How to Transfer Google Photos to Another Gmail Account: A Comprehensive Guide

So, you’re looking to move your precious photo memories from one Google account to another? Fear not, intrepid shutterbug! While Google doesn’t offer a single, magic “transfer button,” there are several tried-and-true methods to accomplish this feat. Let’s dive into the details. The most straightforward approach involves sharing your entire Google Photos library with your new account and then saving all shared photos to the new account. Alternatively, you can download your photos and videos, then re-upload them to the desired account.

Choosing the Right Transfer Method

Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s briefly discuss the different approaches. The “sharing” method is generally faster and easier for large libraries, especially if you don’t mind a slight organizational hiccup. The “download and re-upload” method provides more granular control but can be time-consuming and bandwidth-intensive. Choose the method that best suits your needs, considering the size of your library, your internet speed, and your technical comfort level.

Method 1: Sharing and Saving – The Easiest Route

This method leverages Google Photos’ built-in sharing feature. Here’s how it works:

Step 1: Initiate Sharing from the Original Account

1. Log in to your original Google account that currently holds the Google Photos you wish to transfer.
2. Open Google Photos (photos.google.com).
3. Navigate to Settings. This is usually found by clicking on your profile icon in the top right corner, then selecting “Photos settings.”
4. Look for the “Shared library” option.
5. Click “Get Started.”
6. Enter the email address of the Google account you want to transfer the photos to (your new account).
7. You can choose to share all photos or only photos from a specific date onwards. Select the option that suits your needs.
8. Click “Send Invitation.”

Step 2: Accepting the Invitation on the Destination Account

1. Log in to your new Google account.
2. Check your email inbox for the invitation to the shared library from your original account.
3. Open the email and click the “View invitation” button.
4. You will be redirected to Google Photos. Click “Accept” to accept the shared library invitation.

Step 3: Saving Photos to the New Account

This is where the magic happens (and potentially some waiting). Your new account now has access to your old account’s photos. To save them:

1. In your new Google Photos account, navigate to the “Sharing” tab (it should be in the left-hand menu).
2. You should see the shared library from your original account. Open it.
3. Here’s the tricky part: there’s no single “Save All” button. You’ll need to manually save each photo or album.
4. For individual photos: Open the photo and click the “Save to library” icon (it looks like a cloud with a downward arrow).
5. For albums: Open the album, click the three vertical dots (menu), and choose “Save all to library.”
6. Important note: This process can be tedious, especially for large libraries. Be patient! Consider tackling it in smaller chunks.

Considerations for the Sharing Method

• Organization: Photos saved to the new account will lose the original album structure. They’ll be organized by date in your main Google Photos timeline.
• Storage: Be sure your new Google account has enough storage space to accommodate all the photos and videos.

Method 2: Download and Re-upload – For Granular Control

This method is more time-consuming but gives you maximum control over the transfer process.

Step 1: Download Your Photos from the Original Account

1. Log in to your original Google account.
2. Go to Google Takeout (takeout.google.com).
3. Click “Deselect all” to uncheck all services.
4. Scroll down and select “Google Photos.”
5. Click “All photo albums included” to customize your download. You can choose to download specific albums or all of them.
6. Click “OK.”
7. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click “Next step.”
8. Choose your preferred delivery method, frequency, file type, and file size.
9. Click “Create export.”

Step 2: Download and Extract the Archive

1. Google will process your request and notify you when the export is ready. This may take hours or even days, depending on the size of your library.
2. Download the archive(s) from the email link provided by Google.
3. Extract the contents of the zip files. You’ll likely have multiple zip files if your library is large.

Step 3: Upload to the New Account

1. Log in to your new Google account.
2. Open Google Photos (photos.google.com).
3. Click the “Upload” button (usually in the top right corner).
4. Select the extracted photo and video files from your computer.
5. Wait for the upload to complete. This can take a significant amount of time, depending on your internet speed and the size of the files.

Considerations for the Download and Re-upload Method

• Time: This method is significantly more time-consuming than the sharing method.
• Bandwidth: Uploading large files requires a fast and reliable internet connection.
• Metadata: Depending on your Google Takeout settings, you may lose some metadata associated with your photos (e.g., location data, edit history).
• Storage: Ensure the new Google account has enough storage space.
• File Organization: Consider organizing the downloaded photos into folders before uploading them to Google Photos to better manage your library.

H3: Other Transfer Options and Tools

While the above methods are the most common, some third-party tools claim to simplify the Google Photos transfer process. However, proceed with caution when using these tools, as they may pose security risks. Always research the tool thoroughly and read reviews before granting access to your Google accounts.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Will I lose the original quality of my photos during the transfer?

No, Google Photos preserves the original quality of your photos and videos during both the sharing and download/re-upload methods, unless you specifically choose to compress them during the download process in Google Takeout. Always select “original quality” when prompted.

2. How long does the transfer process take?

The transfer time depends on the size of your Google Photos library and your internet connection speed. A small library (a few hundred photos) might take an hour or two. A large library (tens of thousands of photos) could take several days.

3. Can I transfer specific albums only?

Yes, you can transfer specific albums only using both methods. With the sharing method, you can choose to share only photos from a certain date onwards. With Google Takeout (download/re-upload), you can select specific albums to download.

4. What happens to shared albums after the transfer?

If the photos were originally shared with you from another user, then saving them to your new account only saves a copy. They’ll still be in the original shared album from the other user. If you were the original sharer, and you deleted photos from the original Google Account, they would also be deleted from the shared album, affecting anyone else who had access to the shared album.

5. How do I check my Google account storage space?

Go to Google One (one.google.com) while logged into the account and check your storage quota. This will give you a breakdown of how much space is used by Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos.

6. What if I don’t have enough storage space in my new account?

You have a few options: purchase additional storage from Google One, delete unwanted files from your new account to free up space, or transfer only a portion of your photos.

7. Can I automate the photo saving process after sharing?

Unfortunately, Google Photos doesn’t offer a native automation feature to save all shared photos automatically. You’ll need to manually save them to your library. Third-party browser extensions might exist, but use them with caution.

8. Will the timestamps and dates be preserved during the transfer?

Yes, timestamps and dates are generally preserved during both the sharing and download/re-upload methods. However, ensure your Google Takeout settings are configured to include metadata.

9. Is there a risk of losing photos during the transfer?

While the risk is minimal, it’s always a good idea to back up your photos before initiating the transfer process. You can download them to an external hard drive or use a cloud backup service as an extra precaution.

10. Can I transfer Google Photos to a non-Gmail account?

No, you cannot directly transfer Google Photos to a non-Gmail account using the sharing method. This method requires both accounts to be Google accounts. However, you can download the photos and then upload them to another cloud storage service, but this bypasses Google Photos entirely and may involve different storage fees.

11. What happens to face grouping after transferring the photos?

Face grouping may not be perfectly preserved during the transfer. Google’s face recognition algorithms are account-specific. Therefore, you may need to re-tag faces in your new Google Photos account.

12. Is it legal to transfer photos I don’t own the copyright to?

No. Transferring copyrighted photos without permission violates copyright law. Only transfer photos that you own or have the right to transfer. Always respect intellectual property rights.

Transferring your Google Photos doesn’t have to be an insurmountable task. By understanding the different methods and considering the associated factors, you can successfully migrate your memories to a new home. Now go forth and organize your digital life!