There are several ways to transfer Google Photos from one account to another, each with its advantages and limitations. Here are some popular methods:
1. Partner Sharing on Google Photos
- This method allows you to invite another account to view and save photos from your library.
- It’s easy to set up and manage, but the recipient cannot directly add photos to your library.
- Steps:
- Go to Google Photos.
- On the source account, go to Settings (gear icon on the top right) > Partner Sharing (inside the sharing tab if on the mobile app) > Get Started.
- Choose “All Photos” or select the photos you want to share.
- Click Next and enter the email address of the destination account (can add multiple accounts).
- On the destination account, accept the invitation and enable “Automatically add to library” or “Save to library” for desired photos.
2. Shared Albums on Google Photos
- You can create shared albums and invite others to view and add photos.
- This method offers more control over who can see and contribute to specific albums.
- However, it requires manually creating and managing albums for each selection.
- Steps:
- Select the photos you want to transfer.
- Tap the Share button and enter the email address of the destination account.
- On the destination account, open the shared album and tap the Add to library icon.
3. Google Takeout
- This service allows you to download all your Google data, including photos, to a .zip file.
- You can then upload the .zip file to the destination account.
- This method is ideal for transferring large amounts of photos at once, but it takes longer and requires more technical steps.
- Steps:
- Go to takeout.google.com and select “Google Photos”.
- Choose your desired export settings (e.g., all photos or specific albums).
- Select the delivery method and destination account.
- Download the .zip file and upload it to the destination account.
4. Download and Upload on Google Photos
- Pros: Transfers original quality photos, you have full control over selection.
- Cons: Time-consuming for large amounts of photos, requires downloading and uploading manually.
- Steps:
- On the source account: Select photos you want to transfer.
- Click “Download” and choose “.zip” format.
- Extract the .zip file on your device.
- On the destination account: Upload the extracted photos using the Google Photos app or website.
