How to Select All Photos on Google Photos: A Comprehensive Guide
Google Photos is a fantastic service for storing, organizing, and sharing your memories. Its automatic backup and synchronization features make it a favorite among smartphone users and photography enthusiasts alike. However, there might come a time when you need to select all your photos – perhaps to download them, move them to another account, or delete them altogether. While Google Photos doesn’t offer a straightforward “Select All” button like some other platforms, there are several methods you can use to achieve the same result. This comprehensive guide will walk you through each method step-by-step, ensuring you can efficiently manage your entire photo library.
## Why Select All Photos in Google Photos?
Before diving into the how-to, let’s consider why you might want to select all your photos in the first place. Here are a few common scenarios:
* **Downloading Your Entire Library:** You might want a local backup of all your photos in case Google Photos experiences issues or you decide to switch to another service.
* **Migrating to a New Google Account:** If you’re changing Google accounts, selecting and downloading all photos from your old account is crucial for a seamless transition.
* **Deleting All Photos:** Maybe you’re starting fresh or discontinuing your Google Photos usage altogether.
* **Organizing and Moving Photos in Bulk:** While less common, you might want to move all photos to a specific album or archive them.
* **Creating a Complete Archive for Long-Term Storage:** Keeping an offline copy of all your photos can offer peace of mind and protection against data loss.
Regardless of your reason, knowing how to select all photos is a valuable skill for any Google Photos user.
## Methods to Select All Photos in Google Photos
While Google Photos lacks a single “Select All” button, here are the most effective methods to select all your photos, ranging from simple workarounds to more advanced techniques:
### 1. The Scroll-and-Shift Method (Manual, but Effective)
This method is suitable for smaller libraries or when you don’t want to use third-party tools. It leverages your browser’s scrolling and shift-click functionalities.
**Steps:**
1. **Open Google Photos in a Web Browser:** This method works best on a desktop or laptop computer. Go to [https://photos.google.com/](https://photos.google.com/) in your preferred web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, etc.).
2. **Scroll to the Bottom of Your Library:** This is the most time-consuming part. You need to scroll down until all your photos have loaded. Google Photos uses infinite scrolling, meaning it loads more photos as you reach the bottom of the page. Keep scrolling until you reach the very beginning of your photo collection (the oldest photo).
* **Tip:** To speed up the scrolling, try holding down the `Page Down` key or clicking and dragging the scroll bar quickly. Be patient; this might take a while for large libraries.
3. **Select the First Photo:** Once all photos are loaded, click on the very first photo in your library. This will select it.
4. **Hold Down the Shift Key:** Keep the Shift key pressed down.
5. **Select the Last Photo:** While still holding down the Shift key, scroll down to the very last photo in your library (the newest photo). Click on the last photo. This will select all photos between the first and last selected photos.
6. **Verify Selection:** After clicking the last photo, all your photos should be selected. You’ll see a blue checkmark on each selected photo.
**Pros:**
* No need for third-party tools or extensions.
* Simple and straightforward to understand.
**Cons:**
* Very time-consuming, especially for large libraries.
* Prone to errors if you accidentally release the Shift key or miss a photo.
* Browser might become unresponsive with extremely large libraries.
* Limited to the number of photos your browser can load at once.
### 2. Using JavaScript in Your Browser’s Console (Advanced)
This method uses a small piece of JavaScript code to automatically select all photos that are currently loaded in your browser. It’s faster than the scroll-and-shift method but requires some familiarity with your browser’s developer tools.
**Steps:**
1. **Open Google Photos in a Web Browser:** As with the previous method, use a desktop or laptop computer and go to [https://photos.google.com/](https://photos.google.com/).
2. **Scroll to the Bottom of Your Library:** Scroll down until all your photos have loaded, just like in the previous method. Make sure *all* photos are visible.
3. **Open Your Browser’s Developer Tools:**
* **Chrome:** Press `Ctrl+Shift+J` (Windows/Linux) or `Cmd+Option+J` (Mac).
* **Firefox:** Press `Ctrl+Shift+K` (Windows/Linux) or `Cmd+Option+K` (Mac).
* **Safari:** Press `Cmd+Option+C` (Mac). (You might need to enable the Develop menu in Safari’s preferences first: `Safari` > `Preferences` > `Advanced` > Check “Show Develop menu in menu bar”).
* **Edge:** Press `Ctrl+Shift+I` (Windows/Linux) or `Cmd+Option+I` (Mac).
4. **Navigate to the Console Tab:** In the Developer Tools window, click on the “Console” tab.
