Transferring your precious memories from Google Photos to pCloud doesn't have to be complicated. Whether you're concerned about Google's storage limits, looking for better privacy, or simply want a backup of your photo collection, moving your images to pCloud is a smart choice. In this guide, I'll walk you through four simple methods to transfer your photos quickly and efficiently.

Why Transfer from Google Photos to pCloud?

Before diving into the transfer methods, let's quickly look at why you might want to move your photos from Google Photos to pCloud:

• Google Photos ended unlimited free storage in June 2021
• pCloud offers lifetime storage plans (one-time payment option)
• Better privacy features on pCloud
• Creating backups across multiple cloud services
• pCloud's file management system might work better for your needs

Method 1: Direct Download and Upload

The most straightforward method involves downloading your photos from Google Photos and then uploading them to pCloud. This works well for smaller collections or when you want complete control over the process.

Step-by-Step Guide for Direct Transfer

Part 1: Download Photos from Google Photos

1. Go to Google Takeout
2. Sign in with your Google account
3. Deselect all services except "Google Photos"
4. Click "All photo albums included" to select specific albums (optional)
5. Click "Next step"
6. Choose your delivery method (usually "Send download link via email")
7. Select export frequency (one-time export)
8. Choose file type and size (ZIP files, 2GB is recommended)
9. Click "Create export"

Google will now prepare your photos for download. This can take minutes to hours depending on your collection size. You'll receive an email with download links when ready.

Part 2: Upload to pCloud

1. Sign in to your pCloud account
2. Create a folder for your Google Photos (optional but recommended)
3. Click the "Upload" button in pCloud
4. Select "Upload files" or "Upload folder" depending on how you want to organize
5. Browse to your downloaded Google Photos files
6. Select the files/folders and click "Open" to begin uploading
7. Wait for the upload to complete

For large collections, this method can be time-consuming as it requires downloading everything to your device first, then uploading to pCloud. Your internet connection speed will affect how long this takes.

Method 2: Using pCloud's Mobile App

If you primarily use Google Photos on your mobile device, pCloud's mobile app offers a convenient way to transfer your photos.

Transferring via pCloud Mobile App

For Android Users:

1. Install the pCloud app from Google Play Store
2. Sign in to your pCloud account
3. Open the Google Photos app
4. Select photos you want to transfer
5. Tap the Share icon
6. Choose "pCloud" from the sharing options
7. Select the destination folder in pCloud
8. Tap "Upload" to begin the transfer

For iOS Users:

1. Install the pCloud app from the App Store
2. Sign in to your pCloud account
3. Open the Google Photos app
4. Select photos you want to transfer
5. Tap the Share icon
6. Choose "Save to Files"
7. Select "pCloud" from the locations
8. Choose your destination folder
9. Tap "Save" to begin the transfer

This method works best for transferring specific albums or selected photos rather than your entire collection. For large transfers, you may need to select photos in batches.

Method 3: Using pCloud's Automatic Backup Feature

pCloud offers an automatic backup feature that can continuously sync photos from your device to pCloud. This is ideal if you want to keep both services active but ensure all new photos are backed up to pCloud.

Setting Up Automatic Backup

On Mobile Devices:

1. Open the pCloud app on your device
2. Tap the menu icon (usually three lines or dots)
3. Select "Settings"
4. Tap "Auto Upload"
5. Toggle "Auto Upload" to ON
6. Choose which folders to back up (Camera, Screenshots, etc.)
7. Select upload conditions (Wi-Fi only or mobile data too)
8. Tap "Start Upload" to begin the initial backup

Once set up, any new photos taken on your device will automatically upload to pCloud. This doesn't transfer existing Google Photos directly but ensures new photos are backed up to both services.

On Desktop:

1. Download and install the pCloud Drive application
2. Sign in to your pCloud account
3. Click on "Sync" or "Auto Upload" in the settings
4. Add the folder where your Google Photos are stored locally
5. Select the destination folder in pCloud
6. Click "Start Sync" to begin the backup process

This method works if you already have Google Photos synced to your computer or if you've downloaded your collection using Method 1.

