How to Transfer Photos from Google Photos to Gallery at Once

Why You Might Want to Move Photos from Google Photos to Gallery

Many users find themselves needing to move photos from Google Photos to their device’s Gallery for various practical reasons. Here are some real user scenarios that highlight why this transfer is important:

User Cases

"I travel a lot and don’t always have internet, so I need my photos saved locally to view offline."

"I share photos on WhatsApp and Instagram, which don’t access Google Photos, so I move pics to my Gallery to share easily."

"My Google Photos storage is full, so I download key photos to my phone and delete them from the cloud to save space."

Google Photos stores images mainly in the cloud, so photos won’t appear in Gallery until downloaded locally, since Gallery only shows files saved on your device. Transferring Google Photos to Gallery offers several benefits to solve your problems in the above-mentioned situations and many more:

➤ View and share photos offline anytime.

➤ Easier sharing through apps like WhatsApp and Instagram.

➤ Compatibility with photo editing apps that require local files.

➤ Better organization with albums and folders in the Gallery.

➤ Extra backup beyond cloud storage.

How to Restore Photos from Google Photos to Gallery via Google Photos App

📱 Applicable Devices: Android & iPhone

To easily move Google Photos to Gallery, the Google Photos app offers a built-in option that works on both Android and iPhone devices. In this part, we’ll guide you through the specific steps for each system.

1. Download Photos from Google Photos to Gallery on Android

If you're looking for a simple way to move photos from Google to Gallery, the Google Photos app offers a convenient solution on Android devices like Samsung, Xiaomi, OnePlus, Google Pixel, and OPPO. It allows you to transfer selected images directly to your phone’s internal storage, giving you offline access and making the photos compatible with other apps for editing or sharing. This approach is especially helpful when you only need to move a few photos or specific items, and it suits users who like to manage and organize their images within the native Gallery app.

That said, it does come with a few limitations. You can only select individual photos—entire albums can't be downloaded in one go—and transferring large batches manually can be time-consuming. Still, despite these minor drawbacks, this remains one of the most reliable and user-friendly methods to move Google Photos to Gallery on Android.

🔍 Let’s dive into a simple tutorial on how to download photos from Google Photos to your Android Gallery:

Step 1. Unlock your Android phone and open the Google Photos app from your app drawer or home screen.

Step 2. Navigate to the photo(s) you want to download. To select multiple photos, press and hold on one photo until a checkmark appears, then tap additional photos to select them.

Step 3. Once photos are selected, tap the three vertical dots icon in the top-right corner of the screen.

Step 4. In the dropdown menu, tap Download. (If you don’t see this option, it means the selected photos are already saved locally.)

Step 5. After the download finishes, open the Gallery app on your phone, then check the Downloads folder or the Google Photos folder to find the saved images.

2. Save Photos from Google Photos to Gallery on iPhone

Want to save images from Google in Gallery on your iPhone? It’s easier than you might think and works well if you prefer keeping everything within Apple’s ecosystem. Just make sure Google Photos has permission to access your photo library—otherwise, the "Save to Device" option won’t show up.

Once saved, your photos will appear in the Photos app and sync automatically with iCloud if it’s turned on, giving you access across all your Apple devices. This method is especially useful if you like using features like Live Photos, AirDrop, or creating Memories, which only work with images stored locally. 

🔍 Let’s look at how to get Google Photos in Gallery on your iPhone:

Step 1. Open the Google Photos app on your iPhone. If you don’t have it yet, download it from the App Store.

Step 2. Find the photo(s) you want to save.

– To save one photo: tap the photo to open it.

– To save multiple photos: tap and hold one photo until checkmarks appear, then tap others to select more.

Step 3. Tap the share icon (a square with an upward arrow) at the bottom left corner of the screen.

Step 4. In the share sheet, tap "Save to device" or "Save Image". – If you don’t see this option, go to Settings > Google Photos > Photos, and set access to "All Photos".

Step 5. Open the Photos app (your iPhone’s default Gallery) and go to the Recents album. Your saved images will be there.

How to Restore Google Photos to Gallery via Google Takeout

💻 Applicable Devices: Windows and macOS

Need a reliable way to get photos from Google Photos to Gallery all at once? Google Takeout gives you the option to export your entire photo library in one download. It includes albums, original-quality images, and even video files, making it ideal when switching phones or creating a full offline backup.

Unlike basic downloads, this method helps keep your media organized and intact. You can select exactly what to export and manage everything in one package. Whether you're moving to a new device or backing up your content, Google Takeout offers a complete and efficient solution to get photos from Google Photos to the Gallery with ease and full control.

🔍 Here’s a quick tutorial on how to download Google Photos to Gallery using Google Takeout: 

Step 1. Visit Google Takeout and sign in to your Google account.

Step 2. On the "Create a new export" page, click "Deselect all", then scroll down and check only "Google Photos".

Step 3. Scroll to the bottom and click "Next step". Choose export frequency, file type (.zip), and file size limit (e.g., 2GB or 4GB). Then click "Create export."

Step 4. Wait for the export to complete. You’ll receive an email with a download link. Click it and download the ZIP file to your computer.

Step 5. Extract the ZIP file, connect your phone to your computer, and copy the photo folders into your phone’s internal storage. The images will appear in your phone’s Gallery automatically.

How to Save Google Photos to Gallery via Google Drive App

📱 Applicable Devices: Android & iPhone

Now that you know how to download photos directly, another easy way to download photos from Google Photos to phone gallery is by using Google Drive as a bridge. By moving your photos to Google Drive, you make them accessible on any device linked to your Drive account. This allows you to organize your pictures more easily before saving them directly to your phone’s storage.

