Google Photos v7.97.0 update causes crashes and breaks Magic Eraser in October 2026

The update's official release notes on the App Store state only generic "bug fixes and performance improvements" and the addition of "new features to provide an enhanced editing experience." Google provided no detailed changelog for the iOS version, leaving users to discover the functional regressions themselves.^[2] While unconfirmed for iOS, notes for the corresponding Android version mention a "new storage management tool," which may be related to the new bugs.

After the v7.97.0 update, user reviews describe a trio of critical failures. The most severe is frequent app crashing, with one 2-star reviewer stating, "I’ve used Google Photos for YEARS. But lately I can’t be on it for more than a few seconds without it freezing and crashing... It’s unusable."

Another key regression is the failure of the Magic Eraser tool. One user who gave a 1-star review wrote, "it has made me install the object eraser 6 times and object eraser still doesn’t work at all." A third bug affects the storage purchase flow, preventing users from upgrading. As a user noted, "it recommends i upgrade to 400gb of storage... but when i try to it doesnt give me the option and jumps all the way up to 1tb."

The failure of the Magic Eraser is particularly significant because Google made the AI-powered editing tool free for all Google Photos users with eligible devices beginning in May 2024.^[3] This move transformed a premium feature into a standard part of the app's value proposition. By breaking a widely available and popular feature, the v7.97.0 update has directly undermined a recent strategic effort by Google to broaden the appeal of its photo editing suite.

The negative reception to v7.97.0 marks a stark contrast with the sentiment for the prior version. Reviews for v7.96.0 were generally positive, focusing on features like memory creation, with one 5-star review noting, "I love how Google Photos make videos. This is a great feature." After the October update, the tone shifted dramatically to frustration. The average ratingGlossaryStar RatingThe 1-5 star average users give your app on the App Store and Google Play — a^[1] primary ranking signal and one of the biggest conversion drivers on your product page. of reviews for v7.97.0 is 3.49 stars, a significant drop from the 4.2-star average for v7.96.0.

The flawed update arrives as users are under increasing pressure to manage their storage. Google recently reduced the retentionGlossaryRetention (D1 / D7 / D30)The percentage of users from a cohort who return to the app N days after install. D1 = day-1 retention, D7 = 7-day, D30 = 30-day. The single most important non-reven... period for trashed items from 60 to 30 days in September 2026. Additionally, a partnership with T-Mobile offering unlimited storage ended in March 2026. These changes funnel more users toward paid Google One plans, making the buggy storage upsell process in v7.97.0 a direct obstacle to monetization.

Given the severity of the stability and feature regressions, a corrective hotfix from Google appears likely. The combination of a broken core feature, constant crashing, and a malfunctioning payment flow is harming both the user experience and Google's revenue potential. If a patch is not shipped quickly, user trust may erode further, potentially benefiting competing cloud storage and photo editing services.

The rating figures compare the 51 US App Store reviews tagged with v7.96.0 against the 82 tagged with v7.97.0, measured on October 26, 2026.