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How do I migrate my photos and videos out of Google Photos?

How do I migrate my photos and videos out of Google Photos?

Over the last few years, major cloud service providers have all phased out unlimited storage, including the three licensed by UMBC: Google, Box, and Microsoft. UMBC has implemented storage quotas due to unlimited storage going away, as have universities across the country. Google Photos licenses are not being given to new UMBC users, and for those who do still have Google Photos, Google Photos for UMBC accounts is being removed, but we are committed to providing you with the tools to transition your photos and videos. UMBC accounts that have content in Google Photos were sent notifications in January 2025 regarding the removal of the service.

Here are 4 easy steps to help you move your photos and videos: 

  1. Click here to see photos and videos that you have stored in your UMBC Google Photos account: http://photos.google.com

If you can’t access Google Photos on your UMBC account, no worries, this means you don’t have a Google Photos license, and this doesn’t apply to you.

  1. Copy the photos and videos you would like to keep using Google Takeout to your preferred method of storage, such as a device or personal Gmail account. Google Takeout allows you to download all of your photos and upload them elsewhere without going through every item. Learn how to use the tool here: How do I use Google Takeout? 

  2. Once the photos are safely transferred to your preferred storage, empty your Google Photos’ Trash. 

  3. Review the amount of storage you have available on Google Drive here. 

 

Please see the DoIT website on Cloud Storage Quotas for additional information and frequently asked questions.

If you have questions not answered by these FAQs, click here to submit a support request.