When you change the operating system, the normal thing is to transfer all your data to the new platform. It is the typical step that is made when going from an Android mobile to an iPhone, or vice versa. If you are in the first step, we explain how you can transfer your photos from Google Photos to iCloud easily.
In addition, there is the factor that the unlimited storage of Google Photos has come to an end, so transferring files to iCloud becomes a more than viable option. However, it is not surprising that it is one of the most twisted tasks for you, as well as one of the most important when changing operating systems.
Who would have thought that this would be possible thanks to Google Photos, whose backup of images and videos allows this process to be done in a simpler way. Also, it is possible to do it to both an iPhone and a Mac. Let’s get to it!
How to transfer photos from Google Photos to a Mac or Windows
Both the mobile version and the web version of Google Photos sync instantly, so the backup is in both versions. If you want to completely switch to Apple’s cloud bet, you must do the following:
- Start your Google account and enter the photo section.
- It will show all your previously saved gallery in Google Photos app. Now select the photos you want to have in your iCloud account.
- Download selected photos. If you don’t know how to do it, just give click on the three dots located in the upper right part and click on option “Download”.
- A process will be started to download a .RAR file. Next, you will have to unzip the file and you will have all your photos and videos.
- Sign in to iCloud and tap on the photos icon. When you see the cloud symbol, click to upload the multimedia files that you previously downloaded and click on ‘Carry‘. After a short wait, the process will finish and you will have everything in iCloud.
How to transfer photos from Google Photos to an iPhone
Now is the time to do the same as in the previous section, but from your mobile. If you want to have all your photos directly on your iPhone and you are not interested in transferring them to your computer, you have to follow a series of different steps than transferring files from Google Drive. Google Photos has its own app for iOS, so thanks to that the process will be much easier:
- Launch the Google Photos app from your iPhone. If the application asks to activate backup, you should not give him access.
- Find the section “Albums”In the application. From there your photo gallery is stored, so select and hold down each of the photos you want to save to your iCloud. To speed up the process, if you want to browse the gallery you can click on «Select all«.
- Finally, press the icon of “Share”Located at the top and select the option“Save images” and ready. If the option does not appear, click on ‘Plus‘. All the marked photos will be saved on your mobile and on your iCloud.
Without a doubt, it is a very personal decision, since you must take into account the space provided by both platforms. Despite the restriction on unlimited storage, Google Photos still has 15 GB free, while iCloud only has 5 GB. If you do, it is because all your devices belong to the Apple ecosystem.
What if you do the process in reverse to switch to Google Photos?
The question is, if you don’t want to pay to have more than 5 GB, you can do the reverse step by going from iCloud to Google Photos. In iPadizate we have an article that already talks more in detail about this process, with the requirements to take into account to transfer these files from Apple to Google. However, at roughly you have to do the following:
- Go into privacy.apple.com and sign in with your Apple ID.
- Now click on Transfer a copy of your data.
- You will enter a page where you will see how many images and videos will be copied from iCloud Photos and how much they occupy.
- Below you will see a box where the only option is Google Photos.
- You can specify if you want transfer photos, videos, or both.
- Press »Continue»And you will have to log into Google with your account.
- Apple tea will notify by email of your transfer request and when the transfer is complete.
These are all the options you have to transfer multimedia files and keep them safe. Another detail that you should take into account is to make a periodic backup so that you do not run the risk of losing your photos or videos the next time you change your mobile.