5. **Paste the JavaScript Code:** Copy and paste the following JavaScript code into the console:
javascript
function selectAll() {
let selectionCount = 0;
const intervalId = setInterval(() => {
const buttons = document.querySelectorAll(‘div[data-selectable=”true”]:not([aria-checked=”true”]) button[aria-label=”Select”]:not([disabled])’);
if (buttons.length === 0) {
clearInterval(intervalId);
console.log(‘All selectable items have been selected. Total selected:’ + selectionCount);
return;
}
buttons.forEach(button => {
button.click();
selectionCount++;
});
console.log(‘Selected batch. Total selected:’ + selectionCount);
}, 500); //Adjust the interval (in milliseconds) if needed, lower value means faster selection, but might overload the browser.
}
selectAll();
6. **Press Enter to Execute the Code:** After pasting the code, press the Enter key. The code will start running and automatically click on the selection checkboxes for each photo.
7. **Wait for the Script to Finish:** The script will continue running until all photos have been selected. You’ll see messages in the console indicating the progress. The final message will tell you how many items were selected. It is important to wait until it finishes and prints ‘All selectable items have been selected’ to the console.
8. **(Optional) Adjust the Interval:** The `setInterval` function in the JavaScript code controls how often the script clicks on the selection checkboxes. The default value is 500 milliseconds (0.5 seconds). If you have a very powerful computer and a fast internet connection, you can try reducing this value to speed up the selection process. However, be careful not to set it too low, as it might overload your browser and cause it to crash or become unresponsive. If you experience issues, increase the interval value.
**Pros:**
* Much faster than the scroll-and-shift method.
* Automates the selection process.
**Cons:**
* Requires some technical knowledge (using the browser console).
* May not work perfectly on all browsers or with all Google Photos versions.
* Still requires all photos to be loaded in the browser.
* The script may fail if Google Photos’ interface changes.
* Potential for browser slowdown or crashes if the script runs too aggressively.
**Important Notes:**
* **Security:** Be cautious when pasting JavaScript code from unknown sources into your browser’s console. Only use code from trusted sources.
* **Browser Compatibility:** This method might work differently or not at all on different browsers. It’s generally more reliable on Chrome and Firefox.
* **Google Photos Updates:** Google Photos’ interface is constantly evolving. The script might need to be adjusted or rewritten if Google changes the way photos are displayed or selected.
### 3. Using Google Takeout (Best for Downloading All Photos)
Google Takeout is a service provided by Google that allows you to download your data from various Google services, including Google Photos. This is the *recommended* method if your primary goal is to download all your photos.
**Steps:**
1. **Go to Google Takeout:** Open your web browser and go to [https://takeout.google.com/](https://takeout.google.com/).
2. **Deselect All:** By default, all Google services are selected. Click the “Deselect all” button to uncheck all the services.
3. **Select Google Photos:** Scroll down the list of services and find “Google Photos.” Check the box next to it.
4. **Customize the Export (Optional):**
* Click the “All photo albums included” button. This allows you to choose which albums to include in the download. If you want to download *all* photos, leave it as “All photo albums included.”
* Click the “Multiple formats” button. This allows you to choose the format of the downloaded photos and videos. You can leave it at the default settings or customize it based on your preferences. Google Photos typically stores images as JPG or HEIC, and videos as MP4.
5. **Click “Next step”:** After selecting Google Photos and customizing the export (if desired), click the “Next step” button.
6. **Choose Delivery Method, Frequency, and File Type & Size:**
* **Delivery method:** Choose how you want to receive your download. Options include:
* **Send download link via email:** Google will send you an email with a link to download your archive.
* **Add to Drive:** Google will save the archive to your Google Drive.
* **Add to Dropbox:** Google will save the archive to your Dropbox account.
* **Add to OneDrive:** Google will save the archive to your OneDrive account.
* **Add to Box:** Google will save the archive to your Box account.
* **Frequency:** Choose whether you want to export your data once or schedule regular exports every 2 months for a year.
* **File type & size:** Choose the archive file type (ZIP or TGZ) and the maximum archive size. If the total size of your photos exceeds the maximum archive size, Google will split the download into multiple files. ZIP is generally preferred for compatibility.
7. **Click “Create export”:** After configuring the export settings, click the “Create export” button. Google will start preparing your archive.
8. **Wait for the Archive to be Created:** The time it takes to create the archive depends on the size of your Google Photos library. It can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours or even days. Google will send you an email when the archive is ready.
9. **Download the Archive:** Once the archive is ready, follow the instructions in the email or go to the chosen delivery location (e.g., Google Drive) to download the archive file(s).
10. **Extract the Archive (If Necessary):** If you chose ZIP or TGZ as the archive file type, you’ll need to extract the contents of the archive using a zip extraction tool (e.g., 7-Zip, WinRAR) before you can access your photos.
**Pros:**
* Reliable and official method provided by Google.
* Downloads all your photos and videos in their original quality.
* Allows you to choose the download format and size.
* Can be used to create regular backups of your Google Photos library.
