Photos Library API

  • The Google Photos Library API allows developers to manage photos, videos, and albums programmatically using REST resources.

  • Developers can create, update, and delete albums; add and remove media items; and share albums with others using specific endpoints.

  • Media items can be created, retrieved, updated, searched, and listed using the API, enabling comprehensive media management functionalities.

  • Shared albums can be retrieved, joined, and left using designated endpoints, providing functionalities for collaborative photo sharing experiences.

  • All API requests are relative to the base service endpoint: https://photoslibrary.googleapis.com.

Manage photos, videos, and albums in Google Photos

Service: photoslibrary.googleapis.com

Service endpoint

A service endpoint is a base URL that specifies the network address of an API service. One service might have multiple service endpoints. This service has the following service endpoint and all URIs below are relative to this service endpoint:

  • https://photoslibrary.googleapis.com

REST Resource: v1.albums

Methods
addEnrichment POST /v1/albums/{albumId}:addEnrichment
Adds an enrichment at a specified position in a defined album.
batchAddMediaItems POST /v1/albums/{albumId}:batchAddMediaItems
Adds one or more media items in a user's Google Photos library to an album.
batchRemoveMediaItems POST /v1/albums/{albumId}:batchRemoveMediaItems
Removes one or more media items from a specified album.
create POST /v1/albums
Creates an album in a user's Google Photos library.
get GET /v1/albums/{albumId}
Returns the album based on the specified albumId.
list GET /v1/albums
Lists all albums shown to a user in the Albums tab of the Google Photos app.
patch PATCH /v1/albums/{album.id}
Update the album with the specified id.
share POST /v1/albums/{albumId}:share
Marks an album as shared and accessible to other users.
unshare POST /v1/albums/{albumId}:unshare
Marks a previously shared album as private.

REST Resource: v1.mediaItems

Methods
batchCreate POST /v1/mediaItems:batchCreate
Creates one or more media items in a user's Google Photos library.
batchGet GET /v1/mediaItems:batchGet
Returns the list of media items for the specified media item identifiers.
get GET /v1/mediaItems/{mediaItemId}
Returns the media item for the specified media item identifier.
list GET /v1/mediaItems
List all media items from a user's Google Photos library.
patch PATCH /v1/mediaItems/{mediaItem.id}
Update the media item with the specified id.
search POST /v1/mediaItems:search
Searches for media items in a user's Google Photos library.

REST Resource: v1.sharedAlbums

Methods
get GET /v1/sharedAlbums/{shareToken}
Returns the album based on the specified shareToken.
join POST /v1/sharedAlbums:join
Joins a shared album on behalf of the Google Photos user.
leave POST /v1/sharedAlbums:leave
Leaves a previously-joined shared album on behalf of the Google Photos user.
list GET /v1/sharedAlbums
Lists all shared albums available in the Sharing tab of the user's Google Photos app.