Method 4: Using Third-Party Transfer Tools

Several third-party tools can help transfer files between cloud services. These tools can make the process more automated and handle large transfers efficiently.

Using PicBackMan to Transfer Photos & Videos Between Cloud Services

PicBackMan is a dedicated photo and video migration tool that supports transferring media files between services like Google Photos and pCloud. It is ideal if you want an automated way to move large photo or video libraries without manually downloading and re-uploading files.

Setting Up PicBackMan Transfer:

1. Go to PicBackMan’s website and create a free account
2. Download and install the PicBackMan desktop application (available for Windows and Mac)
3. Launch the app and sign in to your PicBackMan account
4. Click on the Add Account option inside the app
5. Select Google Photos and authorize PicBackMan to access your account
6. Add pCloud as another connected cloud service
7. Go to the Migrate or Upload/Download section
8. Select Google Photos as the source
9. Select pCloud as the destination
10. Click Start Migration to begin transferring your photos and videos

PicBackMan runs the transfer automatically while maintaining folder structure and avoiding duplicate uploads. It works best for photos and videos and does not support transferring documents or other non-media file types. Advanced features and large transfers may require a paid plan.

Using MultCloud for Cloud-to-Cloud Transfer

MultCloud is one of the most popular cloud transfer services that supports both Google Photos and pCloud.

Setting Up MultCloud Transfer:

1. Go to MultCloud's website and create an account
2. Click "Add Cloud" and select "Google Photos" from the list
3. Authorize MultCloud to access your Google Photos
4. Add pCloud as another cloud service
5. Authorize MultCloud to access your pCloud account
6. Go to "Cloud Transfer" in the MultCloud dashboard
7. Select Google Photos as the source
8. Select pCloud as the destination
9. Choose transfer options (like "Delete source files after transfer" if desired)
10. Click "Transfer Now" to begin

MultCloud allows you to schedule transfers and run them in the background. The free plan has transfer speed limitations, but paid plans offer faster transfers.

Using Rclone (for Advanced Users)

Rclone is a command-line tool that can transfer files between cloud services. It's more technical but offers powerful features.

Basic Rclone Setup:

1. Download and install Rclone
2. Open a command prompt or terminal
3. Run rclone config to set up both Google Photos and pCloud
4. Use rclone copy "google-photos:/" "pcloud:/GooglePhotos" to transfer

Rclone is best for users comfortable with command-line tools. It offers the most control and can handle very large transfers efficiently.

Comparison of Transfer Methods

Method	Ease of Use	Speed	Best For	Limitations
Direct Download/Upload	Easy	Slow	Small collections, complete control	Requires local storage space, time-consuming
Mobile App	Very Easy	Medium	Selected photos, on-the-go transfers	Not ideal for entire library, batch limitations
Automatic Backup	Easy	Medium	Ongoing photo backup	Doesn't transfer existing Google Photos directly
Third-Party Tools	Medium	Fast	Large collections, automated transfers	May have costs, privacy concerns with another service

Tips for a Successful Transfer

No matter which method you choose, these tips will help ensure your transfer goes smoothly:

• Check your storage space: Make sure you have enough storage on pCloud before starting the transfer
• Verify file organization: Decide how you want to organize photos in pCloud before transferring
• Use a stable internet connection: Transfers will be faster and less likely to fail with a good connection
• Transfer in batches: For large collections, consider transferring in smaller batches
• Verify the transfer: After transferring, check that all photos arrived correctly
• Don't delete from Google immediately: Keep your Google Photos until you've verified everything transferred successfully

Maintaining Photo Organization

One challenge when transferring photos is maintaining your organization structure. Here are some strategies to keep your photos organized:

Album Structure

Google Photos organizes by albums, while pCloud uses a more traditional folder structure. When transferring:

• Create matching folders in pCloud for each Google Photos album
• When using Google Takeout, select the option to put each album in its own folder
• Consider creating a main "Google Photos" folder in pCloud with subfolders for each album

