Google Photos’ expansion to TVs is a first and should make it easier to revisit memories on a larger, shared screen. The photo management app has grown to become a central hub for storing, organizing, and making smart edits across devices. Ironically, Samsung TVs will get the iconic photo service before Android TV, despite Google owning the platform.
You're no longer limited to displaying images with casting
Samsung Electronics, through an official press release, confirmed that they're working with Google to bring the Photos to their TV lineup. Samsung also provided the rollout details, brief timelines, and feature breakdowns.
Samsung TVs have always brought people together, and bringing Google Photos to the big screen makes that experience even more personal. Through this partnership, we help users rediscover and relive cherished moments by bringing to light the stories behind their photos — right from the comfort of their living room.
Kevin Lee, Executive Vice President, Customer Experience Team at the Visual Display (VD) Business of Samsung Electronics.
Your Google Photos library will now be automatically organized on the TV just as it is on your phone. The TV will surface curated Memories grouped by people you photograph often, places you visit, and important moments like trips, celebrations, or milestones.
Before this development, you were limited to casting the app from a phone via Chromecast, which required keeping your phone active and usually caused lag and battery drain.
Some users relied on USB drives or basic gallery apps built into their TVs, but those options were disconnected from their cloud libraries, and lacked any kind of smart organization.
It's unclear whether Google plans to end casting as the app becomes more deeply integrated into its TizenOS devices. Ideally, casting should remain untouched. For many users, especially those with TVs in shared living spaces, signing into a personal Photos library directly on the TV raises real privacy concerns.
Casting allows for more intentional and temporary sharing where you choose exactly what appears on the screen, without exposing your entire image collection.
Samsung's latest TVs will get Photos integration first
There's a six-month exclusivity for the Memories feature. During that window, no other TV platform, including Android TV or Google TV, will have access. It should be released in March 2026, putting the end of exclusivity around September 2026.
Samsung has also integrated its Vision AI Companion (VAC), which is their AI feature that controls Daily Board and Daily+. By plugging Google Photos into VAC, your photos can appear contextually throughout the day.
Your travel memory may appear in the morning, with family photos appearing while the TV is idle. AI features like Create and Personalized Results will arrive later in 2026. Create with AI is a set of tools that lets you transform existing photos, and it's powered by Google DeepMind’s image generation and Nano Banana.
Only certain Samsung TV models will support Google Photos features in the coming days. That is, newer 2026 models will be prioritized first. The only requirement beyond that is that you must sign in with a Google Account, and that your photos and videos must already be backed up to Google Photos.
Older or lower-end models may get fewer features or none at all. Availability will depend on your country, since Samsung rolls out TV software region by region.
