Google today announced a new setting that finally lets users disable background music in Google Photos Memories. When turned off, the toggle removes background music from all Memories, including the End of Year Recap. The feature seems to be a server-side rollout, so some users may have to wait until it appears.

How the new setting changes the experience

The option stops random music tracks from being added to a Memory. If the Memory contains video, users will still hear the recorded audio. The change keeps Google Photos from choosing a soundtrack that may not match the moment, while preserving the original sound from video clips.

Why this matters for Memories users

Memories is meant to surface personal highlights from saved photos and videos. It has been described as useful and fun, often bringing back old clips of friends from college or images from a first date with a wife. That can make the feature feel like a private archive. But weird background music can pull users out of the experience. The new toggle gives more control over whether a Memory plays with music, without music, or with the original audio from video.

Rollout and what to watch for

Because the feature is server-side, availability may differ across accounts rather than depending on a single visible update. Users who do not see the option yet should check Memories settings over time. The End of Year Recap is the most visible case: turning off music can make a yearly summary feel quieter and more personal, especially when the memories already include video with original sound.