertical timeline indicator, and repositioned volume and pause buttons now placed above the timeline.

Double-tap gestures have replaced long-press actions for playback control. Tapping on the right or left side of the video skips forward or backward by five seconds, with each additional tap adding another five seconds, making it easier to move through longer videos.

The onboarding screen has also been refreshed, now showing a larger profile picture and name during setup. However, the mobile data toggle seen in earlier versions is no longer included. These changes were initially spotted by Android Authority in a June APK teardown and are gradually rolling out via app updates.