Google Photos Tip — Download Shared Photo to Mobile Device

A (Somewhat) Confusing Process Explained…

Image Credit — https://www.google.com/drive/static/images/home/files-anywhere.jpg

Introduction

The beauty of Google Photos is you have access to your images from anywhere, on any device. So does anyone you share photos with.

However, if you share a LINK to a photo and someone wants to download it to their mobile device, it is not intuitive how this is done (I’m using iOS / iPhone / iPad as my example).

I have explained this process with increasing frequency (more Google Photos users…?), so I’m explaining it one last time — in this post!

Sender Side

So I want to share a specific photo…(from the iPhone).

• Locate the photo in the Google Photos app

Locate Photo

• Tap it to enter full-screen view. Tap the “Share” icon.

Tap the Share icon

• In this case, I share a link to the photo, so tap “Create link” option.

Tap Create link option

• You are notified that the link is copied and you are ready to share.

Notified that Link has been copied.

• Next, I share the picture link in a message.

Share link via text message (iMessage)

Recipient Process

• The recipient receives the message (on an iPad).

Link view in iMessage (iPad)

• Tap the link in the message and the photo opens in the web browser, in Google Photos.

Photo view in Google Photos when link is tapped.

• Now, access the “floating menu” and tap the “3-dots” menu option.

Access floating menu and tap options menu

• Tap “Download”

Tap download to “download” image — this is what tricks people…

• The image then opens DIRECTLY in the browser, but it is NOT DOWNLOADED to your local device storage yet!

“Downloaded” image in your mobile web browser

• Press and Hold the image until the indicated pop-up menu appears. Then tap “Save Image”. It is now on your local device in the Camera Roll.

Press and Hold the image, then Save to Camera Roll

It appears tedious to do this, but the process is very quick once you understand the steps! Now, go enjoy photo sharing…

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