{"id":"cloud-accounts.google-photos-is-listed-but-wont-work","url":"/faq/cloud-accounts/google-photos-is-listed-but-wont-work","category":{"id":"cloud-accounts","title":"Cloud accounts"},"subcategory":{"id":"google-photos","title":"Google Photos"},"question":"Google Photos appears in the Add Account list, so why doesn't it work?","alt_questions":["Google Photos option fails in Storage Studio","Google Photos This app is blocked","Google Photos sign-in error Storage Studio","Google Photos account added but empty","Custom credentials for Google Photos"],"short_answer":"Since Google's 2025 rule change, third-party apps can't read a whole Google Photos library, so it isn't available right now even where the option is visible. Custom credentials don't help; use Google Takeout instead.","answer_markdown":"Because Google no longer allows third-party apps to read a whole Google Photos library since its 2025 rule change. The sign-in can be refused or the account can't list your library, so Google Photos isn't available right now even where the option is still visible.\n\nCustom sign-in credentials don't get around this — the limit is on Google's side. Use Google Takeout to export your photos instead, as described in [moving your library with Takeout](/faq/cloud-accounts/how-do-i-get-my-photos-out-of-google-photos).","answer_html":"

Because Google no longer allows third-party apps to read a whole Google Photos library since its 2025 rule change. The sign-in can be refused or the account can't list your library, so Google Photos isn't available right now even where the option is still visible.

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Custom sign-in credentials don't get around this — the limit is on Google's side. Use Google Takeout to export your photos instead, as described in moving your library with Takeout.

","answer_text":"Because Google no longer allows third-party apps to read a whole Google Photos library since its 2025 rule change. The sign-in can be refused or the account can't list your library, so Google Photos isn't available right now even where the option is still visible.\n\nCustom sign-in credentials don't get around this — the limit is on Google's side. Use Google Takeout to export your photos instead, as described in moving your library with Takeout.","tags":["google photos","not available","troubleshooting"],"related":[{"id":"cloud-accounts.can-i-add-google-photos-to-storage-studio","question":"Can I add my Google Photos account to Storage Studio?","url":"/faq/cloud-accounts/can-i-add-google-photos-to-storage-studio"},{"id":"cloud-accounts.how-do-i-get-my-photos-out-of-google-photos","question":"How do I move my Google Photos library to an external drive?","url":"/faq/cloud-accounts/how-do-i-get-my-photos-out-of-google-photos"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"Google Photos appears in the Add Account list, so why doesn't it work? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"Since Google's 2025 rule change, third-party apps can't read a whole Google Photos library, so it isn't available right now even where the option is visible. Custom credentials don't help; use Google Takeout instead.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Cloud accounts","path":"/faq/cloud-accounts/"},{"name":"Google Photos appears in the Add Account list, so why doesn't it work?","path":"/faq/cloud-accounts/google-photos-is-listed-but-wont-work"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/cloud-accounts/google-photos-is-listed-but-wont-work","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Google Photos appears in the Add Account list, so why doesn't it work?","alternateName":["Google Photos option fails in Storage Studio","Google Photos This app is blocked","Google Photos sign-in error Storage Studio","Google Photos account added but empty","Custom credentials for Google Photos"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Because Google no longer allows third-party apps to read a whole Google Photos library since its 2025 rule change. The sign-in can be refused or the account can't list your library, so Google Photos isn't available right now even where the option is still visible.\n\nCustom sign-in credentials don't get around this — the limit is on Google's side. Use Google Takeout to export your photos instead, as described in moving your library with Takeout.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/cloud-accounts/google-photos-is-listed-but-wont-work"}}]},"fragment":"
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Cloud accounts · Google Photos

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Google Photos appears in the Add Account list, so why doesn't it work?

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Short answer: Since Google's 2025 rule change, third-party apps can't read a whole Google Photos library, so it isn't available right now even where the option is visible. Custom credentials don't help; use Google Takeout instead.

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Because Google no longer allows third-party apps to read a whole Google Photos library since its 2025 rule change. The sign-in can be refused or the account can't list your library, so Google Photos isn't available right now even where the option is still visible.

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Custom sign-in credentials don't get around this — the limit is on Google's side. Use Google Takeout to export your photos instead, as described in moving your library with Takeout.

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