Google Announces Closure Of Its Album Archive Service From Next Month, Check Details

New Delhi: Google has officially announced that its Album Archive service will no longer be available after July 19, 2023. The company is sending out emails to affected users, urging them to take necessary steps before the deadline. Album Archive stored images and videos from various Google services, providing users with a unified platform to access their photos across devices. This article discusses the details of the closure and highlights the steps users can take to safeguard their data.

Importance of Using Takeout:
Google has advised users to utilize Takeout, a data export service, to download any important items from Album Archive before the shutdown date. By doing so, users can preserve their photos and videos that were exclusively available in Album Archive. This includes background images uploaded via the Gmail theme picker before 2018 and Google Hangouts data stored within the Album Archive. Additionally, thumbnail photos, album comments, and likes saved within the archive will also be deleted.

Email Notifications and Website Banner:
Google has started sending emails to users informing them about the impending closure of Album Archive. Those who haven't received the email can visit the Album Archive page while signed in to their Google account. They will notice a banner at the top of the page, providing information about the deletion of content after July 19, 2023. It is crucial for users to act promptly to safeguard their data.

Using Takeout to Download Data:
To retain their old photos and videos from Google services, users can access the Album Archive page and utilize Takeout. This service allows users to generate a link to download their data or transfer it to online storage platforms like Google Drive, Box, OneDrive, or Dropbox. However, it's important to note that the links to download data from Takeout will expire after a week. Additionally, Google Workspace users will require their administrator's permission to download photos/videos via Takeout.

Content Management Beyond Closure:
After July 19, users will no longer be able to access their content on Album Archive. However, Google provides alternative platforms for managing specific types of content. Users can utilize Blogger for image content management, Hangouts (Chat) for attachments, Google Photos for photo albums, and their default Google Account for current and past profile photos. This ensures that users can continue to view and manage their content effectively.

Dropbox Integration Update:
In a separate development, Dropbox has informed its users via email about changes to its integration with Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides. The native integration with Google files in Dropbox will be discontinued, and users are advised to move their Google files to Google Drive within a month to avoid automatic conversion into Microsoft files.