Using Google Takeout with FOREVER Valet
FOREVER Valet makes it easy to transfer your photos, videos, and other compatible files from Google to your FOREVER account. By utilizing the zip files downloaded from Google Takeout, we can help you seamlessly import your content, along with important metadata such as the date the photos were taken.
To ensure all of your Google data is successfully downloaded and transferred, please follow the instructions below.
1. Navigate in a browser to takeout.google.com
a. In the upper right corner, check to be sure you are logged into the correct Google account
b. If not, log in to the correct account
2. Section 1 “Select data to include” is expanded with all Products selected by default. The Products are then listed (alphabetically).
a. Click the “Deselect all” button to the right of “Products.”
b. Scroll through the product list and select any products that you want to move to your FOREVER Account that contain files that FOREVER can accept.
i. We recommend only Google Drive, Google Photos, and YouTube as these are the applicable options containing files that FOREVER can accept.
ii. Click here for a list of acceptable file formats.
c. Scroll to the bottom of the page and select “Next Step.”
3. In the Destination box, select “Send download link via email”
4. Under Frequency, select “Export once”
5. Under File type and size:
a. Choose “.zip”
b. File size: we recommend selecting 10GB or 50GB (it helps to know how large your collection is because if you choose 2GB as the file size and you have 150GB of files, you will end up with 75 zip files to download which can be time consuming.)
i. NOTE: You are only given the option to request your entire Google Photos, Drive, Youtube, etc. library. In Valet, you will be given the opportunity to select certain folders and files.
6. Click “Create Export”
7. Google will send you an email acknowledging your request and then a 2nd email when your Google Takeout is ready (this could take a long time; it depends on the number and size of the files in the products you selected in your Google account).
8. When you receive the email, there will be a series of downloads, it is VERY important that the zip files in that email are NOT automatically unzipped.
a. For PC users, the files will remain zipped (nothing for you to do)
b. For Mac users, the default in Safari is to automatically unzip the files so you need to prevent this from happening:
i. Go to Safari> Preferences > General >uncheck “Open ‘safe’ files after downloading
ii. If your default browser is not Safari, click here for instructions (noted below).
c. Download EACH of the zipped files but DO NOT unzip them
d. Navigate to your downloads folder (or wherever your downloads default to), find all the zipped files and either copy or move them to a single folder. We suggest you name this folder with a date to differentiate it from any future downloads (i.e. “Google Takeout Export 3-15-2025”
i. NOTE: Do not rename the zip files. Leave them as the naming structure that Google assigned to them when you downloaded the files.
9. Open FOREVER Valet, log in to your account.
10. Choose the “Upload” option and then choose the “Google Files” tab
11. Navigate to the “Google Takeout Export date” folder you created in step 8-d (only select this top level folder; do not try to select the individually zipped files). Click “Select folder.”
12. Select the folder with a single-click. Do not double-click.
a. Double-clicking into the folder will not allow Valet to see the zip files for Upload.
13. Click “Next” after you see a green bar showing you how many items have been located
14. You will see a “Google Photos” folder on the left side of Valet, go ahead and expand this folder. You will see all the albums that Google created for you (i.e. Photos from 2015, Photos from 2020, and any other custom albums you may have created inside Google Photos). You will also see how much storage the upload will require at the bottom of the Upload screen.
15. All the Albums are selected by default. Deselect any that you do NOT want to upload to your FOREVER Account.
16. Select Upload parameters:
a. File naming – you can keep original name or rename
i. If renaming, there are dropdown menus for customization
ii. Expand the Advanced Settings section to see all the options available when renaming your files
iii. The “Preview” below the Advanced Settings section button will show you what your customized names will look like, so make changes as needed
17. Select how to organize your upload
a. Keep local organization (as it exists from Takeout)
b. Into year/month nested albums
c. Year-only albums
d. Single location (one album)
18. Select where items will be uploaded to
a. Library or parent album
b. An existing album
19. Click “Upload” and let Valet do its magic!
Check out our video tutorial and blog post!
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Ignore this section if you are using a PC.
- Go to Safari > Preferences > General.
- Uncheck "Open 'safe' files after downloading".
2. Google Chrome:
- Chrome doesn't unzip files automatically, but avoids opening them by:
- Do not open the zip file directly from the Downloads bar.
- Move the downloaded zip file(s) to a designated folder that you will select from when in Valet.
3. Mozilla Firefox:
- Firefox doesn't unzip automatically but will extract files if clicked. To control it:
- Go to Firefox Menu > Preferences > General.
- Under Files and Applications, select "Always ask you where to save files" to manage downloads manually.
4. Microsoft Edge:
- Edge doesn't unzip by default, but may extract files if clicked in the Downloads bar.
- Go to Edge Menu > Settings > Downloads.
- Enable "Ask where to save each file" for better control over downloads.
5. Opera:
- Opera doesn't unzip automatically, but may do so if a zip is opened from the Downloads bar.
- Go to Opera Menu > Settings > Advanced > Downloads.
- Enable "Ask where to save each file" for more control over downloads.