How to Export Your Images From Google Photos Using Takeout

This guide will walk you through the complete process of exporting your images from Google Photos using Google Takeout, fixing the EXIF metadata, and importing them into iCloud or another photo library.

Why Use Google Takeout?

While Google Photos has a native export function, it's restricted to 500 files at a time, which can take a very long time for large libraries. Google Takeout provides a more efficient solution, allowing you to export your entire photo library at once as downloadable archive files.

Downloading All Files From Google Photos

Step 1: Access Google Takeout

Navigate to takeout.google.com/settings/takeout and sign in with your Google account. This service allows you to download archives of your Google Account data.

Step 2: Select Google Photos

Deselect all options and only select Google Photos. Choose the albums or all photos you want to export. This ensures you only download your photos without other Google data.

Step 3: Configure Export Settings

Choose your preferred file type, frequency, and destination. We recommend selecting "Multiple files" with a maximum size of 2GB or 4GB to avoid very large single files that are harder to download and extract.

Step 4: Create Export

Click "Create export" and wait for Google to prepare your files. Depending on the size of your library, this can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours. You'll receive an email when it's ready.

Step 5: Download Your Files

Once you receive the email, download all the zip files. Extract them to a folder on your computer. You'll notice that each photo and video has an accompanying JSON file containing metadata.

Fixing Image EXIF Data

Here's the problem: Google Takeout strips all EXIF information from your photos and puts them in those JSON files. This metadata contains crucial information like when the photo was taken, GPS coordinates, camera settings, and device information. It's absolutely crucial that we merge that information back into your photos and videos.

Manual Method (Using ExifTool)

If you prefer a manual approach, you can use ExifTool to read and write EXIF data:

1. Install ExifTool from exiftool.org, which enables reading and writing EXIF data from JSON files to images and videos.
2. Reference the command structure from the ExifTool documentation to craft appropriate commands that match your needs.
3. Run the commands on your exported files to merge the JSON metadata back into your photos.

This method requires technical knowledge and can be time-consuming for large libraries.

Automated Method (Using Metadata Fixer)

The easier approach is to use Metadata Fixer, which is already optimized for Google Takeout pictures and videos. Simply point it to your extracted Takeout folder and it will automatically restore all EXIF data to your photos and videos without any manual configuration.

Moving Your Library to iCloud

After fixing your metadata, you can import your photos into iCloud or Apple Photos:

1. Open Photos.app on your Mac and use File > Import rather than dragging files directly. This ensures proper handling of the metadata.
2. If any photos appear misdated after import, you can manually correct them using Image > Adjust Date and Time.

Managing Your Existing Google Photos Library

If you have the Google Photos app installed on your phone, be aware that it may recognize the newly imported iCloud photos and attempt to upload them as duplicates.

To handle this:

1. After the upload completes, visit photos.google.com/search/_tra_ to identify recently uploaded files.
2. Delete the newly uploaded duplicates from this view.
3. Google Photos won't re-upload files that you've already deleted, but it will continue capturing future photos from your phone normally.