I love Google Photos and I think everyone should use it! But, I know that’s not realistic. There are lots of Apple iPhone users out there who are perfectly happy with the Apple iCloud Photos way of managing their pictures. Although it is possible to install Google Photos on an iPhone and use both Apple iCloud AND Google Photos, it’s really not advisable unless you know what you’re doing. So, if all your photos are in the Apple ecosystem, what do you do when you go to your class reunion and the person collecting all the photos is using Google Photos? How do you contribute your photos to the shared group album if you don’t want to use Google Photos?
I’ve set up many group photo albums where many people contributed photos, it’s so easy! But they were all users of Google Photos. Recently I’ve been called upon to figure out how a non-Google Photos user can contribute photos. With the help of my fellow Google Photos product Experts, I have found that it’s easy also!
Get the link to the shared album
First off, the owner of the Google Shared album should send you a link via email or text message or other social networks. When you click that link using your phone, you should see something like:
Click on Add photos and you should see the photos on your phone and you can select a couple and tap “Add” in the upper right.
That’s it! You have just added your photos to a Google Photos shared album.
There may be additional steps:
- you may be asked to sign in with your Google account. That is most likely an @gmail.com email address, but not necessarily. Whatever address you use to sign in to any of Google services like YouTube, Blogger, Calendar etc.
- You may also see a message “It’s better in the App” Do not Use the app, instead tap on “Continue on Web.”
- If you don’t see your photos yet, tap on the “Upload” button – the cloud with the up arrow at the top right.
From 2003-2017 she traveled the country in an RV with her husband, Jim offering technology seminars at RV rallies, computer clubs, and senior centers. Now they travel the world and continue teaching on their website, GeeksOnTour.com, over Zoom, and on their YouTube channel. Specializing in the use of Google Photos, Chris teaches people how to get control of the thousands of photos and videos taken with both phones and cameras these days. She is designated by Google as a Diamond leve Product Expert for Google Photos.
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