Need to move your precious memories from iCloud to Google Photos? You're not alone. Whether you're switching from iPhone to Android, looking for better storage options, or simply wanting to have your photos in multiple places, transferring photos from iCloud to Google Photos is a common need.

I've put together this guide with 5 simple methods that anyone can follow, regardless of technical skill. Each approach has its own benefits, so you can choose the one that works best for your situation.

Why Transfer from iCloud to Google Photos?

Before diving into the methods, let's quickly look at why you might want to make this switch:

• More generous free storage options with Google Photos
• Switching from iOS to Android
• Better photo organization and search capabilities
• Creating a backup of your photos in another service
• Sharing photos with friends who don't use Apple products

Method 1: Download and Upload Through Your Computer

This method is straightforward and works for everyone, regardless of what devices you own. It involves downloading your photos from iCloud to your computer, then uploading them to Google Photos.

Step-by-Step Guide:

• Download photos from iCloud
  • Go to iCloud.com and sign in with your Apple ID
  • Click on "Photos"
  • Select the photos you want to transfer (hold Ctrl/Cmd to select multiple)
  • Click the download icon (cloud with arrow) in the top menu
• Upload to Google Photos
  • Go to photos.google.com and sign in with your Google account
  • Click on "Upload" in the top right corner
  • Select "Computer" from the dropdown menu
  • Navigate to your downloaded photos and select them
  • Click "Open" to begin the upload

This method gives you complete control over which photos you transfer. You can select specific albums or individual photos rather than transferring everything at once.

Pro Tips:

• If you have many photos, download and upload them in batches to avoid timeouts
• Create a dedicated folder on your computer for the downloaded photos to keep them organized
• Check that your internet connection is stable before starting large transfers

Method 2: Using Google Photos App on iPhone

If you still have your iPhone, this method is incredibly convenient as it lets you transfer photos directly from your device to Google Photos without using a computer.

Step-by-Step Guide:

• Install Google Photos
  • Open the App Store on your iPhone
  • Search for "Google Photos"
  • Download and install the app
• Set up Google Photos
  • Open the Google Photos app
  • Sign in with your Google account
  • Tap "Continue" when asked about backup and sync
• Configure backup settings
  • Choose "High quality" (free) or "Original quality" (uses Google Drive storage)
  • Select "Use cellular data to back up" or "Wi-Fi only"
  • Tap "Confirm"
• Allow photo access
  • When prompted, allow Google Photos to access your photos
  • Select "All Photos" for complete access
• Wait for backup to complete
  • Google Photos will now start backing up your photos
  • You can check the progress in the app's assistant tab

This method is hands-off once you set it up. The app will work in the background to upload your photos, even when you're not actively using your phone.

Pro Tips:

• Connect to Wi-Fi and keep your phone charging during the initial backup
• The first backup might take several hours or even days if you have thousands of photos
• You can continue using your phone normally while the backup runs

Quick Tip to ensure your videos never go missing

Videos are precious memories and all of us never want to lose them to hard disk crashes or missing drives. PicBackMan is the easiest and simplest way to keep your videos safely backed up in one or more online accounts. 

Simply download PicBackMan (it's free!), register your account, connect to your online store and tell PicBackMan where your videos are - PicBackMan does the rest, automatically. It bulk uploads all videos and keeps looking for new ones and uploads those too. You don't have to ever touch it.

Method 3: Using Google Takeout to Transfer Data

Google offers a service called Google Takeout that can help you transfer data directly from iCloud to Google Photos. This is particularly useful if you want to move a large number of photos at once.

Step-by-Step Guide:

• Request a copy of your iCloud data
  • Go to privacy.apple.com and sign in
  • Select "Request a copy of your data"
  • Check "iCloud Photos" and any other data you want to transfer
  • Click "Continue"
  • Choose your file size and format preferences
  • Click "Complete request"
• Download your iCloud data
  • Wait for Apple to prepare your data (may take several days)
  • You'll receive an email when it's ready
  • Download the data to your computer
• Transfer to Google Photos
  • Go to takeout.google.com/transfer
  • Sign in with your Google account
  • Select "Apple iCloud" as the source
  • Upload the data you downloaded from Apple
  • Follow the prompts to complete the transfer

This method is more technical but can be more efficient for transferring large libraries. Google's service handles the heavy lifting of organizing your photos.

