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How to upload photos to Google Photos
Published onFebruary 25, 2025
As someone who takes photos and screenshots daily, Google Photos has been a lifesaver since all images backed up and synced to Google Photos are accessible from any device. If you’d like to use these features, knowing how to upload your photos to Google Photos is an excellent place to start.
THE SHORT ANSWER
To upload photos to Google Photos from any device, open a browser and go to the Google Photos website. Log in if needed. Here, you will find a + button in the top right corner. Select Import photos, and pick the images you want to upload from your device. If you're using a browser, you can also drag and drop the photos.
Alternatively, you can turn on Back up and sync from within Photos settings in the Google Photos app to automatically upload the photos and videos you shoot on your device. Keep reading to get more details and instructions.
JUMP TO KEY SECTIONS
When you require quick access to photos or screenshots you’ve taken on your phone on another device, Google Photos is invaluable.
For example, when I take mobile screenshots for articles like this one, I don’t connect my phone to my computer to transfer the screenshot files. Instead, those screenshots are automatically backed up and uploaded to Google Photos, so I can access the Google Photos website and easily access them on my computer.
You get 15GB of free storage with your Google account, shared across Google Photos, Google Drive, and Gmail. If you need more than that, you must pay for a Google One subscription for extra storage.
How to upload photos to Google Photos (Android and iPhone)
The Google Photos application on your Android or iOS device functions identically to your Gallery app. All images, videos, and screenshots you take are accessible from Google Photos.
Usually, you would have to activate Back up and sync from within the app to “upload” your photos and videos. However, you don’t have to turn that on. Instead, you could upload each piece of content manually.
- Launch your browser, and go to photos.google.com.
- Sign in using your Google account, if needed.
- Tap on the + icon in the top-right corner.
- Select Import photos.
- Find and select the images you want to upload.
Back up and sync
The easiest way to upload photos and videos is to turn on Back Up and sync. Enabling this feature will automatically upload any new photos or videos you shoot on your device.
- Open the Google Photos app on your Android or iOS device.
- Tap your profile icon in the top-right.
- Select Photos settings.
- Hit Backup.
- Toggle the Backup button to turn the function on or off.
- Additionally, you can scroll down and pick your preferences.
How to upload photos to Google Photos (computer)
Uploading content from your computer, PC, or Mac is quick and easy. In fact, the process is pretty much identical to uploading photos manually on a smartphone browser.
- Launch your browser, and go to photos.google.com.
- Sign in using your Google account, if needed.
- Tap on the + icon in the top-right corner.
- Select Import photos.
- Find and select the images you want to upload.
FAQs
Yes, you can upload as many images as you wish to Google Photos. However, you must keep storage limits in mind. You are limited to a free 15GB across all of Google’s services, including Gmail and Google Drive. If you know you will surpass that limit, you will have to purchase a Google One subscription for more storage.
The fastest way to ensure your photos are uploaded to Google Photos is to turn on Back up and sync.
Many believe that you must turn on Back up and sync to upload content to Google Photos. This is not the case, however. If you visit the Google Photos website from your browser, you can tap on the + icon and upload images manually.
When you upload photos to Google Photos, they are stored in your Google Photos library, which is part of your Google account’s cloud storage. You can access your photos by signing into your Google account and navigating to the Google Photos app or website.
Google Photos can be free if you limit yourself to the free 15GB you get in cloud storage from Google. Adding more storage space to your account will cost.