Google Photos Archiver
Updated Instructions 8/9/2021 Version 2.0.6
Instructions:
- Download the script (exe or python script listed below)
- Follow the instructions in the Google Slides Presentation
- Reference the command guide below to learn the different commands available to you.
If you need assistance or want to report an issue fill out an Issue Report or email me nick (at) ndawson.me
Downloads
Windows 10 (64-bit) Executable
If you are unfamiliar with python or computers in general I recommend you download the Win10 64bit Executable as it will not require any special installation.
Python Script
If you are familiar with python, just download the source code
Install pipenv pip install pipenv
Install dependencies using pipenv pipenv install
Commands
This guide assumes you have downloaded Google API Credentials and have them saved in some location on your computer, if you have no idea what this is please follow the Google Slides Presentation
Usage:
usage: gparch_cli.py [-h] [-c CREDENTIALS] [-t THREADS] [-a] [-s] [-f] [directory]
- If no directory arg is provided the program will default to the current working directory.
- If no credentials are provided the program will search for 'credentials.json' in the directory.
- If no download options are provided, the program will download everything.
- The program automatically skips downloading existing files so running the program with any download option after downloading items already will update everything without re-downloading or deleting existing media. It will only ensure everything is downloaded from Google Photos.
positional arguments:
directory directory where your photo library is saved
optional arguments:
-h, --help show this help message and exit
-c CREDENTIALS, --credentials CREDENTIALS
path to Google Cloud OAuth2 Credentials (default: {CURRENT_DIR}/credentials.json)
-t THREADS, --threads THREADS
amount of threads to use when downloading media items (default: 8)
-d, --debug enables debugging mode
-a, --albums download all albums YOU have created
-s, --shared download all shared albums (with you/from you)
-f, --favorites download all media from your library that is marked as favorite
Important Note:
In the following examples I will be using gparch_cli
to run the program for readability. I am listing below all the different ways you may have to run the program to get it to work on your system.
Executable (in the same directory or in PATH)
Command Prompt: gparch_cli
PowerShell: ./gparch_cli
Python Script (in the same directory or in PATH)
Windows: py gparch_cli.py
Linux/Mac: python3 gpararch_cli.py
Examples
Get Help gparch_cli --help
Download everything from your library in the current directory with the credentials file in the current directory named credentials.json
gparch_cli
Download everything from your library to a specific directory gparch_cli example_directory/google_photos_folder
Download everything from your library to a specific directory and specify where your credentials file is gparch_cli example_directory/google_photos_folder -c example_directory/creds.json
Download just your albums gparch_cli -a
Download just your shared albums gparch_cli -s
Download just your favorited items gparch_cli -f
Specify the amount of threads you want to download with to be 12: gparch_cli -t 12
You can combine any of the following commands to do what you specifically want.
- If no directory arg is provided the program will default to the current working directory.
- If no credentials are provided the program will search for 'credentials.json' in the directory.
- If no download options are provided, the program will download everything.
- The program automatically skips downloading existing files so running the program with any download option after downloading items already will update everything without re-downloading or deleting existing media. It will only ensure everything is downloaded from Google Photos.