How to Create a Photo Book With Google Photos

You've got a cool collection of photos. Viewing them on your computer or mobile device is fine, but sometimes you just can't beat a physical photo album to browse through when you're relaxing in the living room or sharing memories with family and friends.

Apple has offered photo prints since 2002, but will discontinue the service later this year. No worries, you can build your own photo book using Google Photos.

An album can cost anywhere from $10 to $75 based on the number of photos you select, and whether you opt for a soft or hard album cover. Just select photos from your collection, add them to a digital photo album, check out, and Google produces and mails you your photo book.

For this process, we'll assume you've already uploaded pics to Google Photos. You can create an album from a mobile device, but try it from a computer so you can better see and manage your photos.

This article originally appeared on PCMag.com.

Build a Photo Book With Google Photos

Open the Google Photos website and click on the icon for Photo books.

Use Your Photo Albums

Open the folder or album from which you want to draw your photos.

Generate Photo Book

Google Photos automatically creates your book, choosing all the photos in your selected folder or album up to 100, the maximum number allowed for a photo book.

Browse Your Photo Book

You can browse up and down through the full photo pages on the left or jump to a specific page by moving to and clicking on its thumbnail in the right pane.

Remove Photos

Now, you can remove, add, move, and modify your photos. To remove a photo, click on the X in the upper left or upper right of its page or thumbnail.

Add Photos

To add one or more photos, click on the Add Photos button at the top of the book. Select the photo or photos you want to add. Click on Done.

Move a Photo

To move a photo, drag either its page or its thumbnail to its new location.

Set Cover Photo

You can change the cover photo. To do this, hover your mouse over the cover photo and click on the Change Photo button. Select the photo you want as your new cover photo. Click on Done.

Resize a Photo

You can resize a photo to reduce or eliminate the borders. Hover over the photo you want to resize. Click on each of the three small thumbnails next to the photo to see how it looks with a large border, small border, or no border.

Reposition a Photo

If you select a smaller border or no border, you can then drag the photo to move it within the page and better frame it.

Name Your Photo Book

Finally, you can change the name of your photo book. Move to the cover photo. Click on the name on the spine or at the bottom of the photo and type the new name.

Finalize Photo Book

Now, it’s time to order and pay for your book. Click on the Cart button at the top of the page.

Select Photo Book Cover

Choose whether you want a softcover or hardcover book.

Checkout With Google Pay

Select how many books you want to order and type a personal message if you wish. Click on Checkout.

Finalize Order

Confirm the order details and the cost, and then click on Buy to purchase the book. Google will create your book and mail it to you.

About Our Expert

Lance Whitney

Contributor

My Experience

I've been working for PCMag since early 2016 writing tutorials, how-to pieces, and other articles on consumer technology. Beyond PCMag, I've written news stories and tutorials for a variety of other websites and publications, including CNET, ZDNet, TechRepublic, Macworld, PC World, Time, US News & World Report, and AARP Magazine. I spent seven years writing breaking news for CNET as one of the site’s East Coast reporters. I've also written two books for Wiley & Sons—Windows 8: Five Minutes at a Time and Teach Yourself Visually LinkedIn.

My Areas of Expertise

I've used Windows, Office, and other Microsoft products for years so I'm well versed in that world. I also know the Mac quite well. I'm always working with iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and Android on my various mobile devices. And these days, I write a lot about AI, so that's become another key area for me.

The Tech I Use

My wife always jokes about all the tech products we have around the house, but I manage to put them to good use for my articles. I like Lenovo computers, so I own a couple of Lenovo desktops and several laptops. I have three MacBooks and a Mac mini. For my mobile life and work, I use an iPhone 16 Pro, iPad Pro, and iPad mini as well as an Apple Watch. But since I write about Android, I own several Android phones and tablets. Like any tech person, I have a cabinet full of cables, wires, and assorted mysterious gadgets. And when it's time to take a break from writing, I have an old Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii, both of which I use for exercise and fitness games.

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