Google Photos#

Access Google Photos via the Google Photos Library API with managed OAuth authentication. Upload media, search photos, create and manage albums, and update media items.

This skill uses ClawLink for hosted connection flows and credentials so you do not need to configure Google Photos API access yourself.

Setup in 3 Steps#

Step 1: InstallStep 2: Pair AccountStep 3: Connect Google Photos_App-specific connection GIF coming soon_Run the install command in OpenClawSign in and approve the deviceOpen the dashboard and connect Google Photos

How It Works#

text

┌─────────────────┐     ┌──────────────┐     ┌──────────────────┐
│   OpenClaw      │────▶│   ClawLink   │────▶│   Google Photos  │
│   (User Chat)   │     │   (OAuth)    │     │   (Photos API)   │
└─────────────────┘     └──────────────┘     └──────────────────┘
         │                       │                       │
         │  1. Install Plugin    │                       │
         │  2. Pair Device       │                       │
         │  3. Connect Photos    │                       │
         │                       │  4. Secure Token       │
         │                       │  5. Proxy Requests    │
         │                       │                       │
         ▼                       ▼                       ▼
   ┌──────────┐           ┌──────────┐           ┌──────────┐
   │  SKILL   │           │ Dashboard│           │  Google  │
   │  File    │           │ Auth     │           │  Photos  │
   └──────────┘           └──────────┘           └──────────┘

Install#

Install the verified ClawLink plugin from ClawHub. After the user confirms, complete the full setup so ClawLink tools are visible in the next OpenClaw chat.

bash

openclaw plugins install clawhub:clawlink-plugin
openclaw config set tools.alsoAllow '["clawlink-plugin"]' --strict-json
openclaw gateway restart

Then tell the user: "OpenClaw has been restarted. Send /new as a standalone message to start a fresh chat, then ask for Google Photos again."

Quick Start#

bash

# List albums
clawlink_call_tool --tool "googlephotos_list_albums" --params '{}'

# List media items
clawlink_call_tool --tool "googlephotos_list_media_items" --params '{"page_size": 50}'

# Create an album
clawlink_call_tool --tool "googlephotos_create_album" --params '{"album_title": "Vacation Photos"}'

Authentication#

All Google Photos tool calls are authenticated automatically by ClawLink using the user's connected Google account.

No API key is required in chat. ClawLink stores the OAuth token securely and injects it into every Google Photos API request on the user's behalf.

Getting Connected#

1. Install the ClawLink plugin (see Install above).
2. Pair the plugin with clawlink_begin_pairing if it is not configured yet.
3. Open https://claw-link.dev/dashboard?add=googlephotos and connect Google Photos.
4. Call clawlink_list_integrations to verify the connection is active.

Connection Management#

List Connections#

bash

clawlink_list_integrations

Response: Returns all connected integrations. Look for googlephotos in the list.

Verify Connection#

bash

clawlink_list_tools --integration googlephotos

Response: Returns the live tool catalog for Google Photos.

Reconnect#

If Google Photos tools are missing or the connection shows an error:

1. Direct the user to https://claw-link.dev/dashboard?add=googlephotos
2. After they confirm, call clawlink_list_integrations to verify
3. Then call clawlink_list_tools --integration googlephotos

Security & Permissions#

• Access is scoped to media items and albums within the connected Google Photos account.
• All write operations require explicit user confirmation. Before executing any create, update, or delete call, confirm the target resource and intended effect with the user.
• Uploads and album changes must always be confirmed by the user.

Important API Limitation#

As of March 31, 2025, the Google Photos Library API only returns media items that were uploaded or created by this application. It cannot access photos taken by the user's camera or uploaded from other apps. For accessing the user's full photo library, use the Google Photos Picker API instead.

Tool Reference#

Album Management#

ToolDescriptionModegooglephotos_list_albumsList all albums shown in the user's Albums tabReadgooglephotos_get_albumGet a specific album by its IDReadgooglephotos_create_albumCreate a new album with a titleWritegooglephotos_update_albumUpdate an album's title or cover photoWrite

Media Item Operations#

ToolDescriptionModegooglephotos_list_media_itemsList media items created by this applicationReadgooglephotos_search_media_itemsSearch media items in the user's libraryReadgooglephotos_batch_get_media_itemsGet specific media items by their IDsReadgooglephotos_get_media_item_downloadDownload a media item as a fileReadgooglephotos_update_media_itemUpdate a media item's descriptionWrite

Upload Operations#

ToolDescriptionModegooglephotos_upload_mediaUpload an image (up to 200MB) or video (up to 20GB)Writegooglephotos_batch_create_media_itemsBatch upload and create media items (up to 50 per request)Write

Album Content Management#

ToolDescriptionModegooglephotos_batch_add_media_itemsAdd existing media items to an albumWritegooglephotos_add_enrichmentAdd an enrichment (text, location, etc.) at a position in an albumWrite

