Share Photos and Videos on Google Photos

Google Photos has become one of the most popular platforms for seamlessly sharing photos and videos. Once you experience its convenience, you won't go back to traditional methods of sharing media files. There are several ways to share photos and videos on Google Photos, and in this article, we will explore them so you can choose the best method based on your recipient's preferences.

Share Photos and Videos on Google Photos

Don't underestimate Google Photos as just another gallery app. Google has integrated its cloud backup feature with the app to enable shared albums, partner accounts, and social features such as liking and commenting on photos. Here's how you can use them.

How to Share Photos Using the Share Menu in Google Photos

If your photos are not yet backed up to Google Photos, you can still use the system share menu to send media files through social media options.

• Open Google Photos on your iPhone or Android device.
• Select the photos and videos you want to share.
• Use the native share menu and choose the app you want to share media with.

This method is quite basic and you're probably already familiar with it. However, it's important to note that you need to upload your media files to the Google Photos cloud first. Starting from June 1st, 2021, Google no longer offers unlimited storage for compressed quality files. Any new files you add will count against the free 15GB storage limit. If you plan to share a large number of photos and videos, you may need to subscribe to Google One plans.

How to Share Photos Using Sharable Link in Google Photos

If you only need to share a few photos, you can create a sharable link in Google Photos.

• Open Google Photos on your phone.
• Select the photos you want to share.
• Tap on the Share icon at the top.
• Choose “Create link” to generate a sharable link.
• Google Photos will create and copy the link to your clipboard.
• Open a conversation and paste the link.

That's it! You have successfully shared a Google Photos link containing your photos and videos. Keep in mind that you can customize the permissions for your shared links by going to “Google Photos > Sharing > Other shared links”. Here, you can add more photos, allow collaboration, enable comments and likes, and manually invite people using their Gmail IDs.

How to Use Shared Album in Google Photos

The shared album feature in Google Photos is ideal for sharing a large number of photos. You can create a shared album and then invite members or generate a sharable link.

• Open Google Photos and select the photos you want to share.
• Tap on the “+” icon at the top and choose “Shared album”.
• Give the album a title and tap on the Share button in the upper right corner.
• You can either invite others using their Gmail IDs or generate a sharable link.

You will receive a notification when someone joins the group using your link. You can access the shared album from the Sharing tab, see the number of people who have joined, write comments, like photos, and add more photos to the album. It's a seamless and hassle-free way to share media files.

How to Use Partner Sharing in Google Photos

Partner sharing is designed for sharing with your significant other. When you add your partner's account, Google Photos will automatically share new pictures and videos with them.

• Open Google Photos and go to Settings.
• Select “Partner Sharing > Get started” and add your partner's Gmail ID.
• Choose whether to grant access to all photos or select specific people.
• Define the timeframe for sharing photos.
• Confirm your sharing permission and send the invitation.

You can check your partner's account from the “Sharing > Partner Sharing” menu. Once your partner accepts the request, you will be able to see their entire library from the Partner Sharing menu.

Wrapping Up: Share Media in Google Photos

Google Photos offers various methods to share media files with friends and family. Depending on the number of files and your preferences, you can choose any of the methods mentioned above to start sharing photos on Google Photos. Don't forget to use social add-ons like comments and likes to enhance your sharing experience.