Share photos & videos

You can share photos, videos, albums, and movies with anyone, even if they don't use the Google Photos app.

In a shared album, each person can add photos and videos until the album reaches 20,000 total items. 

Note: If you have a large album, some features may not be available.

After you share, you can stop them from seeing the album. Learn how to stop sharing an album.

Before you get started

Download and install the Google Photos app.

Share with other people

You can share with family, friends, and other people if they are in your contacts list or by adding their phone numbers or email address.

  1. On your Android phone or tablet,  open the Google Photos app Photos.
  2. Sign in to your Google Account.
  3. Select a photo, album, or movie.
  4. Tap Share Share.
  5. Tap Type a name, phone number, or email or select people to share with. If you're part of a family on Google with at least 2 other people, select Family group to share with your family members. 

  6. You can add a message, then tap Send. To manage these messages, go to the activity log.

Note: If you share an album that automatically adds photos of face groups, anyone with the album link can see photos as they're added. 

Share on Facebook or other apps

  1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Photos app Photos.
  2. Select a photo, album, or movie to share.
  3. Tap Share Share.
  4. Select an app to share to. Slide up to see more apps. You can also send a link.

What happens when you share

  1. Contacts with this icon Photos on their profile image use the Google Photos app. If you Send via Google Photos:​
    • They get an in-app notification.
    • Their profile image will be added to the album and will appear faded until they see the album.
    • You can only do this if you’ve interacted with them through Google services.
    • They may also appear with this icon Photos if their phone number is connected to their Google Account and you’ve added it to your Google Contacts.
  2. If you share to a phone number or email address:
    • They get a link to the album, by SMS or email, depending on how it was shared.
    • A generic profile image will be added to the album and will appear faded until they click the link to see the album.
    • If they join the album, their profile image will change into their Google Account profile image.
  3. When they see the album, you’ll get an in-app notification.
  4. Anyone that has the shared link will be able to see the album. Learn how to change your sharing options.

What happens when someone shares with you

  1. You may receive an email, text message, or in-app notification, depending on the way it was shared.
  2. When you tap a link to see the album, your profile image in the album will light up and a notification will be sent to the sharer. Learn how to leave an album.
  3. If you were shared to by email or phone number, and you join the album, your profile image will change to your Google Account profile image.
  4. Learn more about who can share with you.
  5. If you think someone is spamming you, you can block or report them.

Remove an invite to see photos

If you were invited by phone number or email address, you can reject an invite to see their photos.

  1. On the invite, tap More More and then Options.
  2. Tap Remove invite.

Share all photos to another account

Share from a suggested share

See albums you’ve shared or joined

  1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Photos app Photos.
  2. At the bottom, tap Sharing.

  3. Under "Start a new share," you can see your shared albums and sharing activity, like comments and recently added photos. New sharing activity will be in bold.

To see people you’ve shared an album with:

  1. Open the photo, video, or album you shared.
  2. Tap More More and then Options. 

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