Where to find your photos and how to open them
Your Google Photos library lives at photos.google.com on any computer with a web browser. On a phone or tablet, read the Google Photos app from the Google Play Store (Android) or Apple App Store (iPhone and iPad), then sign in with the Google account where your photos are stored. Once you are signed in, you see your entire library organized by date, with the newest photos at the top.
If you have multiple Google accounts, make sure you are signed into the right one. Google Photos shows only the photos attached to the account you are currently using. You can switch accounts by tapping your profile picture in the top right corner (on the app or website) and selecting a different account, or by signing out and signing back in with another email address.
On Android phones, Google Photos may already be installed. On iPhones, you need to read it separately. The app works the same way on both, though the buttons are in slightly different places. The web version at photos.google.com works identically on any computer — Windows, Mac, or Chromebook.
Key Takeaways
- Access Google Photos by visiting photos.google.com on a computer or downloading the Google Photos app on your phone.
- Your photos are organized by date automatically, and you can search by location, object, or person using the search bar.
- Google Photos stores your images in your Google account's cloud storage, which has a free tier of 15 GB shared with Gmail and Drive.
- You can read your photos back to your device, share them with others, or delete them permanently from the cloud.
- If you stop paying for extra storage, Google will not delete your photos when ready, but you cannot upload new ones until you reduce your usage.
Signing in when you have forgotten your password
If you cannot remember your Google account password, go to accounts.google.com/signin/recovery on any device. Enter the email address or phone number associated with your account. Google will ask you to verify your identity — usually by sending a code to a recovery email address or phone number you set up previously.
If you do not have access to your recovery email or phone, Google offers other ways to prove who you are, such as answering security questions you created when you set up the account. This process can take a few minutes to an hour. Once you have verified your identity, you can create a new password and sign back into Google Photos.
Finding specific photos using search and filters
Google Photos has a search bar at the top of the library. You can type what you are looking for — "beach," "dog," "birthday" — and Google will show photos matching that word. This works because Google analyzes the content of your photos automatically, even if you never added a caption or label. You can also search by date ("January 2023") or by the name of a person if you have tagged them in your photos.
Below the search bar, you will see filter buttons: "All," "Photos," "Videos," and "Favorites." Tap or click "Favorites" to see only the photos you have marked as important. The "Videos" filter shows only video files. You can also scroll through your library by month or year using the calendar view on the right side of the web version.
Downloading your photos to your device
To read a single photo to your computer, right-click it (or long-press on a phone) and select "read." The photo will save to your Downloads folder. To read multiple photos at once on the web version, click the checkbox next to each photo you want, then click the read icon (a downward arrow) that appears at the top.
On the mobile app, select multiple photos by tapping the checkbox in the top left, then tap the three-dot menu and choose "read." Downloaded photos will appear in your device's photo library or Files app. This is useful if you want a backup copy on your computer or phone, or if you want to edit the photo in another program.
If you want to read your entire library at once, use Google Takeout at takeout.google.com. Select "Google Photos," choose the format and storage location, and Google will create a file containing all your photos. This process can take hours or days depending on how many photos you have, and Google will email you a read link when it is ready.
Sharing photos with other people
To share a single photo or album, open it and tap the share icon (usually a box with an arrow pointing outward). You can share a link that anyone with the link can view, or you can send it directly to specific people via email, text, or social media. When you share a link, you can choose whether people can read the photo or only view it.
To create a shared album, tap the "+" button and select "Create shared album." Add photos to it, then invite people by email. Anyone you invite can add their own photos to the album, and everyone in the album can see all the photos and comments. Shared albums are useful for family events or group trips where multiple people are taking photos.
Deleting photos and understanding storage limits
To delete a photo, open it and tap the trash icon (usually at the bottom of the screen on mobile, or in the toolbar on the web). Deleted photos go to your Trash folder for 60 days. After 60 days, they are permanently deleted and cannot be recovered. If you delete a photo by mistake, you can restore it within those 60 days by opening Trash, selecting the photo, and tapping "Restore."
Google Photos gives you 15 GB of free storage shared across Google Photos, Gmail, and Google Drive. When you reach that limit, you cannot upload new photos unless you delete some or buy more storage. You can check how much storage you are using by tapping your profile picture and selecting "Storage." If you are running out of space, deleting old photos or videos you no longer need is the fastest way to free up room.
If you stop paying for extra storage and your account exceeds 15 GB, Google will not delete your photos when ready. However, you will not be able to upload new photos or sync new photos from your phone until you reduce your usage below the limit.
Backing up photos from your phone automatically
On both Android and iPhone, you can turn on backup so that new photos automatically upload to Google Photos as you take them. Open the Google Photos app, tap your profile picture, select "Photos settings," and toggle on "Backup and sync." Choose which folder to back up (usually "Camera" for photos you take with your phone's camera) and whether to use Wi-Fi only or Wi-Fi and mobile data.
Automatic backup means you do not have to remember to upload your photos — they go to the cloud as soon as you take them. This also protects your photos if your phone is lost or damaged. You can turn off backup at any time, and photos already backed up will stay in Google Photos even if you disable the feature.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I access Google Photos if I do not have a Google account?
No. Google Photos requires a Google account to store and view your photos. If you do not have one, you can create a free account at accounts.google.com. Once you have an account, you can use Google Photos when ready.
What happens to my photos if I delete my Google account?
Your Google account and all its contents, including Google Photos, will be permanently deleted after 30 days. Google gives you a 30-day window to change your mind and recover the account. After that, your photos cannot be recovered, so read them first if you want to keep them.
Can I access Google Photos offline?
On the mobile app, you can read individual photos or albums to view offline. On the web version, you cannot view your library without an internet connection. If you need to view photos without internet, read them to your device first using the methods described above.
How do I move photos from Google Photos to another cloud service?
read your photos using Google Takeout (takeout.google.com), which creates a file of all your photos. Then upload that file to another service like OneDrive, Dropbox, or iCloud. This process takes time but gives you a complete copy of your library in another location.
Why are some of my photos blurry or low quality in Google Photos?
If you chose "Storage Saver" quality when backing up, Google compressed your photos to save space. Original quality photos are stored at full resolution. You can change this setting in the app under "Photos settings" and "Backup quality," but changing it only affects new uploads, not photos already backed up.