Stop Partner Sharing in Google Photos

This guide shows you how to turn off Partner Sharing in Google Photos, which stops automatically sharing your photos and videos with a specific person. You’ll need access to the Google account that initiated the sharing, either on the mobile app or the web version.

What You’ll Need

• The Google account that started the Partner Sharing (the sharer’s account).
• Access to the Google Photos app (Android or iOS) or the website photos.google.com on a computer.
• Your account password if you haven’t signed in recently.

Step-by-Step

On the Google Photos Mobile App

1. Open the Google Photos app on your phone or tablet.
2. Tap your profile picture or initials in the top right corner of the main screen.
3. In the menu that appears, tap Photos settings.
4. Scroll down and tap Partner sharing.
5. You’ll see the partner you’re currently sharing with. Tap Stop sharing at the bottom of the screen.
6. A confirmation dialog will appear. Read it carefully – it will tell you that your partner will lose access to the photos you’ve shared, but the photos already saved to their library will remain. Tap Stop sharing again to confirm.

On the Google Photos Website (photos.google.com)

1. Go to photos.google.com and sign in with the account that started the sharing.
2. Click the gear icon (Settings) in the top right corner of the screen.
3. In the left sidebar, click Partner sharing.
4. Next to your partner’s name, click Stop sharing.
5. Click Stop sharing again in the pop-up to confirm.

That’s it. The sharing is now off. Your partner will no longer see new photos you take, and they’ll lose access to the shared album view. Any photos they’ve already saved to their own library will stay there.

Common Mistakes

• Stopping from the wrong account: If you’re the partner receiving photos, you won’t see the “Stop sharing” option in your settings. You can only remove yourself, not end the sharing from the sharer’s side. The sharer must do it.
• Confusing “Stop sharing” with “Remove partner”: “Stop sharing” ends the flow of new photos. “Remove partner” (if available) also disconnects the partner relationship entirely, which may affect previously shared albums. For most people, “Stop sharing” is the right choice.
• Thinking it deletes photos: Stopping Partner Sharing does not delete any photos from either account. It only stops the automatic sharing and removes the partner’s access to the shared view.
• Forgetting about the web version: If you can’t find the setting on mobile, try the web version. The menu layout is slightly different, and sometimes the setting is easier to locate.

Tips

• Communicate first: If you’re sharing with a family member or partner, let them know you’re turning it off. They might want to save any photos they haven’t downloaded yet.
• Save photos you want to keep: Before you stop sharing, check if there are any photos in the shared view that you want to keep. You can save them to your own library by selecting them and choosing “Save to library” (or similar) before ending the sharing.
• Use a shared album instead: If you want to share a specific set of photos without ongoing automatic sharing, create a shared album and share the link. This gives you control over what’s shared and when.
• Check your storage: Photos your partner saved to their library count against their storage, not yours. Stopping sharing doesn’t change that, but it’s good to know where the files live.

Troubleshooting

• Can’t find the Partner sharing option: Make sure you’re signed in with the account that started the sharing. If you’re on the app, try updating it to the latest version. If you’re on the web, try a different browser or an incognito window.
• The “Stop sharing” button is grayed out: This can happen if you’re not the primary sharer, or if there’s a temporary sync issue. Try refreshing the page or restarting the app. If it persists, sign out and sign back in.
• Your partner still sees photos after stopping: It can take a few minutes for the change to propagate across all devices. Ask your partner to close and reopen the Google Photos app. If they still see the photos after 24 hours, try the web version and confirm the setting shows “Off” or “No partner.”
• You want to re-enable sharing later: You can always go back to the same settings and set up Partner Sharing again with the same or a different person. The previous shared history won’t come back automatically.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my partner lose the photos they already saved?

No. Any photos your partner has already saved to their own Google Photos library will remain in their account. Stopping sharing only removes their access to the live shared view and stops new photos from appearing.

Can my partner see my photos after I stop sharing?

No, they will no longer see new photos you take, and they’ll lose access to the shared album that was created by Partner Sharing. However, they may still have copies of photos they saved earlier.

Does stopping sharing delete any of my photos?

No. Your photos remain untouched in your own library. Stopping Partner Sharing only ends the automatic sharing relationship.

Can I stop sharing from just one device?

Yes, the setting is tied to your Google account, so changing it on any device (phone, tablet, or computer) will apply across all devices.

What if I want to share with someone else instead?

You can stop sharing with the current partner and then start a new Partner Sharing session with a different person. The new partner will only see photos taken after you start sharing with them.

Is there a way to pause sharing temporarily?

No, Google Photos doesn’t have a “pause” option. You’ll need to stop sharing and then re-enable it later if you want to resume.

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