How Google Photos protects your location data
Locations are private by default. Google Photos only shares locations if you choose to include them when you create a new conversation or shared album, or when you set up partner sharing.
With Google Photos you can:
- Check which photos or videos have location info
- Edit or remove estimated locations
- Choose to include location data when sharing photos
How locations on your photos work
There are 2 ways for a photo to have location data. When you take a photo or video, the camera app may capture and save location data. Or, Google Photos will try to estimate a location based on machine learning, like landmarks detected in your photos and similarities with your other photos that have locations.
How we protect your privacy
Important: Even if you don’t include a location when you share with other people, they may be able to guess based on landmarks in your photo or video.
- Location data is never shared with advertisers.
- Other than for partner sharing, new albums, links, conversations, and other items you share do not include location details by default.
You’re in control
- You can choose to include location details for photos and videos you share with others.
- If you don’t want your device to collect location data when you take a photo, turn off location data collection through your camera app.
- You can control if Photos estimates your location.
- You can edit or remove an estimated location or add a location if it’s missing.
- Estimated locations won't be shared, even when you choose to share location details.
Related resources
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