Top Google+ Album Downloader Tools in 2025Note: Google+ (Google Plus) as a consumer social network was shut down in April 2019. The brand and services have changed since then; many people who used Google+ photos moved their content into Google Photos or other services. This article focuses on tools and methods in 2025 that help users export or download albums originally from Google+ (now typically stored in Google Photos or archived formats) and tools that work with account exports and photo archives.
Why “Google+ Album” still matters in 2025
Although Google+ was discontinued in 2019, many users still refer to older albums or shared collections as “Google+ albums.” Photos that were once shared on Google+ commonly reside now in Google Photos, Google Takeout archives, or in backups saved by other services. If you need to recover, download, or batch-export those albums, the tools below will help you access and download them efficiently in 2025.
What to consider when choosing a downloader
- Authorization method (OAuth with Google Photos API vs. manual archive download)
- Support for Google Takeout ZIP/TAR archives
- Batch download speed and resume capability
- Preservation of metadata (EXIF, timestamps, geolocation)
- Local folder structure and naming options
- Privacy and security practices (no password harvesting, uses OAuth)
- Cross-platform compatibility (Windows, macOS, Linux)
Recommended tools and methods
1) Google Takeout (official)
The safest and most reliable method is Google Takeout — Google’s official export tool which can create archives of your Google account data, including Google Photos.
- Pros: Official, preserves album structure and metadata, no third-party access required.
- Cons: Large archives can be bulky; requires manual extraction and selection.
How to use: Visit Google Takeout, select Google Photos, customize albums, request export, then download the ZIP/TAR files and extract.
2) Google Photos web interface (manual)
For small numbers of albums, the Google Photos web UI allows selecting photos and downloading them.
- Pros: No extra tools; straightforward for few albums.
- Cons: Time-consuming for large collections; no batch album exports beyond Takeout.
3) rclone (command-line)
rclone is a powerful, open-source command-line tool that supports Google Photos (via API) and Google Drive. It can synchronize and download large photo collections efficiently.
- Pros: Scriptable, resume support, works on Windows/macOS/Linux, preserves timestamps.
- Cons: Requires configuration (OAuth client setup recommended).
Example command to copy a remote Google Photos folder to local:
rclone copy "gphotos:albums/AlbumName" /local/path --drive-server-side-across-configs 4) gphotos-uploader-cli / gphotos-sync
Open-source tools designed to sync Google Photos albums to local storage. They use the Google Photos API and can preserve metadata and album structure.
- Pros: Made specifically for photos; can run scheduled syncs.
- Cons: Some setup required; API quotas may apply.
5) Third-party desktop apps (examples)
Several desktop apps in 2025 offer GUI-based album downloads, often acting as wrappers around official APIs or Takeout archives. When using them, prioritize apps that use OAuth and provide a privacy policy.
- Pros: Easier for non-technical users, often include resume and selection features.
- Cons: Trustworthiness varies — check reviews and privacy practices.
Privacy & safety tips
- Prefer tools that use OAuth (no password sharing).
- Use Google Takeout for the most privacy-preserving export.
- Verify third-party apps’ privacy policies and reviews before granting access.
- Keep local backups encrypted if the photos are sensitive.
Quick workflow recommendations
- For full account export: use Google Takeout.
- For ongoing syncs: use rclone or gphotos-sync with a service account/OAuth.
- For occasional album grabs: use Google Photos web UI or a trusted desktop app.
Troubleshooting common issues
- Exceeded API quota: wait or use Takeout.
- Large archives failing to download: request smaller exports or use a download manager with resume.
- Missing metadata: ensure you’re using tools that preserve EXIF and check original vs. edited photo versions.
Final note
There is no active Google+ consumer service in 2025; focus on Google Photos, Takeout, and sync tools to recover or download albums once associated with Google+. Choose official or well-reviewed open-source tools and always prioritize OAuth-based authorization for security.
Leave a Reply