The Google Photos drag-to-select feature, which allows users to quickly highlight multiple images by sliding their finger across the screen, has suddenly stopped working for a large number of users. This change is causing frustration for those who rely on the app to manage large volumes of photos and videos.

Why the Google Photos drag-to-select feature is gone

For years, the ability to long-press an image and drag a finger to select a range of files has been a staple of the mobile interface. Reports from across the globe indicate that this gesture is no longer responsive on various Android devices. Instead of selecting multiple items, the app now either does nothing or opens individual photos, forcing users to tap each item manually.

While Google has not released an official statement regarding the removal, the issue appears to be linked to recent updates to the Google Photos application. This glitch is particularly inconvenient for users in Pakistan who frequently use the app to clear up space on their devices to avoid hitting their 15GB free storage limit.

Impact on your storage management

If you are one of the millions of people who use Google Photos to back up their media, this missing functionality makes routine maintenance, such as deleting blurry shots or organizing albums, significantly more time-consuming. When you have hundreds of photos to sort, the difference between a simple swipe and individual tapping is massive.

  • Check for app updates: Visit the Google Play Store to ensure you are on the latest version, though some users report the bug persists even after updating.
  • Clear cache: Go to Settings > Apps > Photos > Storage and tap 'Clear Cache'. This rarely fixes UI bugs but is a standard troubleshooting step.
  • Use the web interface: If you need to manage a large bulk of photos, logging into photos.google.com on a desktop browser remains the most reliable workaround for now.

What you should do next

For now, there is no official fix for the Google Photos drag-to-select issue. If you are experiencing this, you should submit feedback directly through the app by tapping your profile icon and selecting 'Help & feedback'.

We are monitoring the situation closely. If Google releases a patch, it will likely arrive as a minor update via the Play Store. Until then, you may need to use the 'Select' button at the top of the screen or tap photos individually to manage your library.