Polaroid Album

Turn a Drive folder into a polaroid album.

Create a new album from a Drive folder, or open one someone shared with you.

How to use

Every feature, explained

Two modes, one link. Here's a full walkthrough of what this app can do.

Create

Build a new album

Turn a Drive folder into a published polaroid album.

  1. 1
    Share the folder Set Drive permissions to "Anyone with the link."
  2. 2
    Paste the folder link Choose Create, then paste it above.
  3. 3
    Name the album Add a title and an optional description.
  4. 4
    Tap any polaroid Add a caption, date, and location in the modal.
  5. 5
    Switch to grid Batch-edit faster in the grid layout.
  6. 6
    Export Download album.json to your device.
  7. 7
    Publish Upload it back into the same Drive folder.
View

Open a shared album

Flip through a published album, read-only and clean.

  1. 1
    Get the link Ask the creator for the shared album link.
  2. 2
    Choose View Paste the link above and tap Open.
  3. 3
    Swipe the stack Drag or swipe to flip to the next photo.
  4. 4
    Use the arrows Tap ← → below the polaroid on any device.
  5. 5
    Keyboard too Use ← and → keys on desktop for fast nav.
  6. 6
    No editing View mode is intentionally read-only.

Feature highlights

Polaroid stack

Flip through one photo at a time with a physical card feel.

Grid view

Create mode only. See every photo at once for fast batch editing.

Captions

Handwritten-style notes printed in the polaroid's white border.

Dates

Pick from a calendar; shown as a tidy short date on the card.

Locations

Add free-form place names to any photo in create mode.

Keyboard nav

Arrow keys move through the stack. Enter opens the edit modal.

Export

Download album.json and drop it into the Drive folder.

Share link

Copy the album's URL in one tap and send it to anyone.

Quick answers

How does the app know if I'm creating or viewing?+

You pick the mode up top. Create expects a Drive folder link and opens the editor. View expects a shared album link and opens read-only. Deep links (the ones you copy and share) auto-detect: a folder with album.json opens in View; one without opens in Create.

How do I publish my album?+

Tap Export in create mode to download album.json. Upload that file into the same Drive folder. Now anyone opening the folder link lands straight in View mode.

How do I make changes after publishing?+

Delete album.json from the Drive folder and reopen the link — you'll drop back into create mode with your photos. Edit freely, then export a fresh album.json to republish.

Do viewers need a Google account?+

No. As long as the Drive folder is set to "Anyone with the link," anyone who opens the URL can flip through the album — no sign-in required.

Where is my data stored?+

Entirely in your own Drive folder. Photos and album.json are your files. This app only reads and displays them — nothing is uploaded to a server.

No accounts. No sign-in. Just a folder link.