How to Change the Google Account Synced With Google Photos App

Key takeaways:

• You can easily change the Google account that your Google Photos app syncs with
• The process involves switching accounts within the app and enabling backup for the desired account
• You can also transfer existing photos from one Google account to another using the partner sharing feature
• After changing the synced account, consider deleting photos from the old account to free up storage space

Google Photos is a popular app that automatically backs up and syncs your photos and videos across devices. By default, the app syncs with the primary Google account on your device. However, if you have multiple Google accounts and want to change which one is synced with Google Photos, you can do so with a few simple steps.

Switching Accounts in Google Photos

To change the Google account synced with Google Photos:

1. Open the Google Photos app on your device
2. Tap on your profile picture or initial in the top right corner
3. If the desired account is already listed, simply tap on it to switch. If not, tap “Add another account” and sign in with the account you want to use.
4. Once you’ve switched to the desired account, you’ll see your photos and videos associated with that account.

Enabling Backup for the New Account

After switching accounts, you need to enable backup for the new account:

1. In the Google Photos app, tap on your profile picture or initial in the top right corner
2. Tap “Photos settings” or “Back up & sync”
3. Make sure the “Back up & sync” toggle is turned on
4. Choose your preferred backup settings, such as upload size and cellular data usage

With backup enabled, any new photos and videos you take will be automatically synced to the new Google account.

Transferring Existing Photos to the New Account

If you want to transfer your existing photos from the old Google account to the new one, you can use the partner sharing feature:

1. In the Google Photos app, switch to the old account that currently has your photos
2. Tap on your profile picture or initial in the top right corner
3. Tap “Photos settings” or “Partner sharing”
4. Tap “Get started” and enter the email address of the new Google account you want to transfer the photos to
5. Switch to the new account in the Google Photos app and accept the partner sharing invitation
6. The photos from the old account will now appear in the new account

Keep in mind that this process may take some time, depending on the number of photos being transferred.

Deleting Photos from the Old Account

After transferring your photos to the new Google account, you may want to delete them from the old account to free up storage space:

1. In the Google Photos app, switch to the old account
2. Select the photos you want to delete (you can select multiple photos at once)
3. Tap the trash can icon to move the selected photos to the trash
4. To permanently delete the photos, go to the “Trash” folder and tap “Empty trash”

By following these steps, you can successfully change the Google account synced with your Google Photos app and transfer your existing photos to the new account.

FAQ

Can I sync Google Photos with multiple accounts simultaneously?

No, the Google Photos app can only sync with one Google account at a time on a single device. However, you can switch between accounts within the app to view and manage photos from different accounts.

Will changing the synced account delete my photos from the old account?

No, changing the synced account in Google Photos does not automatically delete your photos from the old account. The photos will remain in the old account unless you manually delete them.

Can I transfer photos from one Google account to another without using partner sharing?

Yes, you can download the photos from the old account and then upload them to the new account. However, using the partner sharing feature is a more convenient and efficient method, especially if you have a large number of photos to transfer.

What happens to my Google Photos links and shared albums when I change the synced account?

When you change the synced account, any links or shared albums associated with the old account will no longer be accessible through the Google Photos app. However, they will still exist within the old account and can be accessed by signing into that account separately.