Code Examples#

List all albums#

bash

clawlink_call_tool --tool "googlephotos_list_albums" \
  --params '{
    "page_size": 50
  }'

List media items#

bash

clawlink_call_tool --tool "googlephotos_list_media_items" \
  --params '{
    "page_size": 100
  }'

Create an album#

bash

clawlink_call_tool --tool "googlephotos_create_album" \
  --params '{
    "album_title": "Summer Vacation 2024"
  }'

Batch upload media items from URLs#

bash

clawlink_call_tool --tool "googlephotos_batch_create_media_items" \
  --params '{
    "album_id": "YOUR_ALBUM_ID",
    "media_files": [
      {"url": "https://example.com/photo1.jpg", "file_name": "beach_sunset.jpg", "description": "Beautiful sunset at the beach"},
      {"url": "https://example.com/photo2.jpg", "file_name": "mountain_view.jpg", "description": "View from the mountain top"}
    ]
  }'

Add media items to an album#

bash

clawlink_call_tool --tool "googlephotos_batch_add_media_items" \
  --params '{
    "album_id": "YOUR_ALBUM_ID",
    "media_item_ids": ["MEDIA_ITEM_ID_1", "MEDIA_ITEM_ID_2"]
  }'

Update a media item description#

bash

clawlink_call_tool --tool "googlephotos_update_media_item" \
  --params '{
    "media_item_id": "YOUR_MEDIA_ITEM_ID",
    "description": "Updated description for this photo"
  }'

Discovery Workflow#

1. Call clawlink_list_integrations to confirm Google Photos is connected.
2. Call clawlink_list_tools --integration googlephotos to see the live catalog.
3. Treat the returned list as the source of truth. Do not guess or assume what tools exist.
4. If the user describes a capability but the exact tool is unclear, call clawlink_search_tools with a short query and integration googlephotos.
5. If no Google Photos tools appear, direct the user to https://claw-link.dev/dashboard?add=googlephotos.

Execution Workflow#

text

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  READ OPERATIONS (Safe)                                     │
│  list → get → search → call                                 │
│                                                             │
│  Example: List albums → Get album → Show results            │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
                              │
                              ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  WRITE OPERATIONS (Require Confirmation)                    │
│  describe → preview → confirm → call                        │
│                                                             │
│  Example: Describe tool → Preview → User approves            │
│           → Execute upload or update                         │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

1. For unfamiliar tools, ambiguous requests, or any write action, call clawlink_describe_tool first.
2. Use the returned guidance, schema, whenToUse, askBefore, safeDefaults, examples, and followups to shape the call.
3. Prefer list, search, and read operations before writes.
4. For uploads, album changes, or media item updates, call clawlink_preview_tool first.
5. Execute with clawlink_call_tool. Pass confirmation only after the preview matches the user's intent.
6. If the tool call fails, report the real error. Do not invent results or restate the failure as a missing capability unless the live catalog supports that conclusion.

Notes#

• Media items created via the API are only visible to the app that created them, not in the user's main Google Photos UI.
• To display photos in the user's main Photos UI, the user must upload them through the Google Photos app directly.
• Batch upload supports up to 50 items per request via URLs or pre-uploaded files.
• Videos up to 20GB are supported for upload.
• Album enrichment adds contextual content (text, location pins) to albums.
• Media item IDs should be captured from creation or list responses for subsequent operations.

Error Handling#

Status / ErrorMeaningTool not foundThe tool name does not exist in the current catalog. Verify with clawlink_list_tools --integration googlephotos.Missing connectionGoogle Photos is not connected. Direct the user to https://claw-link.dev/dashboard?add=googlephotos.NOT_FOUNDAlbum or media item does not exist. Check the ID.INVALID_ARGUMENTInvalid parameter or missing required field. Review the tool schema with clawlink_describe_tool.Write rejectedUser did not confirm a write action. Always confirm before executing writes.

Troubleshooting: Tools Not Visible#

1. Check that the ClawLink plugin is installed: bash

   openclaw plugins list
   
   

2. If the plugin is installed but tools are missing, tell the user to send /new as a standalone message to reload the catalog.

3. If a fresh chat does not help, run: bash

   openclaw config set tools.alsoAllow '["clawlink-plugin"]' --strict-json
   openclaw gateway restart
   
   

4. After restart, tell the user to send /new again and retry.

Troubleshooting: Invalid Tool Call#

1. Ensure the integration slug is exactly googlephotos.
2. Use clawlink_describe_tool to verify parameter names and types before calling.
3. For write operations, always call clawlink_preview_tool first.

Resources#

• Google Photos Library API Overview
• Media Items Reference
• Albums Reference
• ClawLink: https://claw-link.dev/?utm_source=clawhub&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=google-photos-albums
• ClawLink Docs: https://docs.claw-link.dev/openclaw
• ClawLink Verification: https://claw-link.dev/verify

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