Google Photos May Add RAW Images Section

Code in the latest app version points to a dedicated RAW section in the Collections tab, though the feature is not yet live.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Photography

Google Photos May Add RAW Images Section

Live Poll

Would you pay more for cloud storage to keep your RAW photos?

Google Photos version 8.0 contains code for a new RAW images section that would collect all RAW photos in a user's library. The feature is not live, and it was surfaced by tinkering with the app and examining its code rather than through an official announcement.

Why it matters

RAW files consume substantial space in Google account storage, and they are hard to tell apart from JPEGs in the main grid, so a dedicated section could help photographers find and manage them. For users in the United States who shoot RAW, the change would make it easier to organize large photo libraries.

The feature was found in Google Photos version 8.0 code and surfaced via Ask Photos, but it could not be made to appear directly in Collections. The planned section would show 'No RAW images' if no RAW photos are backed up.

The players

Google Photos

Google Photos is Google's cloud-based photo storage and management service, offering automatic backup, search, and organization tools to users worldwide.

The details

The proposed section would display every RAW image in a user's Google Photos library, separating them from the main grid. Google has not announced the feature, and the code findings suggest it remains under development.

The article documenting the RAW images section discovery was published on November 4, 2026.

Tech Race

The proposed RAW section would extend the Google Photos Collections tab, which already groups photos by type, into a specialized category for professional-grade files. It reflects how cloud photo services are adding tools aimed at serious photographers rather than only casual snapshot users.

If the feature launches, photographers who shoot RAW could find their files in one place instead of scattered through the main grid. Because RAW files take up a lot of Google account storage, users would also be able to see at a glance how much space those files occupy.

The takeaway

Photographers who rely on RAW files should check their Google Photos storage use now, since a dedicated section would make those files easier to manage if Google launches it.