Google Photos Reduces Partner Sharing Capabilities with New Restriction

Google Photos is a top choice among cloud-based picture backup solutions. Google is always adding new features to the service, like filters, search powered by AI, editing tools, sharing choices, and more. If you have a spouse or other loved one who uses Google Photos, you may automatically share all of your photos and videos with them with the partner sharing feature.

Google has quietly changed how the feature works, though, so the shared person can no longer see screenshots and pictures from other Android apps that were saved to your Google Photos folder.

Google Photos Limits Partner Sharing for Screenshots

Tech-Issues Today reports that a number of Redditors who use Google Photos have observed that their partners are unable to access their library’s screenshots and photographs from any other apps. Google appears to have implemented these changes in late October after covertly modifying the way partner sharing works. It has also made the necessary updates to the partner-sharing help page. A new hint emphasizes that “Photos from other apps on Android aren’t shared with your partner account.”

No Fix Available for Google Photos Sharing Issue

An official from Google’s Photos team has verified the update and explained that it was done to “better align with most users’ expectations.”

If you take photos or videos using a third-party camera app, like Instagram, this update can be a major hassle. When you delete them from Google Photos, your partner will no longer be able to see them. It’s not clear why Google made this strange change or why you can’t turn this feature on or off.

It seems like there isn’t a simple way to get around this restriction on Google Photos just yet. According to a Reddit user, one option needs root access and Magisk, but most people will find it too hard to understand.