---
id: cloud-accounts.google-photos-is-listed-but-wont-work
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/cloud-accounts/google-photos-is-listed-but-wont-work
category: "Cloud accounts"
subcategory: "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."
tags: ["google photos", "not available", "troubleshooting"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/cloud-accounts/can-i-add-google-photos-to-storage-studio", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/cloud-accounts/how-do-i-get-my-photos-out-of-google-photos"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

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

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.

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](https://storagestudio.us/faq/cloud-accounts/how-do-i-get-my-photos-out-of-google-photos).