Moving your precious memories from Google Photos to Google Drive doesn't have to be complicated. Whether you're looking to organize your digital life better or just want a backup of your favorite pictures, I've got you covered with five practical methods to transfer your photos. In this guide, I'll walk you through each approach step-by-step, making sure you can choose the method that works best for your specific needs.

Why Move Photos from Google Photos to Google Drive?

Before diving into the "how," let's quickly address the "why." There are several good reasons you might want to move your photos:

• Better organization options in Google Drive's folder structure
• Creating additional backups of your important memories
• Sharing photos with others through Drive's sharing features
• Freeing up storage space in Google Photos
• Preparing to switch to a different photo storage service

Now, let's get to the methods that will help you move those photos successfully!

Method 1: Download and Upload Method

The most straightforward approach is to download photos from Google Photos and then upload them to Google Drive. This method gives you complete control over which photos to transfer.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Downloading from Google Photos:

1. Go to photos.google.com and sign in to your account
2. Select the photos you want to move by clicking on them (hold Shift to select multiple consecutive photos)
3. Click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner
4. Select "Download" from the dropdown menu
5. Wait for your photos to download as a ZIP file
6. Extract the ZIP file to a folder on your computer

Uploading to Google Drive:

1. Go to drive.google.com and sign in
2. Navigate to the folder where you want to store your photos (or create a new one)
3. Click the "New" button in the top-left corner
4. Select "File upload" or "Folder upload" depending on your preference
5. Locate and select the photos you downloaded from Google Photos
6. Click "Open" to begin the upload process

This method works well for smaller batches of photos, but it can be time-consuming for large collections. Keep in mind that this process uses your internet bandwidth twice - once for downloading and once for uploading.

Method 2: Using Google Takeout

Google Takeout is a powerful tool that allows you to export data from various Google services, including Google Photos. This method is perfect for moving large collections of photos at once.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Visit takeout.google.com and sign in to your Google account
2. By default, all services are selected. Click "Deselect all" to clear the selection
3. Scroll down and select only "Google Photos"
4. Click "Next step" at the bottom of the page
5. Choose your delivery method (email link is the default)
6. Select your export frequency (one-time export is recommended)
7. Choose your file type and size (ZIP is standard)
8. Click "Create export"
9. Wait for Google to prepare your export (this can take hours or even days for large collections)
10. Once ready, download your export files from the email link Google sends you
11. Extract the ZIP files to a folder on your computer
12. Go to Google Drive and upload the extracted folders/files as described in Method 1

This method is comprehensive but requires patience as the export preparation can take time. The resulting files will maintain your album structure, making organization easier when you upload to Drive.

Method 3: Using the Google Drive Desktop App

The Google Drive desktop application offers a smoother experience for transferring large numbers of photos without using your browser.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. First, download photos from Google Photos using either Method 1 or Method 2
2. Download and install Google Drive for Desktop from Google's official site
3. Launch the Google Drive desktop app and sign in to your Google account
4. The app will create a Google Drive folder on your computer
5. Open this folder in your file explorer
6. Navigate to the location where you want to store your photos
7. Simply drag and drop or copy and paste your downloaded photos into this folder
8. Wait for the sync icon to show the files are fully uploaded to your Drive

This method is excellent because it works in the background, allowing you to continue using your computer for other tasks while the photos sync. It's also more reliable for large transfers since it can automatically resume if your connection drops.

Method 4: Using the Mobile App Transfer

If you primarily use your smartphone to manage photos, this method lets you transfer photos directly from your mobile device.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

For Android:

1. Open the Google Photos app on your Android device
2. Select the photos you want to move by long-pressing on one photo, then tapping others
3. Tap the Share icon at the top of the screen
4. Scroll through the sharing options and select "Save to Drive"
5. Choose the folder in Google Drive where you want to save the photos
6. Tap "Save" to begin the transfer

For iPhone/iPad:

1. Open the Google Photos app on your iOS device
2. Select the photos you want to move by tapping "Select" and then choosing your photos
3. Tap the Share icon (the square with an arrow pointing up)
4. Scroll through the sharing options and select "Save to Drive"
5. If you don't see this option, you may need to install the Google Drive app first
6. Choose the destination folder in Google Drive
7. Tap "Save" to start the transfer

The mobile method is convenient for transferring smaller batches of photos when you're on the go. However, it may not be practical for moving your entire photo library due to potential mobile data usage and battery drain.

Method 5: Using Google Photos Backup and Sync (Legacy Method)

While Google has replaced Backup and Sync with Google Drive for Desktop, some users might still have access to this legacy tool. If you do, here's how to use it:

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Open Backup and Sync on your computer
2. Click on the settings icon (three vertical dots) in the top-right corner
3. Select "Preferences" from the dropdown menu
4. Go to the "Google Photos" tab
5. Make sure "Upload photos and videos to Google Photos" is checked
6. Select the folders containing photos you want to upload
7. Go to the "Google Drive" tab
8. Check "Sync My Drive to this computer"
9. Click "OK" to save your settings
10. The tool will now upload your selected photos to both Google Photos and Google Drive

If you're still using Backup and Sync, consider upgrading to Google Drive for Desktop for better performance and continued support.

