How to Move Google Photos to Google Drive: Step-by-Step Guide

If you’re looking to transfer photos from Google Photos to Google Drive organize and back up your pictures, there are some steps that need to be followed. Since these two Google tools don’t automatically synchronize anymore, you should check out how you can move photos from Google Photos to Google Drive.

Below you’ll find several methods on how to transfer Google Photos to Google Drive.

Key Takeaways:

  • For a small number of photos, downloading from Google Photos and uploading to Google Drive works best.
  • Google Takeout is the most efficient and official option for bulk photo transfers.
  • Folder organization and renaming after upload help keep photos easy to find in Google Drive.
  • Be aware of metadata loss, storage limits, and transfer time, especially with large photo libraries.

Reasons Why You Should Move Google Photos to Google Drive

Google Photos and Google Drive are both part of Google Workspace, but many people store their photos in Google Drive because of its various advantages.
For instance, Google Drive gives you the opportunity to:

  • Have more flexibility in managing folders and files
  • Share photos easily with colleagues and other users
  • Organize all of your files together
  • Get additional storage space and backup

3 Best Ways to Move Google Photos to Google Drive

Method 1: Download and Upload Photos (Manual Approach)

This approach works great when you have a smaller number of files to move.

Step 1: Download Photos from Google Photos

  • Launch Google Photos
  • Choose the pictures you wish to move
  • Right-click on selected files and select “Download”

The pictures will be stored on your desktop.

Step 2: Upload Pictures to Google Drive

  • Launch Google Drive
  • Press the “New” button and select “File upload” or “Folder upload”

Best For: Small number of photos, one-time backups

Method 2: Using Google Takeout (Bulk transfer)

For transferring a large number of photos, then using Google Takeout will be more appropriate. Google Takeout is the official, easiest way to move Google Photos to Google Drive

Step 1: Go to Google Takeout

  • Visit the Google Takeout Website
  • Select only Google Photos

Step 2: Configure Export Settings

  • Choose file format (preferably ZIP)
  • Choose how to deliver photos

Step 3: Download/Upload Photos

  • Download the photos from Google Photos
  • Transfer to Google Drive

Best for: Bulk and backup photos

Method 3: After-Uploading Organization

After uploading the photos, then organizing them is necessary:

  • By creating folders according to dates and types of events
  • By renaming the photos to easily find them when needed
  • Use a shared drive for teams to collaborate on projects.

Important Things to Note

  • Auto syncing of Google Photos and Google Drive doesn’t happen anymore
  • Some metadata such as date and location will not fully export in some instances
  • Large photos transfer can take long depending on file sizes and internet speeds

Move Google Photos to Google Drive in Easy Steps!

The transfer of Google Photos to Google Drive is simple once you have found out which of the methods to use. Manual downloading and uploading is ideal for smaller volumes of data. Google Takeout is the best tool for bulk exports.

If you are working with photo files in large numbers and are handling them in a corporate setting, it would be more efficient to rely on automated solutions to move the data.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I move photos from Google Photos to Google Drive on a desktop?

Photos cannot be automatically synced between the two storage platforms. Download the pictures from photos.google.com and upload them to drive.google.com, or make use of Google Takeout to export the photos into Google Drive.

2. How do I transfer photos from Google Photos to Google Drive through my Android phone?

On your phone, open Google Photos, select photos → tap Share → Save to Drive → choose your destination folder. The pictures will then be duplicated into Google Drive.

3. How do I upload photos from Google Photos to Google Drive from my mobile app?

Open Google Drive app → tap + (Add) → Upload → Photos and videos → choose pictures from Google Photos → upload to desired Google Drive folder.

Start Migrating Today

Leverage our one-stop migration solution to securely migrate files, folders, emails, chat, hyperlinks, tenants, and more. We have 12+ years of experience in tackling migrations of all sizes and complexities!