Facebook allows users to create and organize photos into albums. This can be useful for sorting different events, time periods, or topics. However, Facebook does limit the total number of albums a user can create. So there is an upper limit to how many photo albums you can have.
In this article, we’ll look at what that album limit is, whether there are any workarounds, how albums are counted, and some tips for managing a large number of albums on Facebook.
What is the limit for photo albums on Facebook?
According to Facebook’s help pages, the current limit on the number of photo albums per Facebook account is 5000. This is a relatively high limit that allows for extensive organization and archiving of photos. However, active users that regularly take and share photos may eventually hit this limit.
So in summary:
– The limit is 5000 total photo albums per Facebook account.
Are there any workarounds to increase the album limit?
Unfortunately, there is no way to increase the 5000 album limit within a single Facebook account. The limit is set at a technical level by Facebook itself. Some users with the maximum albums have contacted Facebook support to request a higher limit, but have been told this is not possible.
There are a couple partial workarounds, but they have significant limitations:
– Create a second Facebook account and use it to host additional albums beyond 5000. However, you would have to friend people again and manage two separate accounts.
– Convert existing albums to Facebook Pages and manage them that way. However, pages have a 200 photo limit, so this isn’t ideal.
– Use a third party photo storage service and link to it from Facebook for overflow albums. But this makes accessing the albums more difficult.
So in summary, within a single Facebook account, 5000 albums is the absolute limit according to Facebook itself. There are no effective full workarounds. Careful album management is needed if you are approaching the limit.
How are photo albums counted towards the limit?
Any collection of photos that you have uploaded to Facebook and organized into an album counