The fastest way to download all your photos at once
Google Photos lets you download all your photos in a single file using Google Takeout, a tool that exports your data from Google services. The process takes a few minutes to set up, then Google prepares a compressed folder containing every photo and video in your account. You download it once it's ready — usually within a few hours, though large libraries can take longer.
This method works whether you have 100 photos or 100,000. You don't download them one by one; instead, Google bundles everything into a .zip file that you save to your computer. The file includes your original photos at their full resolution, organized by date.
Key Takeaways
- Google Takeout is the official tool for downloading all your Google Photos at once, and it's free.
- The download arrives as a single compressed .zip file that you extract on your computer to access individual photos.
- Large photo libraries can take several hours to prepare, so you don't have to wait at your computer.
- You can choose to download only photos, only videos, or both, and you can select a specific date range if you don't want everything.
- Google keeps the download link active for one week, so you have time to save it without rushing.
Step-by-step: Using Google Takeout to download everything
Start by going to takeout.google.com in your web browser and signing in with the Google account that holds your photos. You'll see a list of Google services — by default, everything is selected. Uncheck all services except Google Photos to avoid downloading data you don't need.
Scroll down to the Google Photos section and make sure it's checked. Click the dropdown arrow next to it to see your options. You can choose "All Google Photos data" to get everything, or select "Photos" and "Videos" separately if you want only one type. If you want photos from a specific time period, you can set a date range here instead of downloading your entire library.
Scroll to the bottom and click "Next step". On the next page, choose how you want to receive the file. The default is "Send download link via email", which works well for large files — Google emails you a link when the export is ready. You can also choose to have it saved to Google Drive or Dropbox if you prefer. Select how often you want Google to re-export your data (usually "Only once" is what you need), then click "Create export".
Google will start preparing your file. For small libraries (under 1 GB), this usually takes a few minutes. Larger libraries can take several hours or even a day. You don't need to stay on the page — Google will email you when it's ready. Check your email (including spam folders) for a message from Google with a download link.
What you get when you download the file
The file arrives as a .zip archive, usually named something like "takeout-[date].zip". On Windows, right-click it and select "Extract all". On Mac, double-click it and it will extract automatically. Inside you'll find a folder structure organized by year and month, with your original photos at their full resolution.
The file size depends on how many photos you have. A library of 10,000 photos typically compresses to 20–50 GB, depending on whether they're high-resolution originals or compressed versions. Make sure you have enough free space on your computer or external drive before you start the download.
Google keeps the download link active for one week. After that, the link expires and you'll need to run Takeout again if you want to download more recent photos. If you're downloading a very large library, start the process early so you have time to complete it before the link expires.
Downloading only recent photos or videos
If you don't want your entire photo library, you can narrow down what Takeout exports. In the Google Photos section of Takeout, click the dropdown and select "All Google Photos data" to see date range options. You can then choose a start date and end date to export only photos from that period.
You can also use the same process to download only videos by unchecking "Photos" and leaving only "Videos" selected. This is useful if you want to back up your videos separately or if you're running low on storage space and want to prioritize one type of media.
Alternative: Downloading photos directly from Google Photos
If you only need a few photos or a small selection, you can download them directly from the Google Photos app without using Takeout. Open Google Photos, select the photos you want (click the checkbox on each one), then click the download icon (a downward arrow) at the top. This method works for up to 500 photos at a time, but it's slower than Takeout for large batches.
This approach is useful if you're organizing photos into folders on your computer or if you want to download only specific albums. For anything larger than a few hundred photos, Takeout is faster and more reliable.
Troubleshooting common download problems
If you don't receive an email from Google within a few hours, check your spam folder first. Sometimes the notification lands there by mistake. If it's not there, go back to takeout.google.com and sign in — you should see your export listed under "Manage your data" with a status showing whether it's still being prepared or ready to download.
If the download keeps stopping partway through, your internet connection may be dropping. Try downloading again, or use a download manager tool (like Free Download Manager on Windows or Downie on Mac) that can resume interrupted downloads. If the file is extremely large (over 100 GB), consider breaking it into smaller date ranges and exporting them separately.
If you see an error message saying "Export failed", try creating a new export. This usually works on the second attempt. Make sure you're signed into the correct Google account — if you have multiple accounts, Takeout will only export from the one you're currently logged into.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I download photos while keeping them in Google Photos?
Yes. Downloading your photos doesn't remove them from your Google Photos account. You'll have copies on your computer and originals still in Google Photos. This is a good way to back up your library without losing access to the cloud version.
Will the downloaded photos include my edits and filters?
No. Google Takeout downloads your original, unedited photos. Any edits, filters, or crops you made in Google Photos won't be included in the download. If you need edited versions, you'll need to save them separately from the Google Photos app.
How long does it take to download all my photos?
Preparing the export usually takes a few minutes to several hours depending on library size. The actual download speed depends on your internet connection. A 50 GB file might take 30 minutes to 2 hours to download on a typical home internet connection.
Can I download photos from a shared album?
No. Google Takeout only downloads photos from your own account. Shared albums don't appear in Takeout. If you need photos from a shared album, you'll need to download them individually through the Google Photos app or ask the album owner to share them with you another way.
What happens if I delete photos from Google Photos after I download them?
The photos you've already downloaded stay on your computer. Deleting them from Google Photos only removes the cloud copy. Your downloaded files are separate and won't be affected by changes to your Google Photos account.