How do I transfer my photos from Google to Photos App?

Question

Level 1

8 points

How do I transfer my photos from Google to Photos App?

I am being forced to turn on 2 factor id. with Apple b/c they won't let me transfer photos directly from Google to icloud.

I had a Samsung phone (broken, wiped), which had photos which I was able to manually transfer to photos app in my macboook pro, but had not done this before the phone broke!!

This raises other issues like how in heck could I enable 2 factor when I no longer have a mobile phone...could I just change my phone assoc. w. apple id on website,THEN go to 2 factor? Anyways, the main deal is getting my photos from GOogle into my photos app via transfer, but Apple puts up a wall refusing my doing so w.o 2 stage (I am trying to get a series of 10gb files of photos from google-but have no idea if it'll be in boolean JSON and how to extract the photos when they are ONLY sent to me in email format!!!

I called support to make sure I would have 2 wks to turn it off, once I set the download up....but one tech said they thought disable was wholly unavailable anymore...another said it's just "some button" to turn off the set up (within 2 wks!), but they didnt send pics or instructions....

BTW, if you google search, you can find an Apple para. which reads to link "how to turn off w.in two weeks" but when you go to the "knowledge base" article, there is not a pic. or confirm/deny on EXACTLY how to reverse...it's all a sphiel on setting it up!

Can anyone link a complete, current set of directions and maybe even pics of what to do before two weeks, if in fact people newly enrolling are still allowed to do that?!

I'd hate to be fooled again!

[Re-Titled By Moderator]

MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 11.7

Posted on Aug 24, 2024 6:18 PM

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Answer 1

tygb

Level 9

64,748 points

Aug 25, 2024 12:28 AM in response to JIH69

You can change trusted number from Mac system preferences see the article Add or remove trusted devices on Mac - Apple Support

If you are using Apple ID created with secondary authentication and in your Mac you enter in the location system preferences , click on iCloud it will prompt to enter Apple ID and password , under security section you turn on 2FA .

An immediate mail will be received in your IMAP account , and you disable the 2FA within the time period of 14 days or immediately .

Again in system preferences - iCloud under keychain an error will be shown waiting for approval from other device having an exclamation mark .

And if you want to remove this error and again set up the iCloud Keychain and then plan to use your old secondary authentication Apple ID , see these steps .

( a ) Use an I phone and sign in with same Apple ID and password that is used in your Mac .

( b ) In your I phone go to settings - iCloud - open keychain - click on advanced two options will be shown .

Reset code and reset iCloud Keychain , so click on reset iCloud Keychain .

( c ) A verification code will appear on your mobile number through sms and it will prompt to generate a code , you have to think any desired number and fill up in the field , so keychain will set up in iPhone write down this code in a safe place .

( d ) Now come to your Mac and open system preferences , click on iCloud the box of keychain is unchecked , so tap the keychain box , it will show waiting for approval click on option button it will prompt to register with passcode enter the passcode that you generated in your iPhone and click on confirm .

( e ) Again in your iPhone device a pop up will appear showing approve or deny for your name and your Mac name say Mac book air or what ever Mac you are using and stating allow to approve for keychain , so click on allow .

( f ) So the waiting for approval from other device will be vanished .

( g ) In your Mac again click on option button in front of keychain , it will prompt to enter your trusted number an sms will come to your mobile having a verification code in it , so enter it your trusted mobile will be saved and visible .

Now , your iCloud keychain is set up from the server end and the Apple ID you are using is set with secondary authentication ( in which questions and answers for Apple ID are created ) and your 2FA is turned off .

Note : Suppose you have not followed this method for removing an error waiting for approval from other device and you think that erasing the hard drive and reinstalling the os or performing an archive installation , it will not help as this is the issue of iCloud Keychain from server end and not from your hardware of Mac .

You can download google photos by signing in with gmail address and its password from Mac web https://support.google.com/photos/answer/7652919?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop&oco=0

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Answer 2

muguy

Level 10

82,477 points

Aug 24, 2024 8:39 PM in response to JIH69

Newer Apple IDs have two-factor on by default and cannot turn it off.

