Apple has released a new tool that allows users to transfer copies of their photos from iCloud to another service, with Google Photos being the first integration.
As the company mentioned in a new support document, there is a new “Transfer a copy of your data” option on Apple’s privacy website that can be used to transfer media content from iCloud to Google Photos.
The process does not delete any content from iCloud, but transfers a copy of a user’s photos and videos to Google Photos. This could make the tool useful for both service transfer and backup purposes.
However, only the most recent edition of a photo is transferred and duplicates will appear as unique content. Smart albums, live photos, photo playback content, and other formats are not currently supported. Videos are transferred separately, while photos are likely to be transferred together to their own albums.
Users will need two-factor authentication to block their Apple ID and a Google Photos account with enough storage space for their iCloud content. The transfer lasts between three and seven days.
The service is available in Australia, Canada, the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, the UK and the US at launch. The online service can be accessed on Apple’s privacy website.