What you need to know
In a notable shift, Google Photos has updated its Partner Sharing feature, now excluding photos that originate from third-party Android applications. This change was confirmed in a recent update to a support document, which was first identified by TechIssuesToday, referencing archives from the Wayback Machine.
Partner Sharing, designed to facilitate seamless photo sharing with trusted individuals—be it family members or significant others—allows users to automatically share images based on specific criteria. For instance, users could set parameters to share photos featuring a particular person or those captured after a certain date. However, this functionality will no longer extend to unedited screenshots or images sourced from other Android apps.
Interestingly, even if users attempt to alter the photo’s origin within the Google Photos app—such as removing the “screenshot” badge—the restrictions remain in place. Conversely, edited screenshots can still be shared through Partner Sharing, maintaining some level of flexibility for users.
While the rationale behind this modification remains unclear, it may stem from a desire to enhance user privacy. Many users may prefer to share select photos while keeping their downloads, screenshots, or images from other applications private. Despite existing customization options for sharing preferences, the lack of an option to include photos from third-party apps raises questions about user autonomy in this regard.
At present, Google has not directly communicated this change to users within the Photos app. Although a new Updates page has been introduced to inform users about changes, those utilizing Partner Sharing have yet to receive any notification regarding this significant update.