Handling Duplicates

Duplicate photos can be an issue during transfers. To manage this:

• pCloud offers a duplicate finder feature in its web interface
• Consider using third-party duplicate photo finders after the transfer
• When using MultCloud, you can set it to skip existing files

Troubleshooting Common Transfer Issues

Failed Transfers

If your transfer fails or stops midway:

• Check your internet connection
• Verify you have enough storage space on pCloud
• Try transferring smaller batches
• If using Google Takeout, download fresh archives if the links have expired

Missing Metadata

Sometimes photo metadata (like dates or location) might not transfer correctly:

• Google Takeout preserves most metadata in JSON files
• Direct transfers using the mobile app usually maintain basic metadata
• Third-party tools may have varying levels of metadata preservation

File Format Issues

Google Photos may store some images in different formats:

• Google Photos may convert some images to JPEG format
• High-quality (compressed) photos in Google Photos might be lower quality than originals
• Check that your important photos retained their quality after transfer

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.

After the Transfer: Making the Most of pCloud

Once you've successfully transferred your photos to pCloud, take advantage of these features:

Organizing Your Photos in pCloud

• Use pCloud's folder structure to organize by date, event, or person
• Create shared folders for family photos
• Use pCloud's tagging system to make photos easier to find

Sharing Options

pCloud offers several ways to share your photos:

• Generate share links for specific photos or albums
• Set password protection and expiration dates on shared links
• Create shared folders with family members
• Use pCloud's built-in media player for viewing photos and videos

Security Features

Take advantage of pCloud's security features:

• Enable two-factor authentication for your pCloud account
• Consider pCloud Crypto for encrypted storage of sensitive photos
• Set up account recovery options

Mobile Access

Make sure you can access your photos on all your devices:

• Install the pCloud app on all your mobile devices
• Set up automatic camera uploads from your phone
• Learn how to mark favorites for offline access

Conclusion

Transferring your photos from Google Photos to pCloud doesn't have to be complicated. Whether you choose the direct download-upload method, use the mobile app, set up automatic backups, or use a third-party tool, you now have the knowledge to move your precious memories safely.

Each method has its advantages depending on your specific needs. For small collections or selected photos, the direct or mobile app methods work well. For larger libraries or ongoing transfers, the automatic backup or third-party tools offer more efficiency.

Remember to verify your transfers before removing anything from Google Photos, and take time to organize your photos in pCloud to make them easy to find and enjoy. With your photos safely stored in pCloud, you'll have access to your memories with the added benefits of pCloud's storage options, sharing features, and security.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

If you transfer photos that were stored at "Original quality" in Google Photos, they'll maintain their quality when moved to pCloud. However, if you used Google's "High quality" (now called "Storage saver") option, those photos were already compressed. The transfer process itself doesn't reduce quality further, but you'll be transferring the already-compressed versions.

How long does it take to transfer a large Google Photos library to pCloud?

Transfer time depends on your internet connection speed and the size of your library. For collections with thousands of photos, expect several hours to days. Using third-party tools like MultCloud can be faster than the download-upload method since the transfer happens directly between cloud services without using your local connection.

Can I keep using Google Photos after transferring to pCloud?

Yes, you can continue using both services. Many people keep Google Photos for its AI-powered search and sharing features while using pCloud as a backup. If you set up automatic uploads on your devices to both services, new photos will appear in both places.

Does pCloud offer similar features to Google Photos for organizing and searching?

pCloud uses a traditional folder structure rather than Google Photos' AI-powered organization. It doesn't have equivalent features for facial recognition or content-based search. However, pCloud does offer good tagging features, file previews, and media playback that make organizing and finding photos possible with a more manual approach.

What happens if my transfer is interrupted halfway through?

If your transfer is interrupted, what happens next depends on your method. With direct download-upload, you'll need to resume manually. MultCloud and similar services often have resume capabilities. With the mobile app method, you'll need to restart the batch you were working on. This is why transferring in smaller batches is often recommended for more reliability.