Title: Google Plans to Reintroduce Popular Google Photos Feature,Sources Suggest
Google's famous photo-sharing platform, Google Photos, is set to reinstate a cherished feature after abruptly disabling it without warning last year. This decision left some users disgruntled due to the loss of effortless sharing functionality, particularly for photos and videos captured outside the Google ecosystem using external cameras or other applications.
According to recent reports, the latest version of the Google Photos Android app has integrated new coding that aims to rekindle the ability to utilize Partner Sharing for sharing photos and videos stored within third-party applications.
As per the findings of prominent app teardown specialist, Assemble Debug, a novel option, currently under development, adds a toggle switch to the app settings labeled “Include content from other Android apps.” Once enabled, users should be able to reactivate Partner Sharing to its original capabilities.
What is Partner Sharing in Google Photos?
Partner Sharing is Google Photos' potent feature that simplifies sharing photos and videos with a selected individual, typically your partner, by automatically transmitting images without any manual intervention. You may opt to share all photos or select photos based on specific individuals. Additionally, users can restrict this automatic sharing by date, avoiding unwanted old photos of ex-lovers, for instance.
How did Google Photos Revise Partner Sharing?
Towards the end of 2024, Google made a substantial change to Partner Sharing, preventing it from sharing images from “other apps” automatically. Despite Google's vague explanations of the photos affected by this shift, users have reported issues related to the lack of automatic sharing of screenshots and DJI Fly app photos.

Google claimed to turn off this feature to "better reflect most users' expectations." However, an unfortunate consequence was that several users found themselves unable to share content from third-party apps such as screenshots or video captured in camera apps with Partner Sharing. The new toggle, which will be switched off by default, should allow users to recommence sharing these types of content with their partners. By keeping the app aligned with the expectations of the majority of users, who might not want screenshots and other automated file transfers, the toggle ensures that an individual's privacy remains respected.
As is typical of these discoveries, the timing of the feature's activation and whether users will be notified remains unclear. Users who are currently inconvenienced by sharing issues with third-party apps via Partner Sharing are advised to periodically check their Partner Sharing settings for the presence of the new toggle switch.
The change is highlighted in an official Google Support forum announcement. Google proposes manual sharing as a temporary workaround, but others have observed that moving photos and videos to the locked folder and back restores their eligibility for Partner Sharing in Google Photos if they are stored within third-party applications.
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- After facing backlash for disabling the Partner Sharing feature that allowed users to share screenshots and photos from other apps like DJI Fly, Google Photos has announced an update that will reactivate the feature through a toggle switch in the app settings.
- According to Assemble Debug, the latest Google Photos Android app update includes new coding aimed at enabling Partner Sharing with third-party apps once again.
- Google Photos users can look forward to utilizing the Partner Sharing feature with their preferred apps, such as sharing screenshots, following the activation of the toggle switch in the app settings.
- In the future, Android users can expect the Partner Sharing feature to be reinstated in Google Photos, allowing seamless sharing of photos and videos captured using other apps.
- If you're having issues with Partner Sharing in Google Photos, ensure to frequently check your app settings for the new toggle switch, which will enable you to share files from third-party apps with your partner once more.