Apple has launched a new tool that allows users to transfer copies of iCloud Photos to another service, with Google Photos being the first integration.
As the company pointed out in a new support document, there is a new option “Transfer a copy of your data” on the Apple privacy website, which can be used to transfer iCloud media content 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 edit of a photo is transferred and duplicates will appear as a single piece of content. Smart albums, live photos, photo feed content, and other formats are not currently supported. Videos are transferred separately, while photos will 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 takes between three and seven days.
The service is available in Australia, Canada, the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States at launch. The service can be accessed online on the Apple Privacy website.