Google Photos users getting 'Error 500' when trying to access albums on web

Update 28/08/24 12:55 pm (IST): Google appears to have fixed the ‘Error 500’ issue that was preventing users from accessing some of their albums over the web and on the app. Links to albums that were previously not working are now loading again. Here’s a statement from a Google employee on the public Issue Tracker:

We were looking into this issue, but as noted, the fix should be rolling out for the API now. Please let us know if the issue still persists for your account, or if there are other issues that arise as a result. If anyone else is affected by this, you can “star” the issue to be notified of updates.

Original article published on August 28, 2024, follows:

Many Google Photos users have been left scratching their heads and scrambling for solutions as they encounter a persistent ‘Error 500’ message when trying to access their photo albums. The issue, which appears to have started around August 23, is affecting users worldwide and has yet to be fully resolved by Google.

The error occurs when users attempt to view their albums on the Google Photos website, greeting them with a frustrating message: “500. That’s an error. There was an error. Please try again later. That’s all we know.” This vague explanation has left many users feeling helpless and searching for answers. That said, here’s a screenshot of the error:

While the problem seems most prevalent on desktop browsers, some users have reported similar issues on the Google Photos mobile app. There, instead of the ‘500’ error, users are met with a “Couldn’t load album” message.

The scope of the problem appears significant, with reports flooding in from users across the United States, Europe, and Asia. Many affected individuals have taken to Google’s support forums and Reddit to voice their concerns and seek solutions.

One user on Reddit summarized the situation, saying, “When I go to an album via photos search, it briefly flashes the page for that album for a second, so I know the album is not ‘gone,’ then goes to the 500 error page.” This behavior has led many to believe their photos and albums are still intact, just currently inaccessible. Another frustrated user posted, “I send all my client galleries via albums, and I do all my work on the desktop. When is this going to be fixed??????!!?!?”

Google has yet to release an official statement addressing the problem. However, a self-identified Google Photos team member, posting unofficially on Reddit, stated, “We’re aware of the issue and are working on a fix ASAP.” This comment, while providing some reassurance, has done little to quell the growing frustration among users.

Attempts to troubleshoot the issue have proven largely unsuccessful. Users report that clearing browser caches, logging out and back in, and even reinstalling the mobile app have not resolved the problem.

Interestingly, some users have noted that the issue seems to primarily affect shared albums, while private albums remain accessible. This observation has led to speculation about the nature of the bug, though without official confirmation from Google, it remains just that – speculation.

As the outage stretches into its fourth day for some users, questions are being raised about Google’s communication and incident response processes. Many users express frustration at the lack of clear updates or estimated time for a resolution.

For now, affected users are left to wait and hope for a swift resolution. Some have resorted to creating new albums as a temporary workaround, though this solution is far from ideal for those with years of carefully curated photo collections. As usual, we’ll keep an eye out for any developments and will post an update if and when there’s something worth sharing.