How to transfer google photos from one phone to another

Last Updated: 12th May, 2021 19:01 IST

How to download all photos from Google Photos to phone? Refer to this tutorial before the new Google guidelines come into effect from June 1, 2021.

IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK

Google Photos is an application that lets users store photos and videos without them having to go through the burden of not having enough space in their mobile. However, Google recently announced a change in policy that puts a cap on the free unlimited storage service. Since then, users are racking their brains wondering how to download all photos from Google Photos to phone. If you, too, want to avoid paying for the service and are planning to transfer all your important pictures, videos and documents back to your phone, check this tutorial.

How to download all photos from Google Photos to phone?

There are two ways in which one can download or export Google Photos offline. 

• Open the Google Photos app.
• Locate the photo you wish to download. View the photo on full screen.
• Click on the three vertical dots icon provided on the top right corner to unveil a bunch of options.
• An icon for download will appear on your device. Click on it to move the photo to your local storage.
• Please note that if the photo is already on your device, the option for download option won’t appear.

Google Takeout

Unfortunately, the above tutorials only let users select and download pictures one by one, making the process time-consuming. This is when Google Takeout comes in handy as it allows users to take out the data that they have stored in their Google account all at once. Here's a tutorial on how to use Google Takeout for Google Photos download.

• Visit “takeout.google.com” and make sure your Google account is already logged into.
• The first step will be to 'select data to include'. You will realise that all the data coming under Google will be selected on the website. Click on 'deselect all' unless you want to export everything stored on Google.
• Scroll down to select Google Photos. Scroll down further to click on Next Step.
• You will be asked to choose between exporting the files once or every two months for one year. Additionally, you will have to choose a file type & size in which you wish to download the files.
• Click on 'Create Export' to commence the procedure. Google will send an email to your account to verify your request. Approve it.
• Please note that Google is likely to take a few hours or a few days to complete the process depending on the quantity and size of the files. Once it is completed, an email will pop up informing about the same. Following this, you can download the photos on your phone or personal computer however you like. 

The new policy requires users to maintain their storage within 15GB. If exceeded, the user will have to pay the price of 100GB storage for Rs 130 per month or Rs 1,300 on a yearly basis. Although this is a big shift in a decision coming from Google, the company has assured its users in the blog post that there's no need to worry as roughly 80% of Photos users most likely won’t hit their 15GB cap for about three years after the new policy goes into effect. Additionally, Google mentioned that it will offer a new free tool next summer that will help Photos app users easily manage their already backed up media.

IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK

Here are a few methods to transfer photos and videos from one Google Photos account to another Google Photos. When using these methods you transfer edited copies, without the option to undo the edits in the receiving account.

Each of the methods below has advantages/disadvantages:

• Method A looses "Descriptions" added in Google Photos (and "Captions" added in Picasaweb)

• Methods A and B are more laborious than method C

• Method C is the best one to transfer all photos, but does not transfer albums.

I recommend to use method C first, and transfer albums later using method B. By doing so the photos should not transfer twice, but will be added to the album.

Also remember that having only one copy of your photos is always unsafe. If you do not have a real backup I recommend to for example also download all photos or have them in two accounts.

Method A: Download, then Upload to new account

If you no longer have the original photos and your photo collection exists only online at Google Photos, you'll need to first download all your photos and videos from Google Photos to a computer.

At this link are various ways to download photos and videos.

At this link are various ways to upload to Google Photos.

Notes:

• "Captions" added in Picasa Web Albums or "Descriptions" added in Google Photos get lost.
  Takeout downloads those in .json files but you will have to add them to the photos. See link.

• Takeout downloads original and edited copies. All other methods transfer only edited copies

• Dates changed in Google Photos (for example to correct order) are lost.

Method B: Share Albums and "Save" photos

Share an album

1. Copy a shareable link in account 1 :
   Click the "Share" icon > "Get link" or "Copy" when already created

2. Go to a browser window where you are signed in to account 2, and open the album

3. Select all photos in the album (or the ones you want to transfer).

4. You can now:

   • Add the photos to an album in account 2:
     Click the + icon ("Add to"), and select "Album" > "New album". Add an album title.
     The photos are now added to the album, and automatically also added to the library of account 2.
     If the photos were already saved to account 2 (for example using the "Share library" method) they will not be added again to the timeline, but are still added to the album.

   • or only add the photos to the Photos tab by clicking on the "Save photos" icon (cloud with down arrow)

Share selected photos by "Send in Google Photos"

You can select photos and click Share > "Send in Google photos". You will find the photos in the "Sharing" tab in the other account, where you can "Save" them to Google Photos, but not add them directly to an album.

Notes:

• "Descriptions" added in Google Photos or "Captions" added in Picasa Web Albums are also transferred.

• When a date/time was changed, the changed date is also transferred.

• Any additional information added to the album (text, maps, locations) cannot be transferred. You will have to add or copy it manually.

• "Comments" and "Likes" can also not be transferred.

• Please have a backup of your entire collection in case anything should go wrong while sharing. You can also first use method C (Share library) which already transfers all photos/videos, and restore albums later using this method B. The photos will be added to an album, but not transferred again (no duplicates, but it is good to check).

• Albums shared with you will have to be transferred manually. Open the link in the new account and "Join" the album.

Warning: There have been reports of reduced pixel count when using "Add to library." It seems that the smaller copies are replaced by larger copies in the shared album after some time. Check the pixel count after adding to library. If the pixel count is too low, wait a few minutes and check again.

Method C: Share your library (Partner sharing)

In June 2017 the option to share your entire library with a single other account was introduced. This method can be used to transfer photos between two accounts:

• In account 1: share your library with account 2

• In account 2: accept the invitation and activate "Add to library".
  Now all photos from the library of account 1 will be copied to the library of account 2.
  Deleting photos from account 1 will NOT delete the photos from account 2 after they are added to the library of account 2.

Give it enough time to copy everything. It is also wise to have another backup (non-synced copy) before you start deleting from account 1.

From the Google Photos Help page, please read: Share your Google Photos library with a partner

• "Descriptions" added in Google Photos or "Captions" added in Picasa Web Albums are transferred. Note that these get lost when downloading (method A)

• When a date/time was changed in Google Photos, the changed date is also transferred.

• Photos that are moved to the "Archive" in account A are not shared, thus not transferred.

• When a photo was edited, only the edited copy is transferred. Edits cannot be undone in account 2.

The above method transfers photos, but no albums. You can however:

• First share the library of account 1 with account 2. That's rapid and fully automatic, and includes photos that may not be in any album.

• Transfer the albums later by using method B. Photos will not be transferred again but added to the album. There should be no duplicates.

The help says: "Any photos you save from partner sharing won’t take up storage, unless your partner stops sharing their photos with you, or deletes the original copy" . However there is currently a bug which prevents the storage being used in your account if the source account is disconnected. This may change any time in the future so if you suddenly see your storage jump it could mean they have fixed it.

When the option "Storage saver" is selected in account 2, the photos will be compressed and use less storage in case account 1 used setting "Original".

Method D: third party software

Can transfer between Google accounts, but also to other photo sites. Users suggested for example

• https://www.multcloud.com/
  See https://www.multcloud.com/tutorials/transfer-google-photos-to-another-account-1234.html

Reviews: https://www.google.com/search?q=multcloud+review

• https://www.picbackman.com/
  Comment by a user: "Picbackman can't transfer from one google photos account to another. Only to a different provider."

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