Android introduces Embedded Photo Picker for in-app media selection

Google has introduced an embedded version of the Android photo picker, allowing apps to let users select photos and videos directly within the app interface rather than redirecting them to a separate system screen. The update is aimed at developers building on newer Android versions and focuses on tighter UI integration and more limited data access.

The embedded photo picker keeps the same permission model as the existing Android photo picker, meaning apps do not receive access to a user’s full photo library. Instead, they only gain access to the specific images or videos a user actively selects. Unlike traditional media permissions, the embedded picker also supports cloud-based libraries, such as Google Photos, enabling users to browse albums, favorites, and search results without leaving the app.

From a user experience perspective, the new picker is designed to appear as a native part of an app’s layout. Users can view recent media immediately and expand the picker to explore their entire library, whether stored locally or in the cloud. This approach reduces context switching while maintaining system-level controls over privacy and data access.

Google highlighted Google Messages as an early example of the implementation. In that app, the embedded picker sits alongside the camera option, showing a preview of selected media and allowing users to expand or collapse the picker as needed. Once selection is complete, access is limited to the chosen items, removing the need for broader photo and video permissions.

For developers, the embedded photo picker is available through the Jetpack Photo Picker libraries, with support for both Jetpack Compose and traditional Views. The system manages rendering and interaction through a dedicated service, and developers can configure aspects such as selection limits, ordering, and accent colors. However, because the picker is system-rendered, apps cannot draw over or modify its surface, requiring designers to treat it as a fixed UI element within their layouts.

The feature is currently available on devices running Android 14 (API level 34) or higher with SDK Extensions 15 and above. Google notes that this requirement limits availability to newer devices, but positions the embedded picker as part of a broader shift toward more granular permissions and system-controlled access to personal media.