How to Use the Add Me Feature on Pixel 9 Phones

Why You Can Trust CNET

Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. How we test phones

You can now bid farewell to the days of awkwardly deciding who should take the group picture and not be included in the shot -- if you have a Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro or Pixel 9 Pro Fold device. 

Google's latest flagship phones include a feature called Add Me, which can merge two photos together so it looks like everyone is in the same shot. It uses augmented reality and AI to layer the images so you can take one shot of everyone, then have the photographer switch places with someone and stand in the frame. After you take that second image, your phone will automatically combine them so you have (seemingly) one shot with everyone in it.

See also: Getting a Pixel 9? How to Prepare Your Old Pixel for Trade-In

Of course, you always have the option to ask passersby to just snap a shot of everyone, but in case you're feeling a little shy or there's no one around, Add Me can be a convenient feature. (If you want to have a little fun and channel your inner Parent Trap, you can also use the feature to snap an image showing the same person twice.)

Here's how to use Add Me.

1. First, make sure your Pixel 9 phone has the latest software update. You can do this by going to Settings > System > Software updates. Also ensure your Pixel Camera app is updated by going to the Play Store.
2. Once everything is up to date, open the camera app and select Add Me from the photo options at the bottom (just below the shutter button). 
3. Have everyone but the first photographer stand in the shot, and make sure you leave space for them to jump in later. Snap the photo.
4. The first photographer can then hand the phone to someone else and have everyone else leave the shot -- their AR versions will stand in for them. Use the viewfinder to help position the first photographer so it looks like they were there all along, and snap the second photo. 
5. Add Me will then stitch together the two images, which you'll automatically find in your Photos app. Done! 

Some notes on Add Me

When testing this feature on the Pixel 9 Pro XL, my colleagues Faith Chihil and Jessica Fierro and I got creative and tried to see how much we could get away with. I played the role of photographer #1 and snapped an image of the two before jumping in for the second shot. We attempted one photo where Jessica and I, with the help of AR, had our arms around each other, but Add Me struggled with layering the two images, so it just looks like we're awkwardly sticking our hands out. Even when we just kept it to me putting my arm around Jessica's shoulder, it still didn't layer the images the way we wanted. But perhaps with a little trial and error, you can get the desired result. 

We also tried to dupe Add Me by having Faith stand in the first shot, then remain for the second shot (because two Faiths are better than one). But Add Me wasn't having it and only featured her once (you can see in this image that all that remains of her is a finger, next to my arm, that wasn't erased).

We tried again with a "disguise," and Add Me, to our amazement, still wouldn't have it. It only wanted one Faith. (You can once again see only her hand remains.)

For some reason, though, when we tried again, this time it removed me from the final shot, and Faith was captured twice. All this to say, Add Me will likely be glitchy if you try to fool it.

But if you wanna have some fun and photograph yourself twice, have at it. We didn't encounter any issues and got these fun photos of Faith and her evil twin.

And note you'll only be able to use Add Me with the Pixel's rear cameras because...if you're using the selfie camera, you can just take a selfie! No need for AR to help with getting everyone in the shot.