The basic path: read from Google, upload to iCloud

Google Photos and iCloud don't talk to each other directly, so you'll need to read your photos from Google first, then upload them to iCloud. The process takes a few steps but works the same way whether you have 50 photos or 5,000. You'll use Google's read tool to get your photos onto your computer, then use iCloud.com or the iCloud app on your device to put them in iCloud.

The time this takes depends on how many photos you have and your internet speed. A few hundred photos might take an hour or two from start to finish. Thousands of photos could take several hours or even a full day, especially if you're uploading over a slower connection.

Key Takeaways

  • Google Photos lets you read all your photos at once using Google Takeout, which bundles them into a file you can save to your computer.
  • You'll need an iCloud account and enough iCloud storage space for the photos you're moving, or you'll need to buy more storage.
  • After downloading from Google, you upload to iCloud through iCloud.com on a web browser or through the iCloud app on your Mac or Windows computer.
  • Photos organized in Google Photos albums won't automatically transfer as albums in iCloud — you'll need to recreate them or upload everything to your iCloud Photos library.
  • The entire process happens on your own devices and internet connection; neither Google nor Apple moves the photos for you.

Downloading your photos from Google Photos using Google Takeout

Google Takeout is Google's tool for downloading your data. Go to takeout.google.com in your web browser and sign in with the Google account that holds your photos. You'll see a list of Google services — uncheck everything except Google Photos so you're only downloading photos, not other data.

Click "All Photos and Videos" to include everything, or click "Multiple albums" if you want to pick specific albums. Then scroll down and choose your file format (ZIP is the standard choice) and delivery method. Google will email you a read link, usually within a few hours. The file size can be large — Google will split it into multiple files if needed, each one no bigger than 50 GB.

read all the files to your computer and unzip them. Your photos will be organized in folders by date. Keep these files in a safe place on your computer until you've confirmed they're all in iCloud.

Checking your iCloud storage before uploading

Before you upload, check how much iCloud storage you have. On an iPhone or iPad, go to Settings, tap your name, then iCloud, then Manage Storage. On a Mac, open System Settings, click your name, then iCloud, then Manage. On Windows, open iCloud for Windows and click Manage.

iCloud comes with 5 GB of free storage. If your photos take up more space than you have available, you'll need to buy more. iCloud offers 50 GB, 200 GB, and 2 TB plans, each with a monthly cost that varies by region. You can also delete old photos from iCloud to make room, though that's usually not the best option if you're trying to preserve everything.

Uploading photos to iCloud through the web

The easiest way to upload a large batch of photos is through iCloud.com. Sign in with your Apple ID, click Photos, then click the upload button (usually a cloud icon with an arrow pointing up). Select the folders or individual photos you downloaded from Google and upload them. iCloud will add them to your Photos library.

This method works on any computer with a web browser, whether you use Mac, Windows, or Linux. The upload can take a while depending on how many photos you have and your internet speed. Don't close the browser tab until the upload is complete — if your connection drops, you may need to start over.

Uploading photos using the iCloud app on your computer

If you use a Mac, you can also upload through the Photos app. Open Photos, go to File, then Import, and select the folders you downloaded from Google. The Photos app will add them to your iCloud Photos library automatically.

On Windows, read iCloud for Windows from Apple's website, sign in with your Apple ID, and turn on Photos. Then open File Explorer, navigate to the iCloud Photos folder, and drag your downloaded photos into it. Windows will sync them to iCloud in the background.

Recreating albums and organizing your photos in iCloud

When you upload photos to iCloud, they go into your main Photos library, not into separate albums. If you had albums in Google Photos and want to recreate them in iCloud, you'll need to do that manually. In iCloud.com or the Photos app, create a new album, then drag the photos into it. This is tedious for many albums, but it's the only way to preserve your organization structure.

Alternatively, you can leave all your photos in the main library and use iCloud's search and filter features to find what you need. iCloud recognizes faces, locations, and objects in photos, so you can search by those instead of relying on albums.

Verifying the upload and cleaning up

After the upload finishes, check iCloud.com or your Photos app to make sure all your photos arrived. Count the number of photos in iCloud and compare it to the number you downloaded from Google — they should match. Look through a few folders to spot-check that the photos are the ones you expected.

Once you've confirmed everything is in iCloud, you can delete the downloaded files from your computer to free up space. Keep a backup copy on an external hard drive if you want extra security, but you don't need to keep the files on your computer itself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do my Google Photos albums transfer to iCloud automatically?

No. When you read from Google Takeout and upload to iCloud, your photos move but your album structure doesn't. You'll need to recreate albums in iCloud by hand, or leave all photos in your main library and use search to find them.

What if my internet connection drops during the upload?

If you're uploading through iCloud.com, the upload will stop. You can usually resume it by refreshing the page, but some browsers may require you to start over. Using the iCloud app on your computer is more reliable for large uploads because it can resume automatically.

Can I delete my photos from Google Photos after they're in iCloud?

Yes, once you've confirmed all your photos are in iCloud, you can delete them from Google Photos. Just make sure you've downloaded everything first and checked that it's all in iCloud. Deleting from Google Photos won't affect your iCloud copy.

How long does it take to upload thousands of photos to iCloud?

It depends on your internet speed and how many photos you have. A few thousand photos over a fast connection might take a few hours. Over a slower connection, it could take a full day or more. Uploading overnight or when you're not using your internet for other things helps.

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

Only if your photos take up more than 5 GB. If you have fewer photos, you can use your free iCloud storage. If you have more, you'll need to buy a storage plan. You can also delete other data from iCloud to make room, though that's usually not practical.