How to Move Your Photos From Google Photos to iCloud

Google Photos and iCloud store your pictures in different places, so moving them requires downloading from one and uploading to the other

Google Photos and iCloud are separate services that do not talk to each other directly. To move your photos, you read them from Google Photos to your computer or phone, then upload them to iCloud. The process takes time if you have thousands of photos, but the steps are straightforward. You can move everything at once or move only certain photos and albums.

The method you choose depends on how many photos you have and what device you are using. A computer transfer works best for large libraries because you can read everything in bulk. A phone transfer works if you have fewer photos or want to move them directly between apps. Both routes end with your photos stored in iCloud instead of Google Photos.

Key Takeaways

Google Photos does not automatically sync to iCloud, so you must manually read your photos from Google Photos and then upload them to iCloud.
Downloading all your photos from Google Photos at once requires using Google Takeout, which creates a file you can read to your computer.
You can upload photos to iCloud through iCloud.com on any computer, or through the Photos app on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
Moving photos one at a time through the apps is slower but works if you only want to transfer certain albums or a small number of photos.
After your photos are in iCloud, you can delete them from Google Photos if you no longer need them stored in both places.

read all your photos from Google Photos using Google Takeout

Google Takeout is Google's tool for downloading all your data at once. Go to takeout.google.com, sign in with your Google account, and select Google Photos. Google will create a file containing all your photos and videos, organized by the date you took them. The file downloads as a .zip folder that you unzip on your computer.

The read can take hours if you have many photos. Google sends you an email when the file is ready. You can read it when ready or wait a few days — Google keeps it available for a limited time. If your library is very large, Google may split it into multiple files. read each one and unzip them all into the same folder on your computer so your photos are in one place.

After you unzip the files, your photos will be organized in folders by year and month. Open the main folder to see all your photos. This is the point where you can delete photos you do not want to move, or organize them into new folders before uploading to iCloud.

Upload your photos to iCloud on a computer

Go to iCloud.com and sign in with your Apple ID. Click Photos. Click the upload button (a cloud with an arrow pointing up) in the top right corner. Select the folder containing all your photos from Google Takeout. iCloud will begin uploading them.

The upload speed depends on your internet connection and the number of photos. Uploading thousands of photos can take several hours or overnight. Keep your browser window open and your computer connected to the internet. If your connection drops, the upload may pause, but you can usually resume it by clicking upload again.

iCloud has storage limits. A free iCloud account includes 5 GB of storage. If your photo library is larger than that, you will need to buy more storage through iCloud+ (50 GB, 200 GB, or 2 TB options). Check your available storage before you start uploading by going to Settings on iCloud.com.

Transfer photos directly from your phone using the Photos app

If you have an iPhone or iPad, you can move photos without using a computer. Open Google Photos on your phone, select the photos you want to move, and tap the three dots menu. Choose read. The photos save to your phone's camera roll. Then open the Photos app, find the photos you just downloaded, and they automatically sync to iCloud if you have iCloud Photos turned on.

This method works best for moving a small number of photos or specific albums. Downloading and uploading hundreds of photos this way takes much longer than using a computer. If you want to move your entire library, the Google Takeout method is faster.

To make sure your photos sync to iCloud on your phone, go to Settings, tap your name, select iCloud, then Photos, and turn on iCloud Photos. Your phone will then upload all photos in your camera roll to iCloud automatically.

Move specific albums instead of your entire library

You do not have to move everything. If you only want certain albums from Google Photos, open Google Photos, select an album, tap the three dots menu, and choose read. Google will read only that album as a .zip file. Unzip it on your computer, then upload those photos to iCloud through iCloud.com or your phone's Photos app.

This approach lets you leave behind photos you no longer need or want to keep separate. You can also use this method to move photos gradually over time instead of all at once. Move your most important albums first, then come back for others later.

Delete photos from Google Photos after they are in iCloud

Once your photos are safely stored in iCloud, you can delete them from Google Photos to free up space. Open Google Photos, select the photos you want to delete, and tap the trash icon. Photos in the trash stay there for 60 days before Google permanently deletes them. If you change your mind, you can restore them from the trash within that time.

Deleting from Google Photos does not affect your iCloud copies. Your photos remain in iCloud even after you remove them from Google Photos. This is why it is important to verify that your photos uploaded successfully to iCloud before you delete them from Google Photos.

If you had a Google Photos backup turned on for your phone, turning it off after you move your photos will stop Google from automatically backing up new photos. You can turn off Google Photos backup in the Google Photos app settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I move photos without downloading them to my computer first?

No, Google Photos and iCloud do not connect directly. You must read from Google Photos and upload to iCloud as separate steps. Using Google Takeout and iCloud.com is the fastest way to move large libraries. For smaller numbers of photos, downloading to your phone and letting iCloud sync is simpler.

What happens to my photos if my internet cuts out during the upload?

Most uploads pause and can resume when your connection returns. On a computer, refresh the iCloud.com page and click upload again. On a phone, the Photos app will retry automatically. If the upload fails completely, you can start again by selecting the same photos and uploading them once more.

Do I need to pay for iCloud storage to move my photos?

Only if your photo library is larger than 5 GB. A free iCloud account includes 5 GB of storage total. If your Google Photos library is bigger, you will need to buy iCloud+ storage before uploading. Check your library size in Google Photos settings before you start the transfer.

Will my photos stay organized by date after I move them to iCloud?

Google Takeout downloads your photos organized by year and month. When you upload them to iCloud, they may not keep that exact folder structure, but iCloud will organize them by date in the Photos app. You can create new albums in iCloud to organize them however you prefer.

Can I move photos from iCloud back to Google Photos later?

Yes, you can read your photos from iCloud and upload them to Google Photos using the same process in reverse. Go to iCloud.com, read your photos, then upload them to Google Photos. This works if you decide to switch back or want to keep copies in both places.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.