Google Photos Reinstates Partner Sharing for Third-Party App Images
Google Photos is bringing back a useful feature for users who share their photo libraries with partners. The partner sharing option for screenshots, downloads, and photos from third-party apps is being restored. This functionality was originally available when partner sharing launched in 2017 but was removed in November. Google is now reversing that decision, based on user feedback and the desire for more comprehensive photo sharing options. This update lets users manage and share a broader range of images with their chosen partners.
Partner Sharing: Expanding Photo Options
Partner sharing is designed for seamless photo management between users. It allows Google Photos users to automatically share their entire photo library or specific albums with a designated partner. This simplifies sharing memories and important moments without manually selecting each image. The reintroduction of third-party app image sharing makes this feature even more useful.
Initially, partner sharing included images from various sources, including screenshots, downloads, and photos from third-party applications. Think about those funny memes saved from social media or recipes captured from cooking apps. All shareable with your partner.
However, in November, Google quietly removed this capability. This change limited partner sharing to photos taken directly with the device’s camera or saved to the main camera roll. This left many users frustrated, especially those who relied on the feature to share content from other apps.
Now, Google Photos is listening to its users. The company has added a new toggle that specifically enables partner sharing for images from third-party apps. This toggle puts users back in control of their shared content, offering a more customized and comprehensive partner sharing experience. Like many of the features showcased at CES (like this one), Google Photos is always evolving.
Partner Sharing: Recovering Lost Functionality
The Google Photos update containing this revived partner sharing option has begun rolling out to users. It’s accessible through a toggle in the app’s settings, specifically within the partner sharing section. This allows users to easily enable or disable sharing of images from third-party apps.
Users can now select precisely what they want to share. Perhaps you want to share everything automatically, or maybe you prefer to manually curate your shared photo library. This update acknowledges the varying needs of users when it comes to photo sharing. Looking for more ways to expand your photo storage? Check out this article on Google Photos.
The return of this feature marks a positive response from Google to user feedback. It demonstrates a willingness to adapt and refine features to better align with how people actually use the service. If you’re a Samsung user, be sure to keep up with the latest security updates for your device, similar to those released in January 2025.
With this change, Google Photos has addressed a key user concern. This reinforces the platform’s value as a centralized hub for storing, managing, and sharing digital memories. Google Photos is becoming an increasingly important part of the digital ecosystem, similar to advancements in cloud gaming technology seen at CES 2025.
This update to Google Photos restores a much-requested partner sharing feature. It provides users with more control over their shared images. Stay tuned for further updates and enhancements to the Google Photos platform as it continues to evolve and improve the user experience.
