Let's say you've amassed thousands of photos and videos in your Google Photos library over the years, carefully organizing albums and memories from various trips, events, and moments in your life. It's become the home for all your best memories captured on camera. But have you ever thought about backing those precious photos up somewhere else, just in case? Or perhaps you're looking to leave Google Photos for a new cloud storage service.
Fear not, it is possible to export your entire Google Photos collection and move it to alternative cloud storage. In this guide, I'll walk you through the simple steps to download your Google Photos library and upload it all to your new preferred cloud storage service.
Why You Might Want to Move Your Google Photos
Before getting into the how-to, it's worth exploring some common reasons why people may want to export their Google Photos collection:
#Data ownership
By downloading your photos from Google, you gain full ownership and control over your image files rather than relying on Google's servers to store them.
# Privacy concerns
Some prefer not to keep all their data in Google's hands due to privacy or data mining worries. Other services may have policies more aligned with your preferences.
#Storage limits
Google Photos offers unlimited "High Quality" storage for photos, but videos and original quality photos count against your Google Drive storage quota. Other services offer more flexible storage plans.
#New features
Other services like Apple Photos or Amazon Photos may have features you prefer, like improved editing tools, printing services, or integration with other devices and apps.
#Leaving Google
If you decide to stop using Google services altogether, you'll want easy access to all your photos outside of Google.
#Backup your backup
It's always a good idea to have your photos stored in at least two places. Exporting creates an additional copy safeguarded off Google's servers.
Now that you understand some common situations where moving your Google Photos makes sense, let's dive into the step-by-step process.
How to Export Your Entire Google Photos Library
Exporting your entire Google Photos collection is easy to do. Here is a quick rundown of the process:
1. Head to photos.google.com and log into your Google account that contains the photos you want to export.
2. Click on the menu icon in the top left (three horizontal lines) and select "Settings."
3. Under "Backups & exports" click on "Download copies of your photos and videos."
4. Select whether you want the original or compressed "High quality" versions of your photos (originals will be larger files).
5. Choose to export your "Entire library" or just specific albums if you don't want everything.
6. Click "Create export" to start the process. This may take some time depending on your photo library size.
7. Once ready, Google will provide you with a link to download the ZIP file containing your entire exported photo collection.
8. The download link is good for 30 days, so be sure to save the file within that time frame.
And that's it - you now have your full Google Photos library available locally as a ZIP file ready for uploading elsewhere. The export process maintains the original photo metadata, filenames, and organization so it's identical to your Google Photos collection.
Uploading Your Google Photos to Alternative Cloud Storage
Now that you've exported your Google Photos, it's time to upload it all to your preferred cloud storage service. Here are instructions for some top options:
#1 Amazon Photos
Amazon offers unlimited full resolution photo storage with Prime membership. Install the Amazon Photos desktop application, open the ZIP file you downloaded from Google, and select "Import" to upload everything.
#2 Apple iCloud
If you're an Apple user, iCloud is a great option with 5GB of free storage for photos. Open the Photos app on your Mac or iOS device, go to "Albums" and hit the "+" icon to select the ZIP file and import.
#3 Dropbox
Dropbox offers 2GB of free storage but has affordable paid plans too. Install the Dropbox desktop app, open the folder containing your Google Photos ZIP, select all, right click and pick "Dropbox" then "Move here."
#4 OneDrive
Microsoft's OneDrive comes with 5GB free storage. Open the OneDrive desktop app, navigate to a new folder called "Google Photos" then drag and drop the ZIP file inside to upload.
#5 External Hard Drive
If you prefer a local backup, connect an external hard drive to your computer via USB, open the drive in File Explorer/Finder, then drag and drop the ZIP into a new folder on the drive.
And that covers the basics of exporting your Google Photos library and uploading it all to popular cloud storage alternatives. Be sure to keep multiple backups across different storage mediums and locations. The peace of mind knowing your memories are safely stored outside Google's servers is worth the few minutes it takes to set up. Happy snapping!