How to Connect Google Photos and Create a Gallery

Imagely’s Google Photos integration lets you import photos directly from your Google Photos library into any NextGEN Gallery. Once connected, you choose images through Google’s own secure photo picker; no files to download manually. Images are saved to your WordPress media and appear in your gallery automatically.

Step 1: Enable the Google Photos Feature

Before connecting your account, make sure the Google Photos feature is active.

Go to Imagely → Features in your WordPress admin sidebar.

Scroll down until you see the Google Photos card. If the button reads Activate, click it to enable the feature. If it already reads Deactivate (as shown above), the feature is already on; proceed to Step 2.

Step 2: Connect Your Google Account

Navigate to Imagely → Settings → Integrations.

In the Google Photos section, click Connect. You will be redirected to Google’s sign-in and consent screen. Choose the Google account whose photos you want to access and grant the requested permissions.

After approving, you are returned to the Integrations page automatically. The section will now show your connected account’s email address and a Disconnect button.

Tip: You can connect up to 3 different Google accounts; useful if you manage galleries for multiple photographers. Each account occupies one slot.

Step 3: Create a New Google Photos Gallery

Go to Imagely → Galleries and click Add Gallery (or use the + button).

In the Add Gallery dialog, enter a name for your new gallery, then click the Google Photos tile as your image source.

Step 4: Configure the Google Photos Source

After selecting Google Photos, the gallery’s “Images” tab will open with the “Google Photos Settings” tab.

Click Google Photos Account to choose which connected account to pull images from. If you only have one account connected, it is selected automatically.

Step 5: Pick Your Photos

Once the gallery is configured, click Add Images to open Google Photos’ built-in photo picker.

The picker opens in a popup and displays your Google Photos library. Select the photos or albums you want to import, then click Done. Imagely downloads the selected images to your server and adds them to the gallery automatically.

Note: Each import creates a local copy of the photo. Changes you make to the original in Google Photos are not synced automatically; re-import the image to refresh it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Google accounts can I connect?
Up to 3 accounts simultaneously. Each account is managed independently from the Integrations settings page.

Are my Google credentials stored in WordPress?
No. Authentication uses OAuth 2.0 via a secure Google Cloud intermediary. Only an encrypted access token is stored; your Google password is never transmitted to or stored by Imagely.

What image formats are supported?
JPEG, PNG, GIF, and WebP. HEIC/HEIF files from iPhone are automatically converted by Google Photos before download as JPEG.

Can I use the same Google Photos gallery in multiple NextGEN galleries?
Yes. You can import the same photos into as many galleries as you like.

What happens if I disconnect my Google account?
Already-imported images remain in your gallery. Future imports from that account will not work until you reconnect.