About the Google Photos APIs

The Google Photos APIs enable you to build rich photo and video experiences into your applications, allowing you to interact with the hundreds of millions of people who choose Google Photos. We offer two powerful APIs to help you achieve your goals:

• Google Photos Picker API: Create a secure way for users to select photos and videos from their Google Photos library through a seamless integration with the Google Photos app.
• Google Photos Library API: Upload and manage photos and albums your app creates, all within your users' Google Photos libraries.

Get started by enabling one (or more) of the APIs and configuring your app.

Key concepts

Library: This represents the collection of media items stored in the user's Google Photos account.

• The Picker API lets users select media items from their library to share with your app.
• The Library API lets you manage content within the user's library that was created by your app.

Albums: These are collections of media items within a user's library, which can be shared with other users.

• The Library API lets you to create and manage albums created by your app.

Media items: These include photos, videos, and their associated metadata.

• Picker API:
  • The Picker API returns PickedMediaItem objects representing the media items selected by the user.
  • Learn more about listing and retrieving media items with the Picker API.
• Library API:
  • The Library API works with MediaItem objects representing media items uploaded or created by your app.
  • Learn more about working with media items with the Library API.

Authorization

Like other Google REST APIs, the Google Photos APIs use OAuth 2.0 to handle authorization.

Note: The Google Photos APIs don't support service accounts. To use these APIs, users must be signed in to a valid Google Account.

Using the Google Photos APIs

Before you get started on your app development, review the following documents:

• Photos API User Data and Developer Policy

  Note: The new Photos API User Data and Developer Policy will take effect on March 31, 2025 and replace the existing Acceptable use policy.

• UX guidelines for designing your app

• The Google Photos APIs limits and quotas

Explore the APIs

There are multiple ways to try out the APIs.

Try out the APIs without writing any code using the API Explorer available in the reference documentation.

• Try creating a session with the Picker API
• Try creating an album with the Library API

Explore our code samples demonstrating key features and use cases.

• Picker API samples
• Library API samples

Partner program

You can integrate with the Google Photos APIs without joining the partner program. However, if your app is likely to exceed the general availability quota limit, express interest in the Google Photos partner program.

Learn more

Configure your app: set up your project and try out a sample.

Guides: the how-to guides and concepts around using the Google Photos APIs.

• Picker API guides
• Library API guides

Reference docs: the API reference documentation

• Picker API reference documentation
• Library API reference documentation

Support: the support options for requesting help or giving feedback.