Google Drive works well with both Android and iPhone, making it quick and simple to get your photos into your Gallery. Just keep in mind that you might need to set up syncing between Google Photos and Google Drive first, and sometimes changes take a little time to appear. Overall, this method gives you more control and flexibility when moving your photos.

🔍 Here's a simple guide on how to import photos from Google Photos to Gallery using Google Drive as a bridge:

Step 1. Open Google Photos on your phone or computer and select the photos you want to move. Tap the three-dot menu, then choose "Download" to save them to your device (on desktop) or Files app (on mobile).

Step 2. Open the Google Drive website or app, sign in, and upload the downloaded photos to a specific folder in your Drive account.

Step 3. On your phone, open the Google Drive app and navigate to the folder where you uploaded the photos.

Step 4. Tap the three-dot icon next to each photo (or long-press to select multiple), then choose "Download" to save them to your phone.

Step 5. Once downloaded, the photos will be stored in your phone’s internal storage and will appear in the Gallery app automatically.

How to Transfer Google Drive Photos to Gallery Using Cloud Manager

💻 Applicable Devices: Windows

Just like mentioned in the other solutions, it’s often troublesome to download photos from Google Drive one by one, especially when you’re dealing with large batches. This is where a cloud manager like CBackup can help streamline the process. CBackup offers a quick and easy way to transfer Google Drive photos to your phone’s Gallery without downloading files one by one. It lets you access your Google Drive, select multiple photos, and download the pictures in bulk to your computer, saving time and effort.

With support for multiple cloud accounts, scheduled syncing, and cloud-to-cloud backup, CBackup provides great flexibility for managing your files. After downloading, you can connect your phone via USB or use apps like AirDrop or other cloud services to move the photos to your device’s local storage. Once saved locally, the photos automatically appear in your Gallery, allowing offline access and easy sharing. This method makes transferring large photo collections from Google Drive to Gallery faster and more efficient.

🔍 Here’s an easy way to save pictures from Google to Gallery using CBackup:

Step 1. Sign up or log in to your CBackup account at cbackup.com.

Step 2. In the dashboard, click "Storage" and select Google Drive, then authorize CBackup to access your Google Drive.

Step 3. After adding Google Drive, select the photos or folders you want to download, then click "Download" to save them to your computer.

Step 4. Once the photos are downloaded, connect your phone to your computer via USB.

Step 5. Copy the downloaded photos from your computer and paste them into your phone’s internal storage or SD card folder. The photos will then appear in your phone’s Gallery app.

Conclusion

Whether you're on Android, iPhone, or a computer, you have several practical options when learning how to download photos from Google Photos to phone gallery. From using the Google Photos app to relying on Google Drive or cloud managers like CBackup, each method offers its benefits depending on your needs. Some are quick and simple, while others are better suited for handling large groups of photos. No matter which one you choose, these tools make it easy to store your favorite images locally for offline use, editing, or sharing anytime you want.

Learn More About Moving Google Photos to Gallery

Curious about additional options or tips? Below, you'll find more helpful information and answers to common questions to deepen your understanding of how to move Google Photos to your phone's Gallery with ease.

1. Why is "Save to Device" Not Showing Up in Google Photos?

The "Save to device" option in Google Photos may not appear if the photo is already stored locally on your phone or if Google Photos doesn’t have permission to access your device’s storage. It can also be missing when you try to save photos from shared albums or the trash.

Here is how to fix it:

• 1. Open Settings on your phone and go to Apps > Google Photos.
• 2. Tap Permissions and ensure Storage permission is enabled.
• 3. Open the Google Photos app and select a photo that is only in the cloud (not already on the device).
• 4. Tap the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.
• 5. If the image isn’t stored locally, the "Save to device" option should now appear—tap it to download.

2. How to Save Photo from Google to Gallery on Samsung?

Saving images from Google to your Gallery on a Samsung phone is quick and easy. Whether you're using Google Photos, Google Drive, or downloading from Google Search, Samsung devices support direct downloads to the Gallery once files are saved to local storage. 

How to Save Images from Google to Gallery on Samsung:

• 1. Open the Google Photos app on your Samsung phone and sign in.
• 2. Find the photo you want to save.
• 3. Tap the three-dot menu in the top right corner of the photo.
• 4. Select "Download" or "Save to device" (this appears only if the photo isn’t already saved).
• 5. The photo will be saved to your phone’s internal storage and will be visible in the Gallery app.

3. How to Transfer Pictures from Google Photos to Gallery on iPhone?

Many iPhone users prefer having their photos stored locally for offline access or easier sharing through iOS apps. If you also want to save pictures from Google Images to Gallery on your iPhone using the Google Photos app, just follow these simple steps:

• 1. Open the Google Photos app on your iPhone and sign in.
• 2. Locate the photo you want to save.
• 3. Tap the three-dot icon in the top right corner.
• 4. Select "Download" or "Save to device" (this shows only if the photo isn't already saved).
• 5. The photo will now appear in your Photos app (Gallery) for easy access.

4. How to Get Google Photos to Gallery on Android?

Not all photos in your Google account show up in the Gallery by default, which is why knowing how to save photos from Google to Gallery on Android can be so useful. Downloading them allows offline access and easier sharing through your favorite apps. The Google Photos app makes the process simple—just follow the steps below:

• 1. Open the Google Photos app on your Android phone.
• 2. Find the photo you want to download.
• 3. Tap the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.
• 4. Select "Download" or "Save to device" (this appears only if the photo isn’t already on your phone).
• 5. Open your Gallery app to confirm the photo has been saved locally.