Google Photos Partner Sharing is less of a snitch now
Illustration: The Verge
Google has placed some new limitations on a Google Photos feature that allows users to automatically share images and videos in their library with a partner. The update to Partner Sharing now means that users can only share photos or videos that were taken using their device’s default camera app, meaning partners are unable to see screenshots or images shared on services like WhatsApp.
Some Reddit users who utilize Partner Sharing initially reported the issue as a bug, but several comments made by a presumed Google employee say the change was intentionally made “to better align with most users’ expectations.” This is backed up by an updated Partner Sharing help article that says “photos from other apps on Android aren’t shared with your partner account.”
The change may have been made to help prevent situations like partners seeing screenshots of gifts or other things they wanted to keep secret, but Google hasn’t otherwise explained what user expectations it’s trying to appease.
This adjustment to the Partner Sharing feature appears to have rolled out in late October, and there’s no option within the Photos app to get rid of the new restrictions. According to Android Police, users can force screenshots, downloads, and images shot on third-party apps to appear by editing them in the Photos app, but there’s seemingly no way to work around the issue at scale.
Illustration: The Verge
Google has placed some new limitations on a Google Photos feature that allows users to automatically share images and videos in their library with a partner. The update to Partner Sharing now means that users can only share photos or videos that were taken using their device’s default camera app, meaning partners are unable to see screenshots or images shared on services like WhatsApp.
Some Reddit users who utilize Partner Sharing initially reported the issue as a bug, but several comments made by a presumed Google employee say the change was intentionally made “to better align with most users’ expectations.” This is backed up by an updated Partner Sharing help article that says “photos from other apps on Android aren’t shared with your partner account.”
The change may have been made to help prevent situations like partners seeing screenshots of gifts or other things they wanted to keep secret, but Google hasn’t otherwise explained what user expectations it’s trying to appease.
This adjustment to the Partner Sharing feature appears to have rolled out in late October, and there’s no option within the Photos app to get rid of the new restrictions. According to Android Police, users can force screenshots, downloads, and images shot on third-party apps to appear by editing them in the Photos app, but there’s seemingly no way to work around the issue at scale.