Samsung to bring Google Photos to its TVs in 2026

Samsung announced on Monday that it plans to bring Google Photos to its television sets in 2026. The upcoming integration represents a shift for users of the photo service. For years, individuals who wanted to view their photos or videos on a larger television screen had to rely on other methods. They either had to cast their photos—which is defined as streaming media from a mobile device to a television—or sideload the application, which is the process of installing an application from a source other than the official app store. Under the announced plans, users will be able to bypass these methods, though they will still need to sign in to their Google accounts to have their photos and videos appear on their Samsung televisions.

The partnership brings together Samsung, the Korean tech giant, and Google, the parent company of Google Photos. By integrating the service directly into Samsung’s televisions, the companies are changing how users access their photos and videos on their screens, moving away from the previous requirement to cast or sideload the application.

The initial version of the Google Photos integration will show curated photos and videos through the Memories feature. This Memories feature will be exclusive to Samsung for a period of six months. Following this initial phase, Samsung plans to add support for several AI-powered features. These planned additions include Nano Banana-powered templates, image generation and editing, and the Remix feature, which lets users convert an existing photo to a different style.

Google Photos is operated by Google, and Shimrit Ben-Yair, the vice president of Google Photos and Google One, commented on the integration. “Google Photos is a home for people’s photos and videos, helping them organize and bring their memories to life. We’re excited to bring Google Photos to Samsung TVs — helping people enjoy their favorite photos on a larger screen and reconnect with their memories in new ways,” Ben-Yair said in a statement.

Why it matters

This integration removes the friction of casting or sideloading, allowing users to access their Google Photos library directly on the television interface. By establishing a native application, Samsung and Google are simplifying how consumers interact with personal media on larger screens.