Turn off a Google Photos album link after a private event

A Google Photos shared album can be invited to named people or opened through a link. Google warns that anyone with a link may view a link-shared album, and a link can be forwarded far beyond the intended guests. Turning link sharing off is useful after an event, but it cannot retract photos someone already saved or screenshotted. Review collaborators and what they added before ending access.

Before you start​

Open the album as its owner; only owners can change certain sharing controls or remove collaborators. Decide whether you want to end access for everyone, remove one person or simply stop future link access. Preserve any photos contributed by others that you have permission to keep before altering membership.

Do it step by step​

1. On photos.google.com or the mobile app, open the exact shared album and inspect Sharing or Options. Verify it is the intended album by its contents, not only a reused title.
2. Check whether Link sharing is On. If the event is over, turn it Off. Do not assume an old QR code or link becomes private until the setting actually changes and you verify it.
3. Review named collaborators separately. Removing a person can also remove photos or comments they added, according to Google. Decide whether those contributions need to be preserved with their consent.
4. If the goal is a smaller audience, invite only the intended Google Accounts after link sharing is off. Check permissions for who may add photos or comments.
5. Use a signed-out or separate browser session to test that the old link no longer displays the album to an outsider. Do not test by posting the link publicly.
6. Review other shared albums and conversations for the same sensitive images. Removing an image from one album does not necessarily remove it from your library or from someone else's saved copy.

Check the result​

The old album link no longer grants unintended access, the remaining invited people are correct, and the owner understands which collaborator contributions were affected.

If something goes wrong​

If you do not see the link toggle, confirm you are the album owner and in the right account. If someone still sees photos, they may have a separate invitation or saved copy; inspect each path rather than toggling the link repeatedly.

Know the limit​

Ending sharing is future access control, not a recall mechanism. Recipients may have saved, downloaded or screenshotted media. The same photo can exist in other albums and conversations, so assess all sharing routes. Google Photos shared-album controls