The fastest way to move photos between Google accounts

Google Photos does not have a built-in "transfer all" button, so you will need to move photos manually using Google Takeout or by sharing albums. Google Takeout is the most practical method for large libraries — it downloads all your photos and videos as a single file, which you can then upload to your new account. The process takes about 15 minutes to set up, though the actual download and upload can take hours or days depending on how many photos you have.

If you have only a few hundred photos or want to move specific albums, shared albums work faster: you create an album in your original account, share it with your new account, and save the photos from there. This method avoids downloading and re-uploading files, but you have to do it album by album.

Before you start, sign into both accounts and have them open in separate browser tabs or windows. You will also need enough storage space in your new account to hold all the photos you are moving — Google Photos gives you 15 GB free, and anything beyond that requires a paid plan.

Key Takeaways

  • Google Takeout downloads all your photos and videos as a compressed file that you can upload to your new account, and works best for libraries larger than a few hundred photos.
  • Shared albums let you move specific photos without downloading files, but require you to save them one album at a time to your new account.
  • Both methods preserve your original photos in your old account — nothing is deleted unless you remove it yourself.
  • Check your new account's storage before starting; if you are over 15 GB, you will need to purchase additional storage or delete photos from the new account first.
  • Metadata like dates and locations transfer with Google Takeout, but shared albums may not preserve all original information.

Using Google Takeout to download everything at once

Google Takeout is Google's official tool for exporting your data from any Google service. To start, go to takeout.google.com while signed into your original account. Click "Deselect all" at the top, then scroll down and check only "Google Photos." Click "Next step."

On the next screen, choose your file format and size. Google will split your download into multiple files if your library is very large — you can choose 2 GB, 5 GB, or 50 GB per file. Most people leave this at the default. Select your delivery method: Google will email you a download link, or you can have it sent to Google Drive, Dropbox, or Microsoft OneDrive. Email is simplest. Click "Create export."

Google will process your request — this can take anywhere from a few minutes to several days depending on the size of your library. You will receive an email with a download link. The link expires after seven days, so download the file before then. Once you have the file, extract it on your computer; inside you will find a folder called "Takeout" containing all your photos and videos organized by year and month.

Now sign into your new Google account and go to photos.google.com. Click the upload button (the up arrow icon) and select "Computer." Choose the photos and videos from your extracted Takeout folder and upload them. You can upload multiple files at once, but the process will take time — a library of 10,000 photos might take several hours.

Moving specific albums using shared albums

If you only need to move certain albums or want to avoid downloading large files, use shared albums instead. Sign into your original account at photos.google.com. Find the album you want to move, click the three-dot menu, and select "Share." Click "Create link" to generate a shareable link.

Copy that link and open it in a new tab while signed into your new account. You will see all the photos in the album. Click the three-dot menu at the top right and select "Save to library" or the download icon, depending on your browser. This saves each photo to your new account's library. Repeat this for each album you want to move.

This method is slower if you have many albums, but it avoids the download-and-upload cycle. One drawback: shared albums do not always preserve the original photo dates or location data, so your new account may show different dates than your original account.

What happens to your original photos and account

Moving photos to a new account does not automatically delete them from your old account. Your original photos stay where they are unless you manually delete them. This is actually helpful — you can verify that everything transferred correctly before cleaning up the old account.

If you want to remove photos from your original account after the transfer, go to photos.google.com on that account, select the photos you want to delete, and click the trash icon. Photos in trash are permanently deleted after 60 days, so you have time to change your mind if needed.

If you are planning to close the old account entirely, make sure the transfer is complete and verified first. Once you delete a Google account, you lose access to all associated data, including photos that were never transferred.

Handling storage limits in your new account

Google Photos gives every account 15 GB of free storage shared across Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos. If your new account already has files in Gmail or Drive, that storage is already partially used. Check how much space you have left before uploading a large photo library.

To see your storage, go to one.google.com and look at the storage meter at the bottom left. If you do not have enough space, you have three options: delete files from your new account to make room, purchase additional storage through Google One (100 GB, 2 TB, or higher plans), or move photos in smaller batches and delete them from your new account as you go.

If you choose to buy storage, a 100 GB plan costs a few dollars per month and is usually enough for most photo libraries. The storage is shared across all your Google services, so it applies to Gmail and Drive as well.

Troubleshooting common problems

If your Google Takeout download keeps failing, try breaking it into smaller exports. Instead of downloading everything at once, export photos by year or by date range. Go back to takeout.google.com, click "Multiple formats," and look for date range options under Google Photos settings.

If photos are not appearing in your new account after upload, wait a few hours — Google Photos sometimes takes time to process and index new uploads. If they still do not show up, check that you uploaded them to the correct account and that the account has enough storage space. You can also try uploading a single photo to test whether the upload feature is working.

If shared album links are not working, make sure you are signed into your new account before opening the link. If the link has expired (older than seven days), go back to your original account and create a new shared link for that album.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my photo dates and locations transfer correctly?

Google Takeout preserves all metadata, including dates and locations, so everything transfers exactly as it was. Shared albums may not preserve this information, so use Takeout if you need accurate dates and location data in your new account.

Can I transfer photos from a Google account to a non-Google service?

Yes. Google Takeout downloads your photos as regular image files, so you can upload them to any service — Apple Photos, Amazon Photos, Flickr, or your own computer. The process is the same: download from Takeout, then upload to wherever you want them.

What if I want to keep both accounts active but share photos between them?

Use shared albums instead of transferring. Create an album in your original account, share it with your new account, and both accounts can view and save photos from it. This keeps your photos in both places without duplicating storage.

How long does it take to transfer a large photo library?

Google Takeout processing takes anywhere from a few minutes to several days depending on library size. Downloading the file depends on your internet speed. Uploading to your new account is usually the slowest step — expect several hours for a library of 50,000+ photos.

Do I need to pay to transfer photos between my own accounts?

No. Google Takeout and shared albums are both free. You only pay if your new account needs additional storage beyond the free 15 GB.