Transfer Google Photos to Another Account: 6 Ways

Transferring photos from one Google Account to another is done through Google Takeout, Partner Sharing, or direct downloads and re-uploads. The method you choose depends on whether you want to move everything at once, preserve original quality, or only share selected albums. Below are the six ways to do it, with the exact steps and trade-offs for each.

Why a Simple Move Isn’t Built In

Google Photos does not have a native “move to another account” button. Photos are stored in your Google Account’s cloud, and the service is designed to keep your library tied to that account. To get images into a second account, you must either copy them through sharing features or download and re-upload them. This limitation exists because Google Photos is part of your broader Google Account (Gmail, Drive, etc.), and moving libraries between accounts would create conflicts with storage quotas and shared albums.

Method 1: Google Takeout (Full Library Download and Re-upload)

This is the most complete method—it moves every photo and video, including metadata like dates and locations, but it takes time and consumes data.

1. Go to takeout.google.com and sign in to the source account.
2. Deselect all products, then scroll to Google Photos and check the box.
3. Click All photo albums included and choose whether to include albums, or just all photos. You can also select specific albums.
4. Choose the export frequency (usually “Export once”), file type (.zip or .tgz), and file size (2 GB to 50 GB).
5. Click Create export. Google will email you when it’s ready—this can take hours or days depending on library size.
6. Download the archives, extract them, and then go to photos.google.com in the destination account. Click Upload and select the extracted folders.

Be aware that Takeout exports photos in their original resolution, but it may strip some data like face tags and album organization. Also, if you have more than 15 GB of photos, the destination account must have enough storage (paid Google One or free space).

Method 2: Partner Sharing (For Ongoing Auto-Transfer)

If you want all new photos from one account to appear in another automatically, use Partner Sharing. This is not a one-time move—it’s a live sync.

1. In Google Photos on the source account, go to Settings > Partner sharing.
2. Enter the email of the destination account and choose whether to share all photos or only those from a certain date.
3. The destination account receives an invitation; once accepted, all shared photos appear in their library under the “Sharing” tab.

Important: Partner Sharing does not copy the files to the destination account’s storage—it just makes them visible. If the source account deletes a photo, it disappears from the destination too. To permanently own the photos, the destination user must manually save them to their library (select photo > three-dot menu > Save to library). This method is best for families sharing photos of kids or events.

Method 3: Share an Album and Save Copies

For a one-time transfer of a specific album, you can share it and then save each photo to the destination account.

1. In Google Photos on the source account, open the album and click the share icon.
2. Add the destination email and send the invitation.
3. In the destination account, open the shared album, select all photos (Ctrl+A or Cmd+A), then click the three-dot menu and choose Save to library.

This copies the photos into the destination account’s own library, using its storage. It preserves quality and metadata, but you must do it for each album. A common mistake is thinking the shared album is already “in” the destination account—it is not until you save it.

Method 4: Download and Re-upload (For Selective Transfer)

If you only need a handful of photos, skip Takeout and download directly from Google Photos.

1. In Google Photos, select the photos you want (click the first, then Shift+click the last, or use the search filters).
2. Click the three-dot menu > Download. This creates a .zip file.
3. Extract the zip, then go to photos.google.com in the destination account and upload those files.

This method is straightforward but loses any edits you made in Google Photos (like filters or crops) unless you download the “edited” version. The downloaded file will be the edited image, not the original, unless you choose “Original” in the download options.

Method 5: Use Google Drive as a Bridge

If you have Google Drive on the source account, you can move photos there first, then share the folder with the destination account.

1. In Google Photos, select photos and click Add to Drive (this creates a copy in Drive).
2. Go to drive.google.com, find the folder with those photos, right-click it, and choose Share.
3. Enter the destination email with “Editor” access.
4. In the destination account, open the shared folder, select all files, and click Make a copy (or download and re-upload).

This method is useful if you want to avoid downloading to your computer, but it consumes Drive storage in the source account. Also, copying files in Drive counts against the destination account’s quota.

Method 6: Third-Party Tools and Migration Services

Several third-party services like MultCloud or Mover (now part of Microsoft) can transfer files between cloud storage directly. These tools connect to both Google accounts and copy photos without downloading to your device. However, they often require you to grant access to your accounts, which carries security risks. Only use well-known services with clear privacy policies. Also, note that some tools may not preserve all metadata or may compress images. If you use one, always test with a small album first.

Common Problems and How to Avoid Them

• Storage quota exceeded: Check the destination account’s free space before starting. Google Photos now counts all photos against your 15 GB free storage.
• Takeout export too large: If your library is over 50 GB, split the export into multiple files or use the .tgz format.
• Metadata loss: Takeout preserves EXIF data, but if you download individual photos, ensure you choose “Original” quality to keep the original file.
• Duplicates: When re-uploading, Google Photos may detect exact duplicates and not store them twice, which is fine. But if you upload edited versions, they will be treated as new files.
• Album structure lost: Takeout exports albums as separate folders, but when you re-upload, Google Photos does not automatically recreate the album structure—you’ll need to recreate albums manually.

Which Method Should You Choose?

For a full library transfer, Takeout is the only way to get everything. For ongoing sharing between family accounts, Partner Sharing is ideal. For a few albums, use the shared album method. If you’re tech-savvy and want to avoid downloads, a third-party tool can work, but weigh the security trade-off. Always back up your photos locally before starting any transfer, and verify a few random photos in the destination account after the move.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my photo edits (crops, filters) transfer?

Yes, if you download from Google Photos, you get the edited version by default. In Takeout, you can choose to export the original or edited. If you use Partner Sharing, the edits are visible but not applied to the original file—the destination sees the edited version but saving it saves the edited image.

Do transferred photos count against the destination account’s storage?

Yes, any photo that is saved to the destination account’s library (via re-upload, Save to library, or Drive copy) counts against that account’s 15 GB free storage. Partner Sharing does not count until you save the photo.

Can I transfer albums without losing their order?

Takeout preserves album structure as folders, but when you re-upload, the album order is lost. To keep order, you must recreate the album and add photos in the same sequence.

Is there a way to transfer without downloading to my computer?

Yes, use Partner Sharing (for live sync) or the Drive bridge method. Third-party tools also work but require granting access.

What happens to face tags and people grouping?

Face tags are not transferred. The destination account will need to re-scan faces and create its own people groups. This is a known limitation of all methods.

How long does a Takeout export take?

It depends on library size; it can take from a few hours to several days. You’ll receive an email when it’s ready. You can also check the status in Takeout.

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