To create a Google Drive link for a photo, right-click the photo in Google Drive, select Share, and under General access choose Anyone with the link. Then select Copy link and paste it anywhere. Anyone who gets the link can open the photo without being added by name.
This guide covers Google Drive on a computer and the Google Drive app on a phone. It shows how to get a link for one photo or a whole folder, how to pick the right access level, what people with the link can see and do, how to stop sharing, and how Google Photos links differ. The steps come from Google’s Share files from Google Drive help article, checked in October 2026.
- Go to drive.google.com and find the photo. If it isn’t there yet, upload it with New > File upload. Result: the photo is in your Drive.
- Right-click the photo and select Share. Result: the sharing window opens.
- Under General access, click the down arrow and choose Anyone with the link. Result: the photo is no longer restricted to named people.
- Choose a role. Viewer lets people see the photo but not change or delete it. Result: the access level is set.
- Select Copy link, then Done. Result: the link is copied.
- Paste the link into an email, a text message or a post. Result: people can open the photo from the link.
If you use a work or school account, Google notes your organization might not let you share outside it, and “Anyone with the link” may be unavailable.
How to Get a Link on Your Phone
- Open the Google Drive app and find the photo. Result: your files appear.
- Tap the three dots next to the photo, then tap Share (or Manage access). Result: the sharing options open.
- Under General access, change Restricted to Anyone with the link. Result: the photo can be opened by anyone with the link.
- Go back and tap Copy link. Result: the link is ready to paste.
- Use a folder. Put the photos in a folder and share the folder the same way. Google says access you give to a folder is inherited by every file in it.
- Select several files. On a computer, hold Shift, select two or more photos, then click Share at the top.
- Share with specific people. Instead of a link, enter email addresses in the Share window. Google says you can share a single file with up to 600 individual email addresses.
What People With the Link Can See and Do
- Anyone who has the link can open it. That includes people it gets forwarded to.
- Your name and email are visible. Google says the owner’s name and email show to people who open a shared file. Visitors who aren’t signed in to a Google account appear as anonymous animals.
- Viewers can download by default. Google’s permissions table says viewers and commenters can download unless the owner changes it. In the Share window, open the settings and uncheck the option that lets viewers and commenters download, print and copy.
- Choose roles carefully. Commenters can add comments. Editors can change the file. For photos, Viewer is usually right.
How to Stop Sharing a Photo
Open Share again and change General access back to Restricted. The link stops working for anyone you didn’t add by name. To remove someone you added, change their access in the same window.
Google Drive Link vs. Google Photos Link
If your pictures live in Google Photos rather than Drive, you don’t need to move them. Google Photos Help says to open photos.google.com, select a photo, click Share, then Create link. As with Drive, Google warns that anyone with the link can view the photos. You can also create a shared album for an event.
Only sending one or two pictures? You can also send a photo by email. To stop phone photos from uploading to Google, see how to unsync Google Photos. For more help, see our Google Drive guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do people need a Google account to open the link?
Not with “Anyone with the link.” Google says people who aren’t signed in show up as anonymous animals while viewing.
Can I stop people from downloading my photo?
Yes. In the Share window settings, uncheck the option that lets viewers and commenters download, print and copy.
Why can’t I choose Anyone with the link?
Work and school accounts may block sharing outside the organization. Ask your administrator, or use a personal Google account.
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read hundreds of millions of times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.