Google's New Photo Picker API Gives Users Control Over Location Data

Google is expanding user control over shared photo location data in Android devices. The company has announced a new Photo Picker API that allows users to choose whether to include location information with photos they share.

The previous API removed location data by default, which while great for privacy-conscious users, was causing issues for apps that relied on EXIF data to function properly.

The new API will introduce a prompt when sharing photos, asking users if they want to include location info. Users can choose to include or exclude it, and the system will remember their choice for subsequent shares with the same app.

This change is part of the mainline August 2026 update, according to Mishaal Rahman, who manages community engagement for Android at Google.