Google Photos is a fantastic service for anyone looking to store, manage, and share their photos and videos. Praised by The Verge as “the best photo product on Earth” and Wired as “your new essential picture app,” it offers a seamless experience across devices. If you’re wondering “How Do I Put Photos On Google,” you’ve come to the right place. This guide will walk you through the simple steps to upload your precious memories to Google Photos and explore its amazing features.
Uploading Photos to Google Photos: Different Methods
There are several easy ways to put your photos on Google Photos, ensuring you can access them from anywhere and keep them safe. Let’s explore the most common methods:
1. Uploading via the Google Photos Website (Desktop)
If you’re using a computer, the Google Photos website provides a straightforward way to upload your images. Here’s how:
- Open your browser and go to the Google Photos website: Navigate to photos.google.com and sign in with your Google Account. If you don’t have one, you can easily create one for free.
- Click the “Upload” button: In the top right corner, you’ll see an “Upload” button. Click on it.
- Choose your source: You’ll be presented with two options: “Computer” or “Google Drive.”
- Computer: Select “Computer” to upload photos directly from your computer’s hard drive. A file explorer window will pop up, allowing you to browse and select the photos or folders you want to upload.
- Google Drive: If your photos are already stored in Google Drive, you can choose “Google Drive” to import them directly into Google Photos.
- Select and upload your photos: Choose the photos or folders you want to upload and click “Open” or “Upload.” Google Photos will begin uploading your selected images. You can monitor the progress in the bottom left corner.
Once uploaded, your photos will be organized by date and accessible from any device where you are logged into your Google Account.
2. Uploading via the Google Photos Mobile App (Android and iOS)
The Google Photos mobile app makes uploading from your smartphone or tablet incredibly convenient. Here’s how to do it on both Android and iOS devices:
- Download and install the Google Photos app: If you don’t already have it, download the Google Photos app from the Google Play Store (for Android) or the App Store (for iOS).
- Open the Google Photos app and sign in: Launch the app and sign in with your Google Account.
- Enable Backup & Sync (optional but recommended): For automatic uploads, enable “Backup & sync.” You’ll typically be prompted to do this when you first open the app. You can also find this option in the app settings (tap your profile picture in the top right corner, then “Photos settings” and “Backup & sync”). Choose your preferred upload quality (“Original quality” counts towards your storage, while “Storage Saver” – previously “High quality” – offers compressed, but still excellent quality and does not count towards your storage if uploaded before June 1, 2021).
- Manual upload (if Backup & Sync is off or for specific photos): If you haven’t enabled Backup & sync or want to upload specific photos manually:
- Navigate to the “Library” tab at the bottom.
- Open the folder containing the photos you want to upload (e.g., “Camera”).
- Select the photos you want to upload by long-pressing on them.
- Tap the “Backup” icon (cloud icon with an upward arrow) at the bottom.
Your photos will now be uploaded to Google Photos and safely backed up in the cloud.
3. Drag and Drop Upload on the Website
Another quick method on the website is drag and drop:
- Open the Google Photos website: Go to photos.google.com and sign in.
- Locate the photos on your computer: Open the folder on your computer that contains the photos you want to upload.
- Drag and drop: Simply drag the photos or folders directly into your browser window where Google Photos is open. The upload will start automatically.
Benefits of Using Google Photos
Beyond just answering “how do i put photos on google,” it’s important to understand why Google Photos is a great choice for your photo storage needs:
- Free Storage (up to 15 GB) and Google One options: Every Google Account comes with 15 GB of free storage shared across Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos. For more storage, you can subscribe to Google One. Remember, photos uploaded in “Storage Saver” quality before June 1, 2021, don’t count towards your storage limit.
- Free Up Device Space: Once your photos are safely backed up, you can easily remove them from your phone to free up valuable storage space.
- Powerful Search: Google Photos’ intelligent search allows you to find photos based on people, places, and things in them without manual tagging.
- Smart Sharing: Sharing photos with friends and family is easy with smart sharing suggestions.
- Advanced Editing Tools: Enhance your photos with a range of intuitive editing tools directly within Google Photos.
- Automatic Creations: Enjoy automatically created movies, collages, and GIFs from your photos.
- Cross-Device Access: Access your photos from any device – phone, tablet, computer, or TV with Chromecast or Airplay.
Conclusion
Putting your photos on Google Photos is a simple process, whether you prefer using the website or the mobile app. With its user-friendly interface and powerful features, Google Photos provides a secure and convenient way to store, manage, and relive your memories. So, start uploading your photos today and experience the benefits of this excellent photo service.
