# About the Google Photos Ambient API

The Google Photos Ambient API empowers you to create slideshow experiences that
integrate with Google Photos on ambient devices like smart TVs and photo frames.

With the Ambient API, you can:

- **Curate visual content:** Display personalized photos and videos from users' Google Photos libraries on ambient devices.
- **Enhance ambient experiences:** Build innovative applications that use Google Photos content to enrich the user experience in homes and other environments.

## Authorization

The Ambient API uses [OAuth 2.0 for TV and Limited-Input Device
Applications](https://developers.google.com/identity/protocols/oauth2/limited-input-device), and with an
added `state` parameter for a more streamlined user authentication flow.

Review our guide on [configuring your app for the Ambient
API](https://developers.google.com/photos/ambient/guides/configure-your-app) to get set up and get ready to use the API.

> [!NOTE]
> **Note:** The Ambient API doesn't support service accounts. To use this API, users must be signed in to a valid Google Account.

## Learn more

[Get started with the Ambient API](https://developers.google.com/photos/ambient/guides/get-started): Learn about the standard
workflow for the Ambient API and review important considerations.

[Configure your app](https://developers.google.com/photos/ambient/guides/configure-your-app): set up your project and set up
authentication and review [the streamlined authentication flow](https://developers.google.com/photos/ambient/guides/configure-your-app#streamlined-flow).

Review our developer guides: the how-to guides and concepts around using the
Ambient API.

- [Create and manage devices](https://developers.google.com/photos/ambient/guides/devices)
- [List and retrieve media items](https://developers.google.com/photos/ambient/guides/media-items)
- [Content policy and filtering](https://developers.google.com/photos/ambient/guides/media-items#content-policy)

Reference documentation: the [Ambient API reference documentation](https://developers.google.com/photos/ambient/reference/rest).

- [Devices](https://developers.google.com/photos/ambient/reference/rest/v1/devices)
- [Media Items](https://developers.google.com/photos/ambient/reference/rest/v1/mediaItems)

Samples: Download and run a sample to see the Ambient API in Application.

- [Ambient API samples](https://developers.google.com/photos/ambient/samples)