Migrating Photos from Google and Import Them to Nextcloud

Google Photos is a great platform for storing and organizing your pictures and videos. However, if you’re looking to move your photos and videos to another cloud service, such as Nextcloud, you can export your data from Google Photos using Google Takeout and then organize and prepare your files for easy management with the Memories app in Nextcloud.

In this article, we will guide you through the process of exporting Google Photos and preparing the file structure for Nextcloud using a shell script. This script will automatically organize your media files by year and month, based on their EXIF metadata, which is how the Memories app in Nextcloud organizes photos.

Additionally, we’ll explain how photos from your smartphone can be automatically uploaded to Nextcloud using the Nextcloud mobile app, ensuring a seamless process for backing up your media.

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Steps to Export Google Photos via Google Takeout

1. Export Google Photos Data with Google Takeout

To export your Google Photos, follow these steps:

1. Go to Google Takeout:
   • Visit Google Takeout in your browser.
2. Select Google Photos:
   • Scroll down and select Google Photos. You can select all albums or specific ones you want to export.
3. Choose Export Settings:
   • Choose the file type and size for the export. Google Takeout will create a compressed .zip or .tgz file, which can be quite large depending on the volume of your photos and videos.
4. Start the Export:
   • Click on the Next Step button and then click on Create Export. Google will prepare your files, which can take some time depending on the volume of media. Once ready, you will receive an email with a link to download your exported files.
5. Download the Export:
   • Download the exported files from the link provided by Google. After the download completes, you’ll have a folder containing your photos and videos, typically in a zip archive.

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2. Preparing Files for Nextcloud with the Memories App

Once you have your Google Photos exported, the next step is to organize your files for Nextcloud and ensure they are properly managed using the Memories app.

The Memories app in Nextcloud organizes photos into albums based on date and time. The script below will help you organize the files into folders based on the year and month derived from the EXIF metadata of your media files.

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3. The Script: Organizing Your Photos

The following script processes your photos and videos by extracting their EXIF metadata (date and time) to categorize them into appropriate directories in your Nextcloud folder. This organization is required for proper handling in the Memories app.

Here is the script:

#!/bin/bash

# Directory where the photos are stored (Google Takeout export folder)
SOURCE_DIR="Google Fotos"

# Directory where the photos will be moved (Nextcloud storage folder)
DEST_DIR="nextcloud"

# Recursively search for media files (images and videos)
find "$SOURCE_DIR" -type f \( -iname "*.jpg" -o -iname "*.jpeg" -o -iname "*.png" -o -iname "*.mp4" -o -iname "*.mp" -o -iname "*.mov" -o -iname "*.avi" \) | while read FILE; do
    # Extract EXIF data (Year and Month)
    YEAR=$(exiftool -DateTimeOriginal -d "%Y" "$FILE" | awk -F': ' '{print $2}')
    if [ -z "$YEAR" ]; then
        YEAR=$(exiftool -CreateDate -d "%Y" "$FILE" | awk -F': ' '{print $2}')
    fi

    MONTH=$(exiftool -DateTimeOriginal -d "%m" "$FILE" | awk -F': ' '{print $2}')
    if [ -z "$MONTH" ]; then
        MONTH=$(exiftool -CreateDate -d "%m" "$FILE" | awk -F': ' '{print $2}')
    fi
    
    # If no EXIF data is available, use the current year and month
    if [ -z "$YEAR" ]; then
        YEAR="9999"
    fi
    if [ -z "$MONTH" ]; then
        MONTH="99"
    fi
    
    # Create the destination directory structure: /nextcloud/YEAR/MONTH
    DEST="$DEST_DIR/$YEAR/$MONTH"
    mkdir -p "$DEST"
    
    # Extract filename and set the destination path
    FILENAME=$(basename "$FILE")
    DEST_FILE="$DEST/$FILENAME"
    
    # Move the file to the new destination
    # Uncomment the line below to move the file instead of copying
    #mv "$FILE" "$DEST_FILE"
    cp "$FILE" "$DEST_FILE"
    echo "Copying $FILE to $DEST_FILE"
done

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4. How the Script Works

• SOURCE_DIR: Set this variable to the directory where you stored your exported Google Photos data (the folder you downloaded from Google Takeout).
• DEST_DIR: This is the directory where the files will be moved or copied in Nextcloud.

The script does the following:

1. Searches for media files such as .jpg, .jpeg, .png, .mp4, .mov, and other common formats.
2. Extracts the year and month from the EXIF metadata of each file. If the metadata is missing, it falls back to the year 9999 and month 99 to be easily identified in the file manager.
3. Creates directories in the format /nextcloud/YEAR/MONTH to organize the files.
4. Copies the files into the correct directory. If you want to move the files (instead of copying them), uncomment the line mv "$FILE" "$DEST_FILE".

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5. Using the Organized Files in Nextcloud with Memories App

Once the photos and videos are organized in the Nextcloud directory, you can use the Memories app in Nextcloud to automatically detect and manage your media files. Here’s how to integrate the files with the Memories app:

1. Install the Memories app in Nextcloud:
   • In your Nextcloud instance, go to Apps and search for Memories. Install it if you haven’t already.
2. Upload the Files:
   • Upload the organized files into your Nextcloud instance under the folder where you placed your organized photos and videos.
3. Enjoy the Memories App:
   • Once uploaded, the Memories app will automatically categorize and display your media based on date and time. The app organizes your photos into albums based on the EXIF metadata, so you can easily browse your photos by year and month.

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6. Automatic Upload from Smartphone to Nextcloud

For those who want to continue using Nextcloud for backing up their photos directly from their smartphones, the Nextcloud mobile app is a perfect solution. The app allows you to automatically upload photos and videos to your Nextcloud server as soon as they’re taken on your smartphone.

Steps to Enable Automatic Upload in the Nextcloud Mobile App:

1. Install the Nextcloud Mobile App:
   • Download the Nextcloud app for iOS or Android from your respective app store.
2. Enable Auto Upload:
   • Open the Nextcloud app, log in to your account, and navigate to Settings.
   • Enable the Auto Upload feature under the Camera Upload settings.
3. Configure Auto Upload:
   • Choose whether to upload photos only over Wi-Fi or both Wi-Fi and mobile data.
   • You can also choose specific folders within your Nextcloud instance where the photos will be uploaded.

Once activated, the Nextcloud app will automatically upload photos and videos as you capture them, ensuring your media is always backed up in real-time without having to manually transfer files.

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Final words

By exporting your Google Photos via Google Takeout and organizing them using the provided script, you can ensure that your media is properly organized in Nextcloud and managed by the Memories app. This process helps you transition your photos from Google’s cloud service to your own private cloud, ensuring that your data stays under your control while still maintaining easy access and organization.

Additionally, with the Nextcloud mobile app, you can seamlessly upload photos and videos directly from your smartphone to your Nextcloud instance, keeping your media synced and backed up effortlessly.

This method is highly customizable and can be adapted for different cloud platforms or photo management systems. By making the switch to Nextcloud and using the Memories app, you can take full control of your media and enjoy enhanced privacy and organization.