How to Get a Permanent Direct URL from Google Photos Shared Links: Ultimate Guide (2025)
Google Photos is still the go-to cloud storage for billions of photos in 2025. Shared links (https://photos.app.goo.gl/...) are perfect for quick sharing, but they load through Google’s viewer – slowing down pages, hurting SEO/Core Web Vitals, and preventing direct embedding or full-resolution downloads.
This comprehensive guide covers all currently working methods as of December 2025: manual extraction, free online tools, Chrome extensions, automation scripts, and SEO-friendly embedding tips.
Why Google Hides Direct Links
Google controls traffic, protects privacy/copyright, and uses dynamic JavaScript loading. Older parsing tricks often break, but the core methods below remain reliable.
1. Manual Method: Fastest & Most Reliable (Works 100% in 2025)
No tools required – ideal for single images.
- Open the shared link in Chrome, Edge, or Firefox.
- Wait for the full image to load completely.
- Right-click directly on the image (not background or sidebar).
- Select “Open image in new tab” or “Copy image address”.
You get a permanent direct URL like:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/...=wXXXX-hYYYY-no
Customizing the Direct URL
| Parameter | Effect | Example |
|---|---|---|
=s0 |
Full original resolution | …=s0 |
=w1920-h1080 |
Fixed width/height | …=w1920-h1080 |
-no |
Minimal processing (closest to original) | …-no |
Remove after =
|
Auto-sized (often full resolution) | Truncate base URL |
2. Best Free Online Tools (2025)
Top Recommendation: Rojuka Google Photos Direct Link Generator
- URL: https://rojuka.com/tools/google-photos
- Free, unlimited, no registration
- Supports bulk (multiple links separated by commas or new lines)
- Outputs permanent direct URLs + dimensions
- Reliable and actively maintained
Strong Alternative: Labnol Google Photos Embed
- URL: https://www.labnol.org/embed/google/photos
- Generates direct links and ready-to-use HTML embed code
3. Chrome Extensions for One-Click Extraction
- Photos Direct Link: Chrome Web Store
- Adds direct link copying with .jpg extension – perfect for forums/blogs
4. Automation: Rojuka Unofficial API + Scripts
For developers handling many images, Rojuka provides a simple unofficial API.
Endpoint: POST https://rojuka.com/api/google-photos
Headers: Content-Type: text/plain;charset=UTF-8
Body (JSON): {"urls": "link1,link2,link3"}
Python Script (Recommended)
Save as get_gphoto_url.py:
import requests
import json
import argparse
def get_direct_urls(shared_urls):
payload = {"urls": shared_urls}
headers = {"Content-Type": "text/plain;charset=UTF-8"}
response = requests.post("https://rojuka.com/api/google-photos", data=json.dumps(payload), headers=headers)
response.raise_for_status()
return response.json()
if __name__ == "__main__":
parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="Get direct URLs from Google Photos")
parser.add_argument("url", nargs="?", help="Shared URL(s), comma-separated")
parser.add_argument("--html", nargs="*", help="Generate HTML: width height alt")
args = parser.parse_args() or input("Enter URL(s): ")
urls = args.url or input("Enter shared URL(s): ")
data = get_direct_urls(urls)
for photo in data:
print(f"Direct URL: {photo['url']}")
print(f"Size: {photo['width']} × {photo['height']}")
if args.html:
w = args.html[0] if args.html else photo['width']
h = args.html[1] if len(args.html)>1 else photo['height']
alt = args.html[2] if len(args.html)>2 else "Photo"
print(f"\nHTML:
")
How to Run the Script Repeatedly
Save in C:\scripts\ (example).
-
Simple:
cd C:\scriptsthenpython get_gphoto_url.py https://photos.app.goo.gl/... - From anywhere: Full path to python executable
-
Convenient: Create
gphoto.batwithpython "C:\scripts\get_gphoto_url.py" %*and add folder to PATH
5. SEO-Friendly Embedding (2025 Best Practices)
SEO & accessibility"
width="1200" height="800"
loading="lazy"
srcset="...=w800-h533-no 800w, ...=w1200-h800-no 1200w"
sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px">
FAQ
- Do direct links expire?
- No – if sharing stays “Anyone with the link.”
- Commercial use?
- Only with ownership/permission.
- Hotlinking allowed?
- Google’s CDN handles bandwidth; respect copyright.
Conclusion
In late 2025, the manual right-click method + Rojuka tools/scripts make permanent direct links easy and reliable. Use them for faster sites and professional embeds!

Professional data parsing via ZennoPoster, Python, creating browser and keyboard automation scripts. SEO-promotion and website creation: from a business card site to a full-fledged portal.