If you have an older Apple ID, without 2FA, you can enable it and then have up to 2 weeks to turn it off.

Of course, 2FA is a means to better secure your account and some Apple services require it to function.

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Answer 3

JIH69 Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 25, 2024 3:28 AM in response to JIH69

Wow...I have found this very difficult info to process-and anything involving keychains to be confounding, just on a Macbook alone!

1) I tried doing a Google takeout of the data, which it sent (I limited it to photos to export from Google to my email), and of course in attempting to open it and miraculously see any useful result, aka actual photos (or any archive utility suggestion on how to find the files=ALL IT DOES IS PRODUCE A MULTI SCREEN VIEW OF PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE! AKA BOOLEAN OR WHATEVER THAT GOOBLETY GOO COMPUTER WRITING IS). I find this embarassingly useless, even though I am a 30 year macbook owner.

2) Whatever you wrote (equally hard to figure out):

a. What is this 2F abbreviation you're using-does it mean if I change my phone number, it'll take 14 days to go through before I can use 2 factor

b. If I go to the icloud site under 'personal info'...if I put in a different phone #, does this mean I have to wait 14 days to have it valid?

b1. My phone broke, so I don't get text except on a Samsung watch...my email shows on the 3 Macbook Pros and one Macbook air in my house. Will 2 factor be unable to be used on a Macbook if I change my phone # to my Verizon landline, i.e does NOT have v.m OR any visual link to my home computers?

b2: Being that I RESENT using 2 factor, I got a Apple support specialist to confirm I have TWO WEEKS to rescind/cancel the 2 factor the FIRST TIME I enroll into it (I made them send me the page from the knowledge base which has a hidden para on how to do this-since I don't trust community boards!), it seems a big waste of time-and obviously, google sent me the zip "takeouts" via gmail link, so they don't have the stipulation to do 2 factor! I AM USING 3 MACBOOKS, THE OLDEST A MID 2010 MACBOOK PRO RUNNING 10.13.6 (the newest being a 2019 Macbook Pro running beta 15.0)........I am ASKING YOU or anyone...will turning on 2 factor somehow cripple my oldest unit (up til now, I was satisfied WRITING my security prompts weekly (even though it "for security reasons") seemed to come up weekly and automatically on ALL devices=5!!)?????

The background for my obstinacy r.e 2 fold is from the past decade, when I first tried putting on 2 factor-it basically rendered my hockey puck Apple TV useless, b/c it took too long to type in my name/pw, and the Apple server had a cutoff time of 30 seconds before it wouldn't take it!

C. BONUS: so since I have those zip files in my macs (which contrary to Apple instructions do NOT give addt'l suggestions on how to open them in PLAIN ENGLISH, (which I am losing ability on here, lol)..anyone care to tell me how to find the PHOTOS within them, instead of just the gibberish it shows in columns with programming language....I can't find any salient info on the web search about expanding...except of course, some seller of a "free" software tool (inevitably hooking/duping user into buying full ver., which they don't say...OR some other gibberish re. using Thunderbird for some agency long since shuttered, to extract their business files!),

D. sign in via 2 factor, but my credit card in icloud personal info-billing isn't current...will changing that take 14 days to be "accepted"?!

This is a technical soap opera in multiple parts...of course, I'm going to try to just download all photos by clicking individual ones from the PHOTOS gallery-but am doubtful..though it has worked in the past..

Pls. reply using the question alpha-numeral for any of em' (or all)!

Technically Speaking Jack-S%$#

[Edited by Moderator]

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Answer 4

JIH69 Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 25, 2024 4:32 AM in response to muguy

Umm...what is the meaning of "old" here in terms of apple id being 2 factor dropable per 2 wks after initialization-mine has been in use since 2022 without pausing?

I suppose I should ask ahead (seriously considering an Apple 16pro phone)...exactly what newer devices "come with 2f". My newest Macbook is a 2019 running ver 15 beta...and I have a new ipad 10 gen=none of these 'newer' devices require me to have 2 factor?

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