**Cons:**
* Can take a long time to create the archive, especially for large libraries.
* Requires downloading and extracting large files.
* Not suitable if you only need to select photos for organization or deletion within Google Photos.
### 4. Using Third-Party Apps and Extensions (Use with Caution)
There are various third-party apps and browser extensions that claim to offer a “Select All” feature for Google Photos. However, it’s crucial to exercise caution when using these tools, as they might pose security risks or violate Google’s terms of service.
**Risks of Using Third-Party Apps/Extensions:**
* **Security Risks:** Some apps/extensions might contain malware or spyware that can compromise your Google account or steal your personal information.
* **Privacy Concerns:** These tools might collect and share your data without your consent.
* **Terms of Service Violations:** Using unauthorized tools to access Google Photos might violate Google’s terms of service and could lead to account suspension.
* **Unreliable Functionality:** Many apps/extensions are poorly developed and might not work as advertised.
**If you choose to use a third-party app or extension, make sure to:**
* **Research the app/extension thoroughly:** Read reviews, check the developer’s reputation, and look for any red flags.
* **Grant only necessary permissions:** Be wary of apps/extensions that ask for excessive permissions.
* **Use a strong and unique password for your Google account.**
* **Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for your Google account.**
* **Regularly review and revoke access to any unnecessary apps/extensions.**
**We generally recommend avoiding third-party apps/extensions unless you have a very specific need and have thoroughly vetted the tool.**
### 5. Selecting Photos by Date (for Specific Date Ranges)
While this isn’t a true “Select All” method, it can be useful if you want to select all photos within a specific date range. This can be helpful for organizing your photos or deleting photos from a particular period.
**Steps:**
1. **Open Google Photos in a Web Browser:** Go to [https://photos.google.com/](https://photos.google.com/) on your computer.
2. **Navigate to the Date Range:** Scroll through your photos until you find the starting date of the range you want to select.
3. **Select the First Photo:** Click on the first photo in the date range to select it.
4. **Scroll to the End Date:** Scroll until you find the last photo in the date range.
5. **Hold Shift and Click the Last Photo:** Hold down the Shift key and click on the last photo in the date range. This will select all photos between the first and last selected photos.
**Pros:**
* Useful for selecting photos within specific date ranges.
* Simple to use.
**Cons:**
* Not a true “Select All” method.
* Can be time-consuming for large date ranges.
## After Selecting All Photos: What Can You Do?
Once you have successfully selected all your photos in Google Photos, you can perform various actions, depending on your goal:
* **Download:** Click the download icon (usually a downward-pointing arrow) to download all selected photos to your computer. This will download them as a ZIP file.
* **Delete:** Click the trash can icon to delete all selected photos. Be extremely careful when using this option, as deleted photos are permanently removed from your Google Photos library (after they’ve been in the trash for 60 days).
* **Add to Album:** Click the “Add to album” icon to add all selected photos to an existing or new album.
* **Archive:** Click the “Archive” icon to move all selected photos to your archive. This removes them from the main Photos view but keeps them stored in your Google Photos library.
* **Share:** Click the “Share” icon to share all selected photos with others via a link or social media.
* **Create:** This option allows you to create movies, animations, collages, or other creative projects using the selected photos.
## Troubleshooting
Here are some common issues you might encounter when trying to select all photos in Google Photos and how to troubleshoot them:
* **Browser Freezes or Crashes:** If your browser freezes or crashes, it’s likely due to trying to load too many photos at once. Try reducing the number of photos loaded by scrolling in smaller increments or closing other browser tabs and applications.
* **Script Doesn’t Work:** If the JavaScript code doesn’t work, make sure you’ve pasted it correctly into the browser console and that you’re using a compatible browser. Also, check if Google Photos has been updated recently, as this might require the script to be adjusted.
* **Photos Are Not Selected:** If photos are not being selected, double-check that you’re following the steps correctly and that you have a stable internet connection.
* **Download Fails:** If the download fails, try downloading in smaller batches or using a different browser. Also, make sure you have enough storage space on your computer.
* **Google Takeout Takes Too Long:** The time it takes to create a Google Takeout archive depends on the size of your Google Photos library. Be patient and let the process complete. If it’s taking excessively long, try downloading during off-peak hours.
## Conclusion
While Google Photos doesn’t offer a dedicated “Select All” button, the methods described in this guide provide effective workarounds for selecting all your photos. The scroll-and-shift method is the simplest but most time-consuming. The JavaScript method is faster but requires some technical knowledge. Google Takeout is the recommended method for downloading all your photos. And third-party apps/extensions should be used with caution. Choose the method that best suits your needs and technical expertise, and remember to back up your photos regularly to protect your precious memories. By following these instructions, you’ll be well-equipped to manage your Google Photos library efficiently and effectively. Good luck!