Google's shutting down Album Archive — Here's how to back up your photos

Google is discontinuing its Album Archive service, prompting users to back up their photos and videos. The closure will take effect on July 19, 2023, leading to the permanent deletion of certain content.

Google provides alternative ways to manage content.

Google has announced that it will be discontinuing its Album Archive service, a platform that has long been used to access and manage images and videos shared across older Google services. The closure, set to take effect on July 19 is not just marking the end of an era but is also prompting users to take prompt action to safeguard their data.

The closure of Album Archive

Album Archive, the gallery of images or videos shared on older Google platforms, is being phased out. This move means that specific content, such as Google Hangouts data, background images uploaded before 2018, thumbnail photos, album comments, and likes, will be permanently deleted starting July 19. The service's imminent closure has led to a flurry of emails to users, warning them about the forthcoming changes.

There seems to be a minor discrepancy between the information in the emails and the data on the support page about access to the data after July 19.

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Backing up your photos

To prevent any loss of precious memories and valuable files, Google advises users to use Google Takeout. Google Takeout is a handy tool that allows users to download a copy of their Album Archive data or transfer it to cloud storage services like Google Drive, IDrive, OneDrive, or Dropbox. The Takeout download link, once generated, is valid for seven days.

Although the support page hints that some data might remain accessible via other Google services, users are strongly encouraged to back up all their content. This step is especially crucial for content that is exclusively available in Album Archive, such as specific Google Hangouts data and pre-2018 Gmail theme picker background images.

Managing your content after Album Archive closure

Following the shutdown of Album Archive, Google provides alternative ways to manage content. Users can access and manage their content through other Google products such as Blogger, Google Account, Google Photos, and Hangouts. Attachments previously available in Album Archive can now be found in Google Chat, as Hangouts transitions.

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