Google Photos Brings AI-Powered “Reimagine” Editing to Older Pixel Devices

Google is now expanding its premium Reimagine tool generative AI feature, once exclusive to the Pixel 9 series, so that users of older Pixel devices (Pixel 6, 7, and 8) can access it via Google Photos. This follows earlier indications and now appears to be rolling out through a server-side update, as new reports from Reddit and Telegram confirm.

Users have shared screenshots of Reimagine on their Pixel 6 and Pixel 8 devices, demonstrating capabilities like replacing skies with dramatic weather effects and adding imaginative visual elements to photos. The rollout is gradual and seemingly tied to remote flags it meaning that even if you're on the latest Photos version, the feature may not appear immediately.

What Is “Reimagine”?

Reimagine is part of Google’s Magic Editor suite, letting users select a portion of a photo and enter a text prompt (e.g., “stormy sky,” “tornado,” or “sunflowers”). The AI then adjusts or replaces that area to match. While it works best with backgrounds, users have creatively applied it to foreground details too, producing results that range from subtle enhancements to dramatic alterations

Democratizing AI Editing – Previously limited to the newest Pixel 9, Reimagine is now accessible to a wider user base, bringing advanced AI photo tools to those using more affordable, older models.

Server-Side Rollout Advantage – Google can enable (or disable) features remotely, giving the company flexibility and control over phased releases, quality adjustments, and targeted testing.

How to Use the Reimagine Feature on Your Pixel.

Step 1: Confirm Device Compatibility

Make sure you are using a supported Pixel phone such as the Pixel 6, Pixel 7, or Pixel 8. Also, ensure that the Google Photos app is updated to the latest version through the Play Store for the feature to work correctly.

Step 2: Open a Photo for Editing

Launch the Google Photos app and select any photo from your gallery that you want to edit. Once the photo is open, tap on the “Edit” option located at the bottom of the screen.

Step 3: Locate the Reimagine Tool

Inside the editing tools, look for the “Reimagine” button. It will usually appear alongside other features like the Magic Editor or Enhance. If you don’t see it right away, that’s okay—it may not have been activated on your device yet.

Step 4: Choose the Area You Want to Change

Tap or drag on the specific area of the photo that you want to modify. This could be the sky, background, or any object within the image that you’d like to enhance or replace.

Step 5: Enter a Creative Prompt

Once the area is selected, type in a prompt that describes how you want the new version to look. For example, you might type “sunset sky,” “snowy mountain,” or “vibrant flowers” to guide the AI transformation.

Step 6: Preview and Select a Version

After entering your prompt, the AI will generate multiple versions of the photo based on your input. You can scroll through the suggestions and choose the one that best fits your vision.

Step 7: Save Your Edited Photo

When you're satisfied with the changes, tap “Done” or “Save” to store the edited version. Your updated photo will be saved in your Google Photos library, and the original version will remain unchanged.

Helpful Tip:

If the Reimagine feature isn’t showing up yet, don’t worry. Google is rolling it out gradually through a server-side update, so check back in a day or two.

Android Authority suggests that Google initially teased support for Auto Frame alongside Reimagine in older Pixel devices, hinting that further Magic Editor features could follow. This rollout could mark the beginning of a broader trend toward unlocking Pixel‑9‑series AI features across older models.

For users, this update transforms the editing experience, allowing dramatic, context-aware edits with just a few taps. Even if the tool produces inconsistent results at times, its growing availability ensures that an increasing number of Pixel users can experiment with creative visual transformations.