{
  "slug": "google-photos",
  "name": "Google Photos",
  "maker": "Google",
  "category": "files",
  "verdict": "n",
  "answer": "No. Google can see your Google Photos library. Your photos are encrypted on the way and on Google's servers, but Google holds the keys.",
  "title": "Is Google Photos encrypted? Who can see your photos",
  "description": "Google can see your Google Photos library. Photos are encrypted on the way and on Google's servers, but Google holds the keys. Checked at the source.",
  "parts": [
    {
      "key": "folder",
      "status": "n",
      "words": "Google can read it",
      "note": "Encrypted on the way and on Google's servers with keys Google holds, and the Locked Folder uses the same standard encryption.",
      "sources": [
        1,
        2,
        3
      ],
      "label": "Your photos and files"
    },
    {
      "key": "share",
      "status": "n",
      "words": "Google can read it",
      "note": "Shared albums and links are stored the same way as the rest of your library.",
      "sources": [
        1,
        3
      ],
      "label": "Shared links and albums"
    },
    {
      "key": "pq",
      "status": "x",
      "words": "Not yet",
      "note": "No post-quantum protection for stored photos announced as of 25 October 2026, though Google has added it to connections to some of its servers.",
      "sources": [
        4
      ],
      "label": "Post-quantum"
    }
  ],
  "extra_parts": [],
  "keys": "Google holds the keys to your photos and videos.",
  "can_see": "Your photos and videos themselves, your activity in the app, and the people you share with, as Google's privacy policy describes.",
  "business": null,
  "fix": null,
  "fix_line": null,
  "sections": [
    {
      "id": "is-google-photos-end-to-end-encrypted",
      "q": "Is Google Photos end-to-end encrypted?",
      "a": "No. Google says it protects your photos with encryption on the way and while they are stored on its servers [1]. That keeps strangers out, but Google holds the keys.\n\nNo end-to-end encryption for Google Photos announced as of 25 October 2026."
    },
    {
      "id": "can-google-see-my-photos",
      "q": "Can Google see my photos?",
      "a": "Yes, its systems can. Google's privacy policy says it collects the photos and videos you save, and uses automated systems that analyze your content, for example to detect spam, malware and illegal content [3].\n\nGoogle says Photos doesn't sell your photos, and doesn't use them for ads unless you choose to share data with other Google services [1]. It says face groups are visible only to you, and you can turn them off [1]."
    },
    {
      "id": "is-the-locked-folder-encrypted",
      "q": "Is the Google Photos Locked Folder encrypted?",
      "a": "Not with a key only you hold. Google says the Locked Folder is protected by Google Photos' standard encryption practices [2]. It hides photos behind your phone's screen lock, and anyone who knows that lock can open it [2].\n\nIf you turn on backup for the Locked Folder, you can open it from other devices signed in to your Google Account [2]. If you don't, the items stay only on that phone and can be lost if you uninstall the app or lose the phone [2]."
    }
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "title": "Google Photos Safety & Privacy Features (Google Safety Center)",
      "publisher": "Google",
      "url": "https://safety.google/intl/en_us/products/photos/",
      "read": "2026-10-25"
    },
    {
      "title": "Hide sensitive photos & videos in Locked Folders (Google Photos Help)",
      "publisher": "Google",
      "url": "https://support.google.com/photos/answer/10694388?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid",
      "read": "2026-10-25"
    },
    {
      "title": "Google Privacy Policy (effective 16 October 2026)",
      "publisher": "Google",
      "url": "https://policies.google.com/privacy",
      "read": "2026-10-25"
    },
    {
      "title": "PQC in Plaintext: Google Cloud's post-quantum cryptography roadmap (12 August 2026)",
      "publisher": "Google",
      "url": "https://cloud.google.com/blog/products/identity-security/pqc-in-plaintext-google-clouds-post-quantum-cryptography-roadmap",
      "read": "2026-10-25"
    }
  ],
  "changes": [
    {
      "date": "2026-10-25",
      "text": "First published."
    }
  ],
  "related": [
    "icloud",
    "google-drive",
    "onedrive",
    "dropbox"
  ],
  "url": "https://isitencrypted.com/google-photos/",
  "checked": "2026-10-25"
}