Google Photos is a cloud storage in which you can store and share your images and videos on any device. However, if you are looking for a way to quickly transfer photos and videos on your Google Photos from one Apple device to another, you can use the Apple AirDrop feature. If you use an iPhone with the latest iOS version, you can use Proximity Sharing to share photos. In this article, I will show you how to use the AirDrop feature to easily share the Google Photos app and its content.
Prerequisites
Before you proceed with AirDropping photos and videos from Google Photos, make sure to check the following prerequisites and settings.
- AirDrop only works on iPhones or iPads running iOS 7 or later and on Macs running macOS Yosemite or later.
- Ensure that Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are enabled on both Apple devices for a reliable file transfer.
- AirDrop has a working range of 9 meters or 30 feet. However, if the Apple devices are close to each other, the AirDrop will be fast and reliable.
- Change the AirDrop settings to Contact Only or Everyone for 10 minutes to make your Apple device visible to other Apple devices.
How to AirDrop Google Photos App from iPhone or iPad
To share the Google Photos app with other Apple devices, turn on AirDrop and follow the steps below.
1. Locate the Google Photos app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Press and hold the Google Photos app until the list of options appears.
3. Select the Share App option from the list.
4. Click on the AirDrop tile and select the receiving Apple device.
5. On the receiving Apple device, click Accept to complete the process.
Once the receiver clicks Accept, they will be redirected to the Apple App Store to install the Google Photos app.
How to AirDrop Google Photos Files from iPhone or iPad
You can share the photos and videos stored on the Google Photos app on your iPhone or iPad with other Apple devices using AirDrop. Here is how to share them.
1. Open the Google Photos app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Now, select the photo or video that you want to AirDrop.
Note: To AirDrop multiple photos or videos, click on the tick icon in the top-right corner, select all the photos and videos, and click Share.
3. Click on the Share option on the bottom-left of the screen.
4. Then, select the Share to… option and click on the AirDrop tile.
5. Select the receiving Apple device to send the photo or video.
6. On the receiving Apple device, click Accept to complete the AirDrop process.
The AirDropped photos can be accessed from the Photos → Imports on iPhones and iPads and from Finder → Downloads on the Mac.
How to AirDrop Google Photos Files from Mac
Since the Google Photos app is not available on the Mac, you can use the Google Photos website to download and AirDrop videos and photos to other Apple devices.
1. Open any browser on your Mac and visit Google Photos’ official website.
2. On the Google Photos website, sign in to the Google account that contains the images and videos that you wish to AirDrop.
3. Select the images and videos that you want to download and click on the three-dot icon.
4. Click Download to download the file to your Mac device.
5. Now, open the Finder app on your Mac and go to Downloads.
6. Control-click on the files and click the Share option.
7. Choose AirDrop and select the receiver Apple device.
8. On the receiver’s Apple device, click Accept to complete the AirDrop process.
The AirDropped photos and videos can be accessed from the Photos → Imports on the iPhone or iPad and from Finder → Downloads on the Mac.
How to Share Google Photo App or Files Using Proximity Sharing
If you and the receiver use an iPhone running on iOS 17 or later, you can use the Proximity Sharing feature of the AirDrop introduced in iOS 17 to share photos and videos from the Google Photos app or the app itself. To use this feature, you must enable the Bringing Devices Together setting on the AirDrop. Here is how to enable the setting and share the app or its content.
1. On your iPhone, go to Settings → General → AirDrop and enable the Bringing Devices Together option.
2. To share the Google Photos app using Proximity Sharing, follow the steps below.
- Press and hold the Google Photos app on the sender’s iPhone.
- Click on the Share App option and click the AirDrop tile.
- Now, bring both iPhones together to start the Proximity Sharing process.
- Click Accept on the receiver’s iPhone.
3. To share photos and videos from Google Photos using Proximity Sharing, use the steps below.
- Launch the Google Photos app on your iPhone.
- Select the photo or video you want to AirDrop and click Share.
- To AirDrop multiple photos or videos, click the tick icon, select the photos and videos, and click Share.
- Click Share to… and select the AirDrop tile.
- Now, bring the iPhone together to share files using Proximity Sharing.
- Click Accept on the receiver’s Apple device to complete the process.
FAQ
No. You cannot AirDrop any files from iPhone to Android. You can only use AirDrop to transfer files between iPhones, iPads, and Macs.
If the AirDrop is not working to share Google Photos, restart your Apple device. If you’re still facing issues after the restart, turn off the DND mode and personal hotspot. Sometimes, the AirDrop will fail while transferring photos. In that case, ensure that the Apple devices are close to each other.