Photoshop Express on Android: A Guide for Galaxy Photos

There are actually two Photoshop apps available on Google Play. This article will cover the original, Photoshop Express, which is perfect for quick edits on your Galaxy phone thanks to its one-tap looks, retouching options, collages, and more.

The other option is the relatively new Photoshop with AI Assistant app, which is more similar to Photoshop on desktop thanks to its layer-based editing features.

Here are some of the best things you can do with Photoshop Express on Android.

Photoshop Express or the Photoshop app

As both apps are named after Photoshop, it’s easy to download the wrong one. Here’s a table of differences between the two apps (via Adobe’s own help pages, and the apps’ respective listings on Google Play at the time of writing, 4 November 2026).

The Express app is more streamlined and compatible with older Android phones, which may be a better fit if you're just looking to spruce up some holiday snaps.

Prices vary by country, and Google Play only lists a range for in-app purchases, so you'll want to double-check in the app before subscribing. If you're looking for a more traditional, desktop-style image editor with layers, the Photoshop app is the place to go.

Set up Photoshop Express before your first edit

Export options are saved in Express’s settings. To review the export options before making any edits, go to App Settings, then Preferences, which is where Adobe’s help page for Android lists them.

1. 1

   Open Preferences

   Go to App Settings in Photoshop Express. On Android, Adobe’s help page says to go to Preferences.

2. 2

   Set JPEG Quality

   Adobe recommends using 100% for best results, but this will result in larger file sizes. If smaller versions are required they can be saved at a later time.

3. 3

   Check Image Resize

   Adobe separates this setting from JPEG quality. Unless you’re aiming for tiny file sizes to easily share images, pick the largest option available.

4. 4

   Check the watermark

   Watermark: as Adobe describes it, this places a mark on your images, so disable it unless you specifically want this feature.

5. 5

   Choose where files go

   Adobe’s page says Advanced contains options for the Save Location and File Naming, so you'll be able to locate your edits later using the Galaxy Gallery app.

Editing a Galaxy photo in Express

Photos can be opened directly from the storage of your phone (meaning if you can see it in Gallery, you can open it with Express).

For most phone photos the following order will work and is the same order as used in the Gallery editor and in Lightroom.

1. 1

   Crop and straighten first

   Once you’ve nailed the framing and levelled the horizon, you can fine-tune everything else, such as brightness and colour.

2. 2

   Set the light

   Lower highlights and raise shadows a bit with the sliders. Adjust exposure to taste.

3. 3

   Then set colour

   Correct any white balance issues before increasing saturation so you’re not accentuating a colour cast.

4. 4

   Remove small distractions

   Adobe describes Spot Heal as a tool to get rid of undesired objects. On Android there are Basic and Advanced settings. Apply Spot Heal in small dabs to remove a speck of dust or wire from an image.

5. 5

   Add a look last

   Looks are quick, but the effect is applied to the entire image, so you should compare to the original before you commit to an edit.

6. 6

   Save or share

   Save with the selected quality options from Settings, or share to a different app.

Working with Expert RAW files

Adobe's Photoshop Express FAQ says it can open DNG and Samsung's own SRW format. This lets you open the 16-bit DNG files that Expert RAW creates. For a quick fix, it's convenient. For heavy RAW editing, Lightroom is built around RAW files and keeps every edit adjustable, and the Lightroom vs Snapseed comparison covers that choice. But when is shooting RAW worth the increased file size? Our RAW vs JPEG guide has an answer.

When an export doesn't look right

• The saved image looks soft: In Preferences check JPEG Quality and Image Resize and save again from your edit.
• There is a watermark on my image: In Preferences turn off Watermark and export again.
• I can’t find my saved image in Gallery: In Preferences under Advanced check Save Location and look in the album/folder it mentions.
• A RAW file looks very flat when opened: RAW files are flat looking until edited, so set exposure and contrast before judging it.
• Applying a look changes the colour of my image: Try lowering its strength if there is a slider, or remove it and manually set white balance.

What Premium adds

Adobe’s FAQ and product pages advertise more advanced features with Premium, including exclusive themes for editors and collages, more advanced healing edits, and more precise controls.

Adobe doesn’t list all the features available with Premium. If you use the app for a week and don’t find yourself needing a locked feature, you likely don’t need Premium.

When another app suits you better

If you just want to crop or brighten an image, try out the editor in the Galaxy Gallery app (see our Samsung photo editor guide). Snapseed lets you adjust just one part of a photo at a time, and it is free with no ads (see our Snapseed guide). See best photo editing apps for Android for more options.

Want to add a sketch or painting effect? See our photos-to-drawings app guide for apps made just for that.