An unreleased version of Google Photos appears to include a photo map we haven’t seen on the Ask Photos search page, yet.

Image maps were popularized by Snapchat years ago, when location hotspots would show you where users were taking photos or videos in your area, or any area, really. Google later caught on and added an image map to Google Photos, but it isn’t a front-and-center feature for Pixel or Android users.

In an APK dive, it appears an unreleased version of Google Photos will bring a new image map tool to the Ask Photos section of the app (via Android Authority). Ask Photos is Google’s AI-powered search that currently surfaces images to match whatever query you throw at it.

In its current state, searching for a town or country will result in a grid of photos in that location. Google Photos version 7.89.0.966319819 reportedly adds a map section, so those images appear spread out across real locations. Photos with metadata that match the search query will appear as bubbles on a map of that area.

The existing function in Google’s public release of the Photos app will show a similar view, formatted as a global heat map. That view sits in the Collections section under Places. You can choose a suggested location, or you can explore the wider area to find photos from certain places.

This private build doesn’t appear polished like the existing heatmap in Collections. It’s also unclear if this feature will still work when Ask Photos is turned off, as Google recently rolled out the option to disable its AI search and revert back to a classic search experience.

There’s no telling whether Google will release this feature soon, or ever, since it was found in a private version of the photo app. A visual map would be a great tool to have, and where it sits now is sort of hidden away.

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