Pro Tips:

• Make sure you have enough storage space on your computer for the iCloud download
• This method preserves most of your photo metadata, including dates and locations
• You can select specific types of data to transfer if you don't want everything

Method 4: Using a Third-Party Transfer Service

Several third-party services can automatically transfer your photos from iCloud to Google Photos. These services do the work for you, making the process even simpler.

Popular Third-Party Transfer Services:

Service	Cost	Ease of Use	Speed
PicBackMan	Free basic plan, premium from $8.25/month	Very Easy	Fast
Wondershare InClowdz	Free trial, from $9.95/month	Easy	Fast
AnyTrans	Free trial, $39.99/year	Moderate	Very Fast

Using PicBackMan as an Example:

• Sign up for PicBackMan
  • Go to PicBackMan.com
  • Create a free account and download the app
• Add your photo accounts
  • Install and launch the PicBackMan app
  • Log in with your PicBackMan account
  • Connect iCloud Photos as your source account
  • Connect Google Photos as your destination account
• Start the transfer
  • Select the iCloud photos or albums you want to move
  • Choose Google Photos as the upload destination
  • Click "Migrate" to begin the transfer
  • PicBackMan will run in the background and complete the process automatically

PicBackMan is a true "set it and forget it" solution. Once set up, it automatically handles the entire migration, saving you time and effort.

Pro Tips:

• Always check the privacy policy of any third-party service before granting access to your accounts
• Some services offer scheduling options so you can run transfers during off-peak hours
• Free plans often have data transfer limits, so check if your photo library size is compatible

Method 5: Manual Export and Import on Mobile Devices

If you prefer working directly on your mobile devices, you can export photos from the iCloud Photos app and import them into Google Photos.

Step-by-Step Guide:

• Export from iCloud Photos on iPhone
  • Open the Photos app on your iPhone
  • Select the photos you want to transfer (tap Select, then tap photos)
  • Tap the Share icon (square with arrow)
  • Select "Save to Files"
  • Choose a location like "On My iPhone" or "iCloud Drive"
  • Tap "Save"
• Import to Google Photos
  • Open the Google Photos app (install it first if needed)
  • Tap your profile picture in the top right
  • Select "Photos settings"
  • Tap "Back up & sync"
  • Make sure it's turned on
  • Go back to the main screen and tap "Library"
  • Tap "Import" at the bottom
  • Select "From device folders"
  • Navigate to where you saved the photos
  • Select all photos and tap "Import"

This method gives you granular control over exactly which photos get transferred, and you can do it all from your iPhone without needing a computer.

Pro Tips:

• Work with smaller batches (100-200 photos) to avoid app crashes
• If transferring videos, check that they're not too large for the Files app
• Keep your phone screen on during the process to prevent interruptions

Comparing All 5 Methods

Let's compare all the methods to help you choose the best one for your situation:

Method	Best For	Speed	Ease of Use	Cost	Preserves Metadata
Computer Download/Upload	Selective transfers	Medium	Easy	Free	Partial
Google Photos App	Complete library transfer	Slow	Very Easy	Free	Yes
Google Takeout	Large libraries	Slow	Complex	Free	Yes
Third-Party Services	Hands-off transfer	Fast	Easy	Often Paid	Usually Yes
Manual Mobile Export/Import	No computer available	Very Slow	Moderate	Free	Partial

Common Challenges and Solutions

When transferring photos from iCloud to Google Photos, you might encounter some challenges. Here are solutions to common issues:

Slow Transfer Speeds

If your transfers are taking too long:

• Use a wired internet connection instead of Wi-Fi when possible
• Transfer during off-peak hours when your internet connection is faster
• Break up large transfers into smaller batches
• Close other applications that might be using your internet connection

Storage Limitations

If you're running out of storage:

• Check your Google account storage at one.google.com/storage
• Consider upgrading to Google One for more storage
• Use the "Storage saver" quality option in Google Photos to save space
• Transfer your most important photos first if you can't transfer everything

Lost Photo Quality

To maintain photo quality:

• Choose "Original quality" in Google Photos (uses more storage)
• Check that your download from iCloud is at full resolution
• Avoid multiple compression cycles by transferring directly when possible

Missing Metadata

If your photos are losing important information:

• Use the Google Photos app or Google Takeout methods, which preserve most metadata
• Check that date and time information is correct after transfer
• Manually add location information to important photos if needed

After the Transfer: Organizing Your Google Photos

Once you've successfully transferred your photos, take some time to organize them in Google Photos:

Create Albums

Organize your photos into meaningful collections:

• Open Google Photos and click on "Albums" in the left sidebar
• Click "Create album" at the top of the page
• Name your album and select photos to add
• Click "Create" to finish

Use Face Recognition

Google Photos automatically groups photos of the same people:

• Click on "Search" in Google Photos
• Scroll down to "People & Pets"
• Click on a face to see all photos of that person
• Add names to faces for easier searching

Add Partners to Your Account

Share your library with family members:

• Click on your profile picture in Google Photos
• Select "Photos settings"
• Click on "Partner Sharing"
• Follow the prompts to add a partner

Clean Up Duplicates

Google Photos has tools to help you find and remove duplicate photos:

• Go to the "Library" tab
• Select "Utilities"
• Look for the "Clean up your library" section
• Use suggestions to find and delete duplicates

Maintaining Both Services

Some people prefer to keep both iCloud and Google Photos running. If that's your plan:

Benefits of Using Both Services

• Double backup protection for your precious memories
• Easy sharing with friends on both Apple and Android devices
• Different search and organization features in each service
• Flexibility to switch between ecosystems without losing photos

Managing Storage Costs

If you're using both services, storage costs can add up. Consider these strategies:

• Use original quality in your primary service and storage saver in the secondary one
• Be selective about what you back up to each service
• Look for annual payment options which often offer discounts
• Compare family sharing plans which can be more cost-effective

Keeping Photos in Sync

To keep both services updated with new photos:

• Set up the Google Photos app on your iPhone to automatically back up new photos
• Periodically transfer new batches of photos if you don't use automatic backup
• Consider using automation tools like IFTTT to sync new photos between services

Conclusion

Transferring photos from iCloud to Google Photos doesn't have to be complicated. With these five methods, you can choose the approach that best fits your needs, technical comfort level, and the size of your photo library.

The Google Photos app method is probably the simplest for most people, while the computer download/upload method gives you more control. Third-party services offer convenience but might come with a cost, and Google Takeout is great for large libraries despite being more technical.

Whichever method you choose, take your time and make sure your precious memories transfer completely and correctly. Once your photos are safely in Google Photos, you'll enjoy its powerful search features, unlimited sharing options, and cross-platform accessibility.

Remember that your photos are irreplaceable memories, so it's always worth taking the extra time to ensure they're properly backed up and accessible wherever you go.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I lose photo quality when transferring from iCloud to Google Photos?

If you choose "Original quality" in Google Photos, you won't lose any quality. However, if you select "Storage saver" (formerly High quality), photos larger than 16MP will be compressed. The compression is generally very good and not noticeable for most uses, but professional photographers might prefer keeping originals.

Can I transfer my photo albums and keep the same organization?

Most methods will transfer the photos but not the album structure. The Google Takeout method and some third-party services do better at preserving organization. After transfer, you might need to recreate some albums manually in Google Photos, but its automatic organization features can help make this easier.

How long will it take to transfer my entire iCloud photo library?

The time depends on your internet speed and the size of your library. For a typical library of a few thousand photos (10-20GB), expect anywhere from a few hours to a day. Very large libraries (100GB+) might take several days. Methods using the Google Photos app tend to be slower but work in the background.

Do I need to keep my iCloud subscription after transferring to Google Photos?

No, you don't need to keep your iCloud subscription after confirming all your photos have transferred successfully to Google Photos. However, it's wise to wait a few weeks to ensure everything transferred correctly before canceling. Remember that canceling iCloud will affect other Apple services like device backups.

Will my Live Photos and videos transfer properly from iCloud to Google Photos?

Yes, Google Photos supports Live Photos and will preserve their functionality. Videos will also transfer, but keep in mind that videos count toward your Google storage quota even if you're using "Storage saver" quality. Some very long or high-resolution videos might be compressed depending on your settings.