How to use the Pixel Screenshots app on the Google Pixel 9

Google’s Pixel 9 is in the lineup this year with four devices: Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold (ugh, what a load of words). This year, Google has given all of the Pixel 9 devices a fresh new look, and they’re all pretty powerful with the Tensor G4 chip and up to 16GB of RAM, a first for the Pixel as a whole.

Although the hardware looks nice, Google puts more emphasis on the software that powers the devices, especially the AI ​​aspect. The Pixel 9 lineup has a ton of new AI tools, including Pixel Studio, Add Me, Gemini Live, and Pixel Screenshots.

If you hate having your photo gallery cluttered with tons of screenshots, Pixel Screenshots is a lifesaver. Here’s how it works.

How the Pixel Screenshots app works

The Pixel Screenshots app uses the on-device Gemini Nano with multimodality to aggregate and index all your screenshots so you can actually search through them.

With the Pixel Screenshots app, any screenshot you take with your Pixel 9 will be saved here by default, rather than to Google Photos. However, you’ll need to sign in to the Pixel Screenshots app first before any of this happens. Otherwise, your screenshots will still be saved to Google Photos, so be sure to launch Screenshots first so the fun can begin.

And if you need a refresher on how to take a screenshot on the Pixel 9, just press the Power button and the Volume Down button at the same time.

Currently, the Pixel Screenshots app is only available for the Pixel 9 lineup, which includes the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold. It is currently unknown if older Pixel devices will receive it.

How to search for screenshots in the Screenshots app

If you take a screenshot of something, it’s probably something you’ll want to come back to later. But if you have a lot of screenshots, it can be difficult to find what you need. Luckily, one of the main uses of the Screenshots app is to quickly search through your screenshots, so you don’t have to scroll through a ton of images to find what you’re looking for (and you might forget it while scrolling).

Step 1: Start the Screenshot app on your Pixel 9 device.

Step 2: Select the Search bar at the bottom of the app.

Step 3: Enter your search query. The Screenshots app will show you the results in real time. Optionally, you can microphone and dictate your query instead.

How to add new photos and import old screenshots to the Screenshots app

Sometimes screenshots don’t come from your device itself. Maybe you need to take a photo of a menu, a recipe card, important notes for school or work, etc. Or maybe you have some old screenshots in Google Photos that you want to import into the Screenshots app so they’re easier to organize. Here’s how.

Step 1: Start the Screenshot app on your Pixel 9 device.

Step 2: Select the Plus button (+) in the lower right corner.

Step 3: For a New photochoose cameraThis will launch the camera so you can take a new photo.

Step 4: If you are satisfied with the photo, select the Check mark button to save it.

Step 5: To import old and existing screenshots of Google Photoschoose gallery instead of camera.

Step 6: Select your screenshot(s).

Step 7: Choose Add.

How to create collections in the Screenshots app

If you have a lot of screenshots, it can get a bit chaotic. Of course, the search function can help you find what you need at the moment, but it can also be helpful to organize all the screenshots into groups, or as it is called here, collections. Here’s how to do it.

Step 1: Start the Screenshot app on your Pixel 9 device.

Step 2: Above under Collectionsselect the Plus button (+) to create a new collection.

Step 3: Select the text input field and give your collection a name.

Step 4: If you want, you can select existing screenshots and add them to this collection.

Step 5: Select the Check mark button in the upper right corner to save your collection.

Step 6: To add screenshots to a collection, go to the collection and then select Select screenshots above. You can also view the screenshot and scroll down to see the Add to collection Button.

How to set a reminder for a screenshot in the Screenshots app

Sometimes you take a screenshot because you need to remember certain dates and times. The Screenshots app has a reminder feature that can be useful.

Step 1: Start the Screenshot app on your Pixel 9 device.

Step 2: Select a screenshot to view it.

Step 3: Select the Bell button bring up Memory Menu.

Step 4: Choose when you want to set a reminder.

How to mark up a screenshot in the Screenshots app and add a note

While a screenshot is helpful for remembering things, sometimes you need to take additional notes or even mark up a screenshot. Thankfully, you can do both in the Pixel Screenshots app.

Step 1: Start the Screenshot app on your Pixel 9 device.

Step 2: Select a screenshot to view it.

Step 3: Select the Pencil button To Mark the screenshot as you wish.

Step 4: Choose Save top left to save your changes.

Step 5: How to add a note To take a screenshot, simply scroll down and enter the Add a note You can also use the field Microphone button to dictate your note.