The fastest way to transfer Google Photos is to share your library with the new account, then download and re-upload the photos you want to keep

Google Photos does not have a built-in transfer tool that moves your entire library from one account to another in a single step. Instead, you have two practical routes: share your photos with the new account and download them there, or use Google Takeout to download everything at once and upload it manually. The method you choose depends on how many photos you have, whether you want to keep them in both accounts, and how much time you want to spend on the process.

Neither method is complicated, but both require you to have access to both accounts at the same time. If you have lost access to the old account, you will need to recover it first through Google Account Recovery before you can proceed.

Key Takeaways

  • Google Photos does not transfer libraries between accounts automatically; you must download and re-upload, or use shared albums as an intermediate step.
  • The shared album method works well for smaller libraries and lets you download photos directly to your new account without leaving Google's system.
  • Google Takeout downloads your entire photo library as files to your computer, giving you a backup and the option to upload to any account or service.
  • Shared albums expire after one year of inactivity, so download your photos before that deadline if you use the sharing method.
  • Videos, metadata like dates and locations, and organization into albums may not transfer perfectly and may need to be recreated in the new account.

Using shared albums to move photos between your own accounts

The shared album method is the simplest route if you have a few hundred photos or fewer. Sign into the account that currently holds your photos, create a new shared album, and add all the photos you want to transfer. Then share the album link with the new account (or just open it while signed into the new account), and download the photos from there.

To create a shared album: open Google Photos, select the photos you want to move (you can select multiple by clicking the checkbox next to each one, or use Ctrl+A to select all), then click the "+" button at the top and choose "Create shared album." Google will generate a link you can paste into the new account's browser, or you can add the new account's email address directly if you know it.

Once the new account can see the shared album, open it and click the download icon (a downward arrow) next to each photo, or select multiple photos and download them as a folder. The photos will arrive on your computer as individual files, which you can then upload to Google Photos in the new account by opening Photos, clicking the upload button, and selecting the files.

One limitation: shared albums are not permanent. If you do not access the album for one year, Google will delete it. If you plan to keep the photos in the old account as well, this is not a problem — just download them before the year is up. If you want to delete the old account later, make sure the new account has a copy first.

Using Google Takeout to download your entire library at once

Google Takeout is Google's tool for downloading all your data from any Google service. It works for Google Photos and will create a compressed file containing every photo and video in your library, organized by the date they were taken. This method is better if you have thousands of photos or if you want a backup copy on your computer regardless of where you upload them next.

To use Takeout: go to takeout.google.com, sign into the account holding your photos, and click "Deselect all" to clear the default selections. Then scroll down, find "Google Photos," and check only that box. Click "Next step," choose your file size (Google will split very large libraries across multiple files), your delivery method (email is standard), and your file format (keep it as .zip unless you have a reason to change it). Click "Create export" and Google will prepare your download, usually within a few hours.

Google will email you a link to download the file. The download may be large — a library of 10,000 photos can easily be 50 to 100 gigabytes — so make sure you have enough space on your computer and a stable internet connection. Once downloaded and unzipped, you will see folders organized by year and month. You can then sign into the new account, open Google Photos, click the upload button, and select these folders to upload them.

Takeout preserves the original file names and dates, but it does not transfer albums, shared albums, or custom organization you created in the old account. You will need to recreate those manually in the new account if they matter to you.

What transfers and what does not

Photos and videos themselves transfer completely — the image and video files move over unchanged. However, the structure around them does not always follow. Albums you created in the old account will not automatically appear in the new one; you will need to create new albums and add the photos to them by hand. Shared albums, collaborators, and any comments people left on your photos stay in the old account.

Metadata — the information attached to each photo, like the date it was taken, the location, and the camera settings — usually transfers with the file itself, especially if you use Takeout. However, if you use the shared album method and download individual photos through the browser, some metadata may be lost. Google Photos also stores "Memories" and "Assistant suggestions" (like auto-created collages) in the old account; these do not transfer and cannot be recreated in the new account.

If you have photos stored in "Trash" in the old account, they will not transfer. Empty your trash before you start if you want to preserve those photos, or accept that they will be gone.

Uploading photos to your new account

Once you have downloaded your photos — whether from a shared album or from Takeout — uploading them to the new account is straightforward. Sign into Google Photos with the new account, click the upload button (usually a camera icon with an arrow), and select either individual files or entire folders from your computer. Google Photos will begin uploading immediately.

Uploads can take a long time if you have many photos. A library of 5,000 photos might take several hours, depending on your internet speed and whether you are using a computer or phone. You can close the browser tab and come back later; Google will continue uploading in the background. Check your upload progress by clicking the upload button again — it will show you how many photos have been processed.

If you want to organize your photos into albums after uploading, you can do that in the new account. Open each photo or select a group, click the "+" button, and choose "Add to album." You will need to recreate any albums from the old account this way, but at least the photos themselves are now in the new account.

Deleting photos from the old account after transfer

Once you have confirmed that all your photos are in the new account, you can delete them from the old account if you want to. Open Google Photos in the old account, select all the photos (Ctrl+A or Cmd+A), and click the delete button (trash icon). Google will move them to Trash, where they will stay for 60 days before being permanently deleted. If you change your mind during those 60 days, you can restore them from Trash.

Deleting photos from the old account does not affect the copies in the new account. They are separate now. If you plan to close the old account entirely, deleting the photos first will free up storage space and make the account lighter to manage during the closure process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer photos without downloading them to my computer?

Yes, if you use the shared album method. Create a shared album in the old account, add the new account's email to it, and download the photos directly from the shared album into the new account's Google Photos. This keeps everything within Google's system and avoids using your computer's storage.

What happens to photos I have backed up to Google Drive?

Google Photos and Google Drive are separate services. Photos backed up to Drive will not appear in Google Photos automatically. If you want them in the new account's Google Photos, you will need to download them from Drive and upload them to Photos manually, or use Takeout to export them.

Will my photos stay in high quality after I transfer them?

Yes, if you use Takeout or download through shared albums, the original files transfer unchanged. However, if you have been using Google Photos' "Storage Saver" or "Compressed" quality setting, the photos are already compressed in your account. Transferring them will not restore the original high-quality versions — you would need the originals from your camera or phone for that.

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

Creating a Takeout export usually takes a few hours. Downloading the file depends on its size and your internet speed — a 100 GB file might take several hours. Uploading to the new account can take just as long. Plan for a full day or more if you have thousands of photos.

Can I transfer photos if I do not remember the password to the old account?

No, you will need access to the old account to download your photos. Use Google Account Recovery to regain access before you start the transfer process. You will need to verify your identity through a recovery email, phone number, or security key.