Managing multiple Google Photos accounts can be a hassle, especially when you want to keep your photos synchronized across them. Whether you're maintaining separate accounts for work and personal use, or sharing photos with family members, syncing your Google Photos accounts can save you time and ensure your memories are accessible wherever you need them.

In this guide, I'll walk you through 5 practical ways to sync two Google Photos accounts. Each method has its own advantages, and I'll help you choose the one that best fits your needs.

Why Sync Google Photos Accounts?

Before jumping into the methods, let's quickly look at why you might want to sync two Google Photos accounts:

• Keep work and personal photos separated but accessible
• Share family photos automatically with your partner
• Back up important photos to a secondary account
• Manage photos for elderly family members
• Maintain a consistent photo library across multiple Google identities

Method 1: Using Partner Sharing Feature

Google Photos offers a built-in partner sharing feature that allows you to automatically share photos with another Google account. This is perhaps the simplest way to keep two accounts in sync.

Step-by-Step Guide to Set Up Partner Sharing

1. Open the Google Photos app on your mobile device
2. Tap on your profile picture in the top-right corner
3. Select "Photos settings"
4. Tap on "Partner Sharing"
5. Select "Set up partner sharing"
6. Enter the email address of your second Google account
7. Choose what you want to share (all photos, photos of specific people, or photos from a certain date)
8. Tap "Send invitation"
9. Open Google Photos on your second account and accept the invitation

Once set up, any new photos that match your sharing criteria will automatically appear in both accounts.

Pros and Cons of Partner Sharing

Pros	Cons
Official Google feature	Limited to sharing with just one partner
Automatic syncing of new photos	Cannot sync all existing photos at once
Selective sharing options	Partner must accept invitation
No third-party apps required	Only works for photos taken after setup

Method 2: Creating Shared Albums

If you want more control over which photos sync between accounts, shared albums are a great option. This method allows you to manually select which photos to sync.

How to Create and Use Shared Albums

1. Open Google Photos on your primary account
2. Select the photos you want to share by long-pressing one photo and tapping others
3. Tap the share icon at the top of the screen
4. Select "Create shared album"
5. Give your album a name
6. Tap "Share" and enter the email address of your second Google account
7. On your second account, accept the invitation
8. Optional: Turn on “Collaborate” to allow both accounts to add photos
9. Optional: Turn on notifications to be alerted when new photos are added

Making the Most of Shared Albums

To make shared albums work like a sync solution, create a system where you regularly add new photos to these albums. You can create multiple shared albums for different categories of photos (family, travel, work, etc.) to keep things organized.

For automatic saving to your second account, follow these steps:

1. Open the shared album on your second account
2. Tap the three dots in the top right corner
3. Turn on "Auto-save" to automatically save all photos added to this album to your second account's library

Method 3: Using Google Takeout and Re-Upload

If you need to do a one-time sync of a large number of photos between accounts, Google Takeout is your friend. This method allows you to export all photos from one account and import them to another.

Step-by-Step Guide for Google Takeout Method

1. Visit Google Takeout and sign in with your first account
2. Deselect all services except Google Photos
3. Click "All photo albums included" to customize which albums to export (or keep all selected)
4. Scroll down and click "Next step"
5. Choose your delivery method (email link is simplest)
6. Select file type (ZIP is recommended) and size (2GB is good for most users)
7. Click "Create export"
8. Wait for Google to prepare your download (this can take hours or even days for large libraries)
9. Download the ZIP file(s) when ready
10. Extract the files to a folder on your computer
11. Sign out of your first account and sign in with your second account
12. Go to Google Photos
13. Click "Upload" and select the extracted photos

Tips for Large Photo Libraries

If you have thousands of photos, the export and upload process can be time-consuming. Here are some tips:

• Break the process into smaller batches by selecting specific albums in Takeout
• Use the Google Photos desktop uploader for faster uploads
• Consider doing this overnight or when you won't need your computer
• Check for duplicate photos after uploading

Method 4: Using Third-Party Sync Tools

Several third-party tools can help automate the process of syncing photos between Google accounts. These tools can save you time and effort, especially if you need to sync regularly.

Popular Third-Party Sync Tools

PicBackMan

PicBackMan is a photo and video uploader that helps you back up, migrate, and manage photos across platforms like Google Photos.

1. Download and install PicBackMan from PicBackMan.com
2. Sign up for a PicBackMan account and log in to the app
3. Connect your first Google Photos account by going to the Accounts section
4. Authorize PicBackMan to access your Google Photos
5. Repeat steps 3–4 to add your second Google Photos account
6. Go to the Migrate tab in PicBackMan
7. Select your first Google Photos account as the source
8. Select your second Google Photos account as the destination
9. Click Migrate and PicBackMan will begin transferring your photos and videos automatically

Autosync for Google Drive

While primarily designed for Google Drive, this app can help with Google Photos sync on Android devices:

1. Download Autosync from the Google Play Store
2. Set up your first Google account
3. Create a folder on your device to store photos temporarily
4. Set up a sync from Google Photos to this local folder
5. Add your second Google account to the app
6. Create a sync from the local folder to your second account's Google Photos
7. Configure sync frequency (hourly, daily, etc.)

Comparison of Third-Party Sync Tools

Tool	Pricing	Platforms	Ease of Use	Automation
PicBackMan	Free trial available, Premium from $8.25/month	Desktop app (Windows & Mac)	Easy	High (automatic backups & migrations)
Autosync	Free tier with ads, Pro from $4.99	Android only	Medium	High (background syncs)
rclone	Free (open source)	Windows, Mac, Linux	Low (command line)	High (can be scheduled)
odrive	Free tier, Premium from $9.99/month	Windows, Mac	High	Medium

Method 5: Manual Download and Upload

If you prefer complete control and don't mind a bit of manual work, you can simply download photos from one account and upload them to the other. This method works well for occasional syncing of specific photos.

Step-by-Step Guide for Manual Sync

1. Sign in to your first Google Photos account
2. Select the photos you want to sync by clicking on them (hold Shift to select multiple)
3. Click the three dots menu and select "Download"
4. Wait for the photos to download to your device
5. Sign out and sign in to your second Google account
6. Click "Upload" and select the photos you just downloaded
7. Wait for the upload to complete

Tips for Efficient Manual Syncing

• Use Google Photos' date filters to find recent photos easily
• Create a dedicated folder on your computer for temporary photo storage
• Use the Google Photos desktop uploader for faster uploads of large batches
• Set a regular schedule (weekly, monthly) to keep accounts in sync
• Consider organizing photos into albums before downloading to keep them grouped

Batch Processing for Manual Sync

To make manual syncing more efficient, you can use Google Photos' batch selection features:

1. In Google Photos, click and hold on the first photo you want to select
2. Without releasing, drag to select multiple photos at once
3. Alternatively, select the first photo, then hold Shift and click the last photo to select all photos in between
4. Download these batches and upload them to your second account

Choosing the Right Method for Your Needs

With five different methods to choose from, how do you decide which one is best for you? Here's a quick guide based on common scenarios:

Best Method Based on Your Situation

Scenario	Recommended Method	Why It Works
Sharing with spouse/partner	Partner Sharing (Method 1)	Built specifically for this purpose, automatic sharing
One-time transfer of all photos	Google Takeout (Method 3)	Handles large volumes of photos at once
Selective sharing of specific photos	Shared Albums (Method 2)	Fine control over what gets shared
Regular automatic syncing	Third-Party Tools (Method 4)	Automation features save time
Occasional sync of a few photos	Manual Download/Upload (Method 5)	Simple and direct for small batches

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Method

• Volume of photos: Large libraries work better with Takeout or third-party tools
• Frequency of syncing: Regular syncing benefits from automated methods
• Technical comfort level: Simpler methods for beginners, more advanced for tech-savvy users
• Privacy concerns: Official Google methods may be preferable to third-party tools
• Cost considerations: Free methods vs. paid third-party services

Troubleshooting Common Sync Issues

Even with the right method, you might encounter some challenges when syncing Google Photos accounts. Here are solutions to common problems:

Photos Not Appearing in Second Account

• Check internet connection on both devices
• Verify sharing permissions are set correctly
• Ensure you've accepted sharing invitations
• Check if you've reached Google Photos storage limit
• Wait a few hours as syncing large numbers of photos can take time

Duplicate photos after syncing

If you end up with duplicates after syncing:

1. In Google Photos, search for "duplicates"
2. Google Photos will automatically group similar photos
3. Review and delete unwanted duplicates
4. For future syncs, use the “Skip duplicates” option if available in your chosen method

Reduced Photo Quality After Sync

If your photos look lower quality after syncing:

1. Check your Google Photos storage settings on both accounts
2. Go to Settings > Backup & sync > Upload size
3. Select "Original quality" instead of "Storage saver" (note this will use more storage)
4. For manual transfers, make sure you're not compressing files during download/upload

Maintaining Your Synced Photos

Once you've set up syncing between your Google Photos accounts, here are some tips to keep everything running smoothly:

Regular Maintenance Tasks

• Check sync status weekly to ensure everything is working
• Clean up unnecessary photos to save storage space
• Update sharing settings if your needs change
• Verify backup settings on both accounts
• Check for and resolve sync errors promptly

Storage Management

Syncing photos across accounts can consume your Google storage quota twice. To manage storage effectively:

1. Regularly review and delete unwanted photos
2. Consider using “Storage saver” quality for less important photos
3. Use Google's storage management tool to identify large files
4. Consider upgrading your Google One storage if needed
5. Archive older photos that you don't need regular access to

Privacy and Security Considerations

When syncing Google Photos accounts, keep these privacy and security tips in mind:

• Review what photos are being shared between accounts
• Be cautious about using third-party sync tools (check reviews and privacy policies)
• Enable two-factor authentication on both Google accounts
• Regularly check which apps have access to your Google Photos
• Be aware that synced photos may appear in both accounts' memories and search results

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.

Conclusion

Syncing two Google Photos accounts doesn't have to be complicated. Whether you choose the built-in partner sharing feature, create shared albums, use Google Takeout, try third-party tools, or manually transfer photos, you now have the knowledge to keep your photo libraries synchronized.

Each method has its strengths and ideal use cases. Partner sharing works great for couples, shared albums give you selective control, Google Takeout handles one-time large transfers, third-party tools offer automation, and manual transfers give you complete control.

Remember to consider factors like the volume of photos, how often you need to sync, your technical comfort level, and privacy concerns when choosing your method. With regular maintenance and attention to storage management, you can enjoy having your photos accessible across multiple Google accounts without hassle.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I sync more than two Google Photos accounts?

Yes, but the method matters. Partner sharing only works between two accounts, but shared albums, Google Takeout, third-party tools, and manual transfers can be used with multiple accounts. For syncing three or more accounts, shared albums or third-party tools typically work best.

Will syncing photos between accounts use double the storage?

In most cases, yes. Each copy of a photo counts toward the storage quota of the account it's in. The exception is shared albums, where photos only count against the storage of the account that uploaded them, not the accounts they're shared with (unless those accounts save the photos to their library).

Can I automatically sync all new photos between accounts?

Yes, partner sharing is designed for this purpose and allows automatic sharing of new photos that match your criteria. Some third-party tools also offer automatic syncing features. Shared albums require manual addition of photos unless you consistently use them as your upload destination.

Do synced photos maintain their original quality?

It depends on the method and your settings. Partner sharing and shared albums maintain the original quality. For Google Takeout and manual transfers, the photos will keep their original quality if you don't compress them during download/upload. Check your Google Photos settings to ensure you're set to "Original quality" if that's important to you.

Is there a way to sync Google Photos accounts without using any third-party tools?

Absolutely! Methods 1 (Partner Sharing), 2 (Shared Albums), 3 (Google Takeout), and 5 (Manual Download/Upload) all use only official Google tools and services. If privacy is a concern, stick with these methods to avoid sharing your photos with third-party services.