When you launch Photos Takeout, you’ll need to point it at your current system Photos library. Continue reading to see the exact way to export iCloud Photos using Photos Takeout. If I did ever want to leave iCloud Photos, this backup would make it easy to do as well. Plex offers some nice photo management options that happen automatically, so it’s a nice way to get a different view of my library as well. There would also be a folder-based version on my Plex server that is also backed up using Backblaze. I’d have a copy in iCloud Photos on my Macbook Air that are downloaded locally and then is backed up using Backblaze and two Time Machine Drives. Doing this would give me six total copies of my library. In my dream scenario, I would export my photos out by year and then month onto my Plex server that is then backed up by Backblaze. While Apple includes some built-in export options, Photos Takeout takes it to the next level.
If you’re looking for a way to export iCloud Photos, read on to learn about a great app that makes it happen with a few clicks. With that being said, I am fanatical about backups of my photo library because it’s the one digital item I cannot repurchase if I lose a copy of it. I subscribed to Apple One Premier when the Apple One bundles were released, so I am all in on Apple’s services for the foreseeable future.
For someone who's jumped ship to Android, leaving the iPhone behind, what more can you ask for? Remember, Google is getting rid of free unlimited storage starting June 1, 2021, but photos or videos you transfer before that date won't count against the cap.I’ve been using iCloud Photos since the day it was released, and I love the service and have no plans of leaving it any time soon. While it's not the quickest process, it is by far the easiest and most trustworthy tool I've seen. When Apple has completed the transfer, you'll receive an email letting you know it's done. According to Apple, the process will take three to seven days to complete. When you're done, the transfer will begin. You can sign in to Google Drive to see how much storage you have, and I'd also recommend signing in to your Google Photos account and checking your settings to see what quality your photos are being stored as.Ī pop-up window will ask you to sign in to your Google account and grant Apple access to your Google Photos library. Starting June 1, any new photos and videos uploaded to Google will count against your storage plan. That said, Google Photos does allow you to keep an unlimited amount of photos and videos as long as you select "high quality" and not original however, there isn't an option to select the quality in Apple's tool. Click Continue after you've checked your Google account's storage amount. If you don't have enough room, the transfer will stop and not everything will be copied over. Google Photos is the only option available right now, but it sure feels like this tool was built with the intention of adding more services.Īpple will show you how much storage your photo library will use, and remind you to check your Google account and make sure you have enough space.
Next, click on Request to transfer a copy of your data under the Transfer a copy of your data section.Ĭlick the drop-down menu and pick Google Photos, and then click the two checkboxes that are displayed, one for photos, another for videos. To start the transfer, you'll need to visit and sign in to the Apple ID linked to your iCloud Photos account. Instead, Apple takes care of the transfer after you connect your Apple ID and Google account.
The best part about the way Apple built its transfer tool is that you don't have to download all of your photos and videos, and then upload them to Google Photos separately. Start a transfer of your iCloud Photos to Google Photos The new transfer tool is part of Apple's privacy site. Additionally, you'll want to make sure your Google account has enough storage to handle the transfer. The requirements list on the Apple support page notes that in addition to using iCloud Photos to store your pictures and videos, your Apple ID will need to have two-factor authentication turned on. While the transfer tool is easy to use, taking just a few clicks of the mouse to begin the process, there are some things you'll need to be aware of before you start the transition.
Let's take a quick look at the requirements