{"id":"data-transfers.transfer-google-photos","url":"/faq/data-transfers/transfer-google-photos","category":{"id":"data-transfers","title":"Data Transfers"},"subcategory":{"id":"devices-and-plan-storage","title":"Paired devices and plan storage"},"question":"Can I transfer my Google Photos library with Data Transfers?","alt_questions":["copy google photos to external drive","google photos transfer storage studio","move google photos to another cloud","back up google photos to my drive"],"short_answer":"Not directly right now — Google Photos isn't available to add as an account since Google's 2025 rule change. Export with Google Takeout, then use Data Transfers to copy or move the downloaded files.","answer_markdown":"Not directly right now. Google Photos isn't available to add as an account at the moment — Google changed its rules for third-party apps in 2025.\n\nThe route that works is **Google Takeout**: export your photos from takeout.google.com, download the archive to your Mac or external drive, and then use Data Transfers to copy or move those files wherever you want them.\n\nRelated: [Cloud accounts](/faq/cloud-accounts/) · [Download to your external drive](/faq/data-transfers/download-to-external-drive-to-save-space)","answer_html":"

Not directly right now. Google Photos isn't available to add as an account at the moment — Google changed its rules for third-party apps in 2025.

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The route that works is Google Takeout: export your photos from takeout.google.com, download the archive to your Mac or external drive, and then use Data Transfers to copy or move those files wherever you want them.

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Related: Cloud accounts · Download to your external drive

","answer_text":"Not directly right now. Google Photos isn't available to add as an account at the moment — Google changed its rules for third-party apps in 2025.\n\nThe route that works is Google Takeout: export your photos from takeout.google.com, download the archive to your Mac or external drive, and then use Data Transfers to copy or move those files wherever you want them.\n\nRelated: Cloud accounts · Download to your external drive","tags":["google photos","takeout","not available"],"related":[{"id":"data-transfers.download-to-external-drive-to-save-space","question":"Can I download a large file straight to my external drive to save space on my Mac?","url":"/faq/data-transfers/download-to-external-drive-to-save-space"},{"id":"data-transfers.what-can-i-transfer-between","question":"Which places can I transfer files between?","url":"/faq/data-transfers/what-can-i-transfer-between"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"Can I transfer my Google Photos library with Data Transfers? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"Not directly right now — Google Photos isn't available to add as an account since Google's 2025 rule change. Export with Google Takeout, then use Data Transfers to copy or move the downloaded files.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Data Transfers","path":"/faq/data-transfers/"},{"name":"Can I transfer my Google Photos library with Data Transfers?","path":"/faq/data-transfers/transfer-google-photos"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/data-transfers/transfer-google-photos","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Can I transfer my Google Photos library with Data Transfers?","alternateName":["copy google photos to external drive","google photos transfer storage studio","move google photos to another cloud","back up google photos to my drive"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Not directly right now. Google Photos isn't available to add as an account at the moment — Google changed its rules for third-party apps in 2025.\n\nThe route that works is Google Takeout: export your photos from takeout.google.com, download the archive to your Mac or external drive, and then use Data Transfers to copy or move those files wherever you want them.\n\nRelated: Cloud accounts · Download to your external drive","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/data-transfers/transfer-google-photos"}}]},"fragment":"
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Data Transfers · Paired devices and plan storage

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Can I transfer my Google Photos library with Data Transfers?

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Short answer: Not directly right now — Google Photos isn't available to add as an account since Google's 2025 rule change. Export with Google Takeout, then use Data Transfers to copy or move the downloaded files.

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Not directly right now. Google Photos isn't available to add as an account at the moment — Google changed its rules for third-party apps in 2025.

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The route that works is Google Takeout: export your photos from takeout.google.com, download the archive to your Mac or external drive, and then use Data Transfers to copy or move those files wherever you want them.

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Related: Cloud accounts · Download to your external drive

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Last reviewed

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