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Changes to Google Photos API Affect Digital Photo Frames
Google is implementing significant changes to its Photos API, which is causing challenges for users of some digital photo frames. This adjustment, aimed at enhancing privacy for photo libraries, disrupts the functionality of devices such as those made by Aura and Cozyla, which rely on automatic updates for their slideshow features.
Aura specializes in cloud-connected frames that display images uploaded by users or individuals granted access to the device. One of the standout features allows users to create an album on Google Photos — for instance, one featuring their children’s photographs — and enable auto-sync. This means that any new images added to that album automatically appears on the frame, ensuring a continuous flow of fresh pictures for family members, such as grandparents.
However, Jenisse Curry, senior director of communications at Aura, has announced that as of March 17th, 2025, the auto-sync function with Google Photos will be disabled. While users can still view existing albums on their frames, they will no longer update automatically with new uploads. Instead, photos will need to be added manually through the Google Photos app.
This development highlights the frustration that comes with losing functionality from a device that users have purchased.
The backend change is driven by Google’s decision to modify its Google Photos API, a move first announced last September and officially taking effect on March 31st. Curry notes that Aura is proactively addressing the situation to assist customers in adapting to these new limitations.
Under the revised API, applications can no longer gain integrated access to a user’s entire photo library or manage shared albums. Instead, access will be restricted to photos or albums selected through the new Google Photos Picker API, requiring users to manually select each photo they wish to share.
“We had a deeper integration with Google Photos that enabled direct access from within the Aura app and the ability to auto-sync a Google Photos album,” Curry explained in an interview with The Verge. “That will go away because our app can no longer communicate with your cloud library.”
It appears Cozyla is similarly affected; the company has also communicated to users that its Google Photos auto-sync feature will be discontinued, as highlighted in a related Reddit thread. While The Verge attempted to reach out to Cozyla for additional comments, no response was received by the time of publishing.
If auto-sync was a well-loved feature, Curry pointed out that Aura’s integration with iCloud provides a comparable alternative. For example, users can opt to synchronize their Favorites album; whenever a photo is marked as a favorite, it will automatically appear on the frame. There are also options for intuitive integration with native albums on iOS and Android devices. Still, the loss of a previously enjoyed feature can be disheartening.
In a related note, Google spokesperson Colin Smith told The Verge that the company is continuously working on updates to improve user privacy and has APIs specifically designed for digital photo frames, along with a program to assist partners in updating their products.
Recently, Google also announced that it plans to make Google Photos slideshows available as ambient displays on more third-party devices, with the feature currently accessible on Google Nest displays and Google TVs. The intention is to extend this capability to smart TVs, tablets, refrigerators, and digital photo frames.
While further specifics regarding device compatibility and feature activation remain unclear, Aura’s Curry stated that they do not expect the upcoming slideshows function to serve as a replacement for the auto-sync feature that is being removed.
Update: March 5th – Additional comments from Google have been included.
Source
www.theverge.com