How to Stop Sharing Google Photos: A Comprehensive Guide

Sharing photos on Google Photos is easy, but knowing how to stop sharing can be tricky. This guide provides step-by-step instructions for revoking access to your Google Photos content across various devices and platforms. We’ll cover removing individuals from shared albums, disabling Partner Sharing, leaving unwanted shared albums, and even enhancing your sharing security with password protection.

Revoking Access to Shared Albums

If you want to stop sharing a Google Photos album with specific individuals, follow these steps:

1. Access Google Photos: Log in to your Google account and navigate to the Google Photos web application.
2. Locate the Shared Album: Click “Sharing” in the left-hand menu and open the album you wish to modify.
3. Access Options: Click the link icon or the list of shared users beneath the album title. Alternatively, click the three-dot icon in the top right corner and select “Options.”
   Shared Google Photos Options
4. Remove Individuals: Scroll down to the “PEOPLE” section, find the person you want to remove, click the three-dot icon next to their name, and select “Remove person.” Confirm your choice in the subsequent pop-up.
   Remove Person
5. Important Considerations: Removing someone deletes their added photos and comments. However, it won’t delete any copies they may have downloaded. They might also still see photos viewed previously. To prevent this, disable link sharing in the “Options” menu and click “Delete link.”
   Turn Off Link Sharing

Disabling Partner Sharing

Partner Sharing allows automatic sharing with a specific Google account. To disable it:

1. Open Google Photos: Access Google Photos on the web.
2. Navigate to Partner Sharing: Click “Sharing,” then “Partner Sharing.”
3. Access Settings: Click the three-dot icon in the top right corner and select “Settings.”
   Partner Sharing Settings
4. Remove Partner: Click “Remove Partner” and confirm your decision in the pop-up window.
   Confirm Remove PartnerAlternatively, within Partner Sharing, select specific photos or videos you no longer wish to share and click “Remove” in the top right corner.

Leaving Unwanted Shared Albums

If someone is sharing an album with you that you no longer want access to:

1. Open Google Photos: Access your Google Photos account.
2. Find the Shared Album: Click “Sharing” and locate the album you wish to leave.
3. Leave the Album: Click the three-dot icon and select “Leave.”
   Leave The Google Photos Album

Stopping Sharing on Mobile Devices

On iPhone:

1. Open the Google Photos app.
2. Go to the “Albums” tab, find the shared album, and open it.
3. Tap the three-dot icon and select “Sharing options.”
4. Tap a person’s name and then “Remove” to stop sharing with them.

On Android:

1. Open the Google Photos app.
2. Tap your profile icon and select “Photo settings.”
3. Choose “Partner Sharing” and then “Remove partner.” Confirm by clicking “Remove.”
   Remove Partner Sharing on Android

Secure Sharing with Password Protection

Google Photos doesn’t offer built-in password protection. For enhanced security, consider third-party tools like MultCloud, which enables password-encrypted sharing.

Conclusion

This guide offers multiple ways to stop sharing Google Photos, allowing you to manage your photo privacy effectively. Whether you need to remove individuals, disable Partner Sharing, or leave unwanted albums, the steps outlined above provide clear instructions for regaining control of your shared content. Remember to consider secure sharing alternatives for sensitive photos.