What to know
- Google has quietly modified its Partner Sharing feature, blocking screenshots and images from third-party Android apps from being shared with partner accounts.
- The change affects images from apps like Instagram and third-party camera tools, which will now only be visible to the primary account holder.
- There is currently no simple solution to bypass this restriction, leaving users frustrated with the unexpected change in functionality.
Google has recently implemented a significant change to its Photos service. It has quietly modified its Partner Sharing feature, preventing screenshots and images from third-party Android apps from being automatically shared with partner accounts.
The update was confirmed on the Google Photos Help page, and it rolled out in late October. This marks a substantial shift in how Google Photos handles shared content. The service now explicitly states that “Photos from other apps on Android aren’t shared with your partner account.” This means that if you save images from Instagram, use third-party camera apps, or take screenshots, these will no longer automatically appear in your partner’s shared library.
The change has particularly impacted users who relied on the seamless sharing functionality for their day-to-day photo-sharing needs. What’s interesting is that the restriction is based on photo metadata rather than folder location. In a peculiar twist, if users edit these restricted images – such as applying filters or adjusting colors – they suddenly become visible to partner accounts.
Google has remained notably quiet about the reasoning behind this update. A company employee simply stated that the change was made to better align with most users’ needs. However, the lack of an opt-in or opt-out option has left users confused about what exactly gets shared and what doesn’t.
For now, users will have to manually share any images from third-party apps or screenshots with their partners. While some tech-savvy users have suggested workarounds involving root access and Magisk, these solutions are too complex for the average user. As users wait for potential updates to improve the situation, they’ll need to adapt to this new reality in photo sharing.
The modification represents a significant shift in Google Photos’ functionality, forcing users to rethink how they share their digital memories with loved ones. While Google has introduced features like hiding cluttered folders in recent months, this particular change has struck a nerve with its user base, who valued the previous hassle-free sharing experience.
