How to Export Your Google Photos Library Using Google Takeout: A Step-by-Step Guide

Since June 1, 2021, all new images and videos saved to Google Photos count toward your free 15GB storage. This might not affect everyone—Pixel phone owners still enjoy unlimited high-quality (compressed) storage. However, avid photographers should prepare for potential Google One upgrades.

You could opt for a Google One subscription, which offers competitive pricing compared to other services. Alternatively, to switch providers or back up locally, export your library first. Here's my proven step-by-step process, based on exporting my own 39GB collection.

Use Google Takeout for a Complete Export

Direct downloads aren't available in Google Photos—use Google's official export tool, Takeout.

• Visit Google Takeout (or from Google Photos: Settings > scroll to "Export your data" > "Backup").
• All Google services are pre-selected. Deselect all via the top link, then check only "Google Photos".

• Scroll to "Google Photos".
• View formats via "Multiple Formats": Photos export as original PNG/JPG/WEBP, videos as MP4, metadata as JSON.
• Customize albums: Click "All photo albums included" to select specific ones.
• Click "Next step".

• Choose delivery (email, Drive, Dropbox, etc.), frequency (one-time or recurring), file type (ZIP/TGZ), and max size (up to 50GB; over 2GB uses Zip64). My 39GB export created 19 ZIP files.
• Click "Create Export".

Processing time varies—hours or days—but my thousands of photos were ready in 30 minutes. Downloads depend on your connection. You'll get an email link when ready.