In November 2024, Google made a very subtle but irritating update to how its partners shared in its Google Photos app. When you enabled sharing, it only covered photos and videos taken with your phone’s camera app, and images and movies uploaded via other apps were not shared with your partner. It has been a big pain point for those who use different apps to take photos, regularly back up from different sources, and cannot shoot raw.
And now it looks like Google might be rethinking its game.
Upcoming Feature: Expanded Partner Sharing Options
AssembleDebug, code sleuth in collaboration with the team, finds a promising development in the latest (v7.12) Google Photos app for Android. A new toggle labelled ‘Include content from other Android apps’ was spied in partner sharing settings.
If enabled, it will allow users to share pictures and videos uploaded by third-party apps with their selected partner in their Google Photos library.
Key Details About the Feature:
- Default Setting: The default is disabled and must be manually turned on.
- Rollout Timeline: Exactly when it will be released is unknown, the feature will debut on the Google Photos beta channel before being published to the wider public.
Why This Frustrating Restriction for Users
For many users whose work relies on third-party apps like Instagram for photography or who save screenshots regularly, the limitation on partner sharing has jolted workflows.
- Third-Party Camera Apps: These apps are stored in the shared partner library but can only be edited in Google Photos.
- Screenshots: They are also not in the shared library, taking up space for users who may back them up, etc.
- No Workarounds: Users have been made to rely solely on their phone’s default camera app or manually share, which goes against the principle of easy sharing.
And that change has been especially bad for people who depend on Google Photos for backup and sharing.
The Path Forward
It is a sign of Google’s resistance to user complaints about this needless restriction, and the discovery of the “Include content from other Android apps” toggle is good news. It is a step in the right direction: the feature will not go out to everyone immediately, but the issue is acknowledged.
For now, affected users can:
- A way to possibly see the feature early is to join the new Google Photos beta program.
- Keep checking for updates to the app.
- Manually sharing non-camera content temporally adjusts the habits and timing of going public.
Conclusion
Google’s restrictive partner sharing put an unnecessary and annoying crimp in the versatility of its already rich photo-sharing platform. The discovery of the new toggle for expanded sharing options is good news, as the reintroduction of expanded sharing options is not live yet.
Google is working to lift this self-imposed limit, and users can look forward to more seamless partner-sharing functionality that will restore Google Photos as the all-in-one media-sharing tool it once was.
Ethan Cole is a tech aficionado dedicated to exploring the latest innovations and gadgets, providing reviews and insights to keep you updated in the tech world.
