Let’s cut the crap: Google Photos is great until you realize you’re locked into their ecosystem. You want your photos back? You can grab them all, but not by clicking around like a rookie. There’s a right way and a wrong way. The wrong way leaves you with hundreds of zip files and missing metadata. The right way? Keep reading.
Why you should download your Google Photos (and not just the ones you like)
First off, if you’re here, you probably want to download all photos from Google Photos because you’re switching services, backing up locally, or just done with the cloud. Smart move. But here’s the thing: Google doesn’t make it obvious. The web interface lets you select up to 500 items at a time, but that’s a pain if you have thousands. And the mobile app? Even worse. So the real solution is Google Takeout. Let me break it down.
But before you rush, know this: your photos include more than just JPEGs. There’s metadata (dates, locations, camera info) that matters. If you just drag and drop, you’ll lose that. So do it properly.
Method 1: The manual way (for small batches)
If you only need a few dozen photos, the manual method works. Go to photos.google.com on your desktop, log in, and select the photos you want. Click the three-dot menu and choose «Download.» Google will zip them up and start the download. But if you select more than 500, it won’t work. So for small stuff, fine. For everything? Keep reading.
On mobile, it’s even more limited. You can select multiple photos by long-pressing, then tap the download icon. But again, not for bulk. And if you’re on iOS, good luck finding that option without digging.
Method 2: Google Takeout (the real deal for downloading everything)
This is the only way to download all photos from Google Photos without losing your mind. Google Takeout lets you export your entire library, including albums, shared albums, and even your archived photos. Here’s how to do it right.
Go to takeout.google.com and sign in. You’ll see a list of Google services. Deselect all, then scroll down and select «Google Photos.» You can choose to export all photos or select specific albums. I recommend exporting everything if you’re planning to leave. Then click «Next step.»
Choose your export settings: frequency (one-time), file type (zip or tgz), and max file size (2GB, 4GB, 10GB, 50GB). If you have a huge library, pick 50GB to reduce the number of files. Then choose where to send it: email link, Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive. I prefer email link because it’s simple, but if your export is huge, use Drive. Then click «Create export.»
Google will take hours, maybe days, to prepare your archive. You’ll get an email when it’s ready. Then download the zip files. But here’s the catch: your photos come in folders by year and month, and the metadata is in JSON files. That means your photos won’t have the correct date in the file properties unless you use a tool to fix that. More on that later.
When you download via Takeout, each photo comes with a JSON file that contains the original date, location, and other metadata. But your computer doesn’t automatically apply that to the image. So if you import them into another app, they’ll show the download date, not the original. That’s a big deal if you care about organizing by date.
To fix this, you need a tool like Google Photos Takeout Helper or ExifTool. These scripts read the JSON and write the metadata back into the image files. It’s a bit technical, but worth it. Alternatively, if you’re not comfortable with command line, there are GUI apps like Photos Takeout for Mac and Windows that do it for you.
Pro tip: If you use Google Takeout and don’t fix the metadata, your photos will be a mess in any photo manager. Don’t skip this step.
Shared albums are tricky. In Takeout, you can select «Albums» and then choose which ones to include. But if you’re part of a partner account (where someone shares their entire library with you), those photos might not be included. You have to download them separately from the shared album itself. Go to the shared album, click the three-dot menu, and select «Download all.» But again, limited to 500 at a time.
If you have a partner account, you can also save photos to your own library first, then export. But that duplicates storage. Your call.
Downloading photos from Google Photos on mobile (Android and iOS)
On Android, you can use the Google Photos app to download individual photos or small batches. But for bulk, you’re better off using the web version on your phone’s browser. It’s clunky but works. On iOS, same deal. There’s no bulk download option in the app. So if you’re on mobile, just use Takeout via browser.
One more thing: if you’re on a free Google account, your photos are compressed. If you want the original quality, you need to have stored them in «Original quality» (which counts against your Google One storage). If you used «Storage saver,» your downloads will be compressed versions. Nothing you can do about that now.
Alternative methods: third-party tools and scripts
There are third-party tools like rclone that can sync your Google Photos to your local drive or cloud storage. It’s more advanced but gives you more control. You can also use gphotos-sync on Linux. But these require setup and may violate Google’s terms if you abuse them. Use at your own risk.
Another option: if you have a Google Workspace account, you can use the Google Photos API to download everything programmatically. But that’s for developers.
What to do after you download all your photos
Once you have your photos locally, organize them. Create a folder structure by year and event. Use a photo manager like Apple Photos, Google Photos (if you’re staying), or Adobe Lightroom. If you fixed the metadata, the dates will be correct. Then back up to an external drive or another cloud service. Don’t rely on a single copy.
And if you’re leaving Google Photos, delete your photos from Google to free up space. But make sure your backup is solid first.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Downloading in small batches manually: You’ll miss photos and waste time.
- Not fixing metadata: Your photos will be out of order.
- Forgetting shared albums: They won’t be in your main export.
- Using unreliable third-party apps: Some steal your data. Stick with Takeout or reputable tools.
So there you have it. The no-BS guide to download all photos from Google Photos in 2026. It’s not rocket science, but it’s not a walk in the park either. Do it right, and you’ll have your memories safe and sound.