Comparing All 5 Methods

Method	Best For	Ease of Use	Time Required	Works Offline
Download and Upload	Small batches of selected photos	Easy	Medium	No
Google Takeout	Large collections, preserving structure	Medium	Long	Partially
Google Drive Desktop App	Large transfers with minimal effort	Easy	Medium	Yes (syncs when online)
Mobile App Transfer	On-the-go transfers of small batches	Very Easy	Short for small batches	No
Backup and Sync (Legacy)	Users still on the old system	Medium	Medium	Yes (syncs when online)

Tips for a Successful Transfer

Organizing Your Photos Before Transfer

Taking time to organize your photos before moving them can save you hours of work later. Consider these organization strategies:

• Create albums in Google Photos for different categories (vacations, family events, etc.)
• Use the search function in Google Photos to find specific types of photos (like "beach" or "birthday")
• Remove duplicates and unwanted photos to save storage space
• Decide on a folder structure for Google Drive before you start uploading

Managing Storage Space

Remember that both Google Photos and Google Drive share the same Google One storage quota. Moving photos between the services doesn't free up space. To manage your storage effectively:

• Check your current storage usage at one.google.com/storage
• Delete unnecessary files from both services
• Consider upgrading your Google One storage plan if needed
• Use the "Storage saver" quality option in Google Photos to save space

Maintaining Photo Quality

To ensure your photos maintain their quality during transfer:

• When using Google Takeout, select "Original Quality" in the export options
• Avoid repeatedly downloading and uploading the same photos
• Check a few sample photos after transfer to verify their quality
• Keep original files on your computer or external drive as a backup

Handling Large Collections

If you have thousands of photos to transfer:

• Break the process into smaller batches to make it more manageable
• Use Google Takeout or the Google Drive desktop app for the most reliable results
• Perform transfers during off-peak hours when you're not actively using your internet connection
• Be patient with large transfers, as they can take days to complete

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Failed Uploads

If your uploads to Google Drive fail:

• Check your internet connection stability
• Try uploading smaller batches of photos
• Clear your browser cache or restart the Google Drive app
• Make sure you have enough storage space in your Google account

Missing Photos After Transfer

If some photos seem to be missing after transfer:

• Check if they're in a different folder than expected
• Look for any error messages during the transfer process
• Verify if the photos exceed Google's file size limits
• Try transferring those specific photos again using a different method

Slow Transfer Speeds

To address slow transfer speeds:

• Connect to a stronger Wi-Fi network
• Close other bandwidth-intensive applications
• Try transferring during off-peak hours
• Use the Google Drive desktop app instead of the browser for large transfers

Duplicate Photos

If you end up with duplicates in Google Drive:

• Use the "Show duplicates" feature in Google Drive (if available)
• Sort files by name to identify similar files
• Use third-party duplicate finder tools designed for Google Drive
• Be careful when deleting duplicates to avoid removing unique photos

Understanding Storage Implications

It's important to understand how moving photos affects your Google storage:

• Photos stored in "Original quality" count toward your storage quota in both Google Photos and Google Drive
• Photos stored in "Storage saver" (formerly "High quality") before June 1, 2021, don't count toward your storage in Google Photos, but will count if moved to Drive
• All new photos uploaded after June 1, 2021, count toward your storage quota regardless of quality setting
• Having the same photo in both Google Photos and Google Drive counts twice against your storage quota

Before making large transfers, check your storage usage and consider if you need to upgrade your plan or clean up existing files.

Alternative Solutions

Using Third-Party Tools

Several third-party tools can help with transferring photos:

• PicBackMan – A reliable tool for backing up and transferring photos across cloud services
• AirMore - Useful for transferring from mobile devices
• odrive - Syncs multiple cloud storage services

These tools may offer additional features but require granting access to your Google account, so research their security practices before using them.

Physical Storage Options

Instead of (or in addition to) moving photos to Google Drive, consider:

• External hard drives for offline backup
• USB flash drives for portable storage
• Network Attached Storage (NAS) for home-based cloud storage

Physical backups provide an extra layer of security for your most precious memories.

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

Moving your photos from Google Photos to Google Drive doesn't have to be complicated. Whether you prefer the direct download-upload method, the comprehensive Google Takeout approach, the convenience of the Google Drive desktop app, the on-the-go mobile transfer, or the legacy Backup and Sync tool, there's an option that fits your needs.

Remember to plan your transfer strategy based on the number of photos you're moving, your available time, and your internet connection speed. Taking the time to organize your collection before and after the transfer will help you maintain a well-structured photo library that's easy to navigate.

By following the steps outlined in this guide, you'll successfully move your precious memories to Google Drive, where you can organize them according to your preferences and share them with friends and family.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will moving photos from Google Photos to Google Drive save storage space?

No, it won't save storage space since both services share the same Google One storage quota. In fact, if you keep the same photos in both locations, they'll count twice against your storage limit. To free up space, you'd need to delete photos from one location after moving them to the other.

Can I move videos from Google Photos to Google Drive using these methods?

Yes, all five methods described in this article work for both photos and videos. However, keep in mind that videos typically take up more storage space and may take longer to transfer, especially if they're high-resolution.

Do photos maintain their original quality when moved to Google Drive?

Yes, when you move photos from Google Photos to Google Drive using the methods described, they maintain their original quality. If your photos were stored in "Storage saver" quality in Google Photos, that's the quality they'll have when moved to Drive. For best results with the Google Takeout method, select "Original Quality" in the export options.

How long does it typically take to move a large photo collection?

The time required depends on several factors: the number and size of photos, your internet connection speed, and the method you choose. For reference, transferring 1,000 photos (about 5GB) might take 1-2 hours with a good connection using the direct upload method, while Google Takeout preparation for the same collection might take 24-48 hours before you can even download the files. The Google Drive desktop app is generally the most efficient for large transfers.

Can I automate the process of moving photos between Google Photos and Google Drive?

Google doesn't offer a built-in automation tool specifically for this purpose. However, you can use third-party automation services like IFTTT (If This Then That) or Zapier to create workflows that automatically copy new photos added to Google Photos over to Google Drive. Keep in mind that these services may have limitations on file sizes and quantities, and they typically require granting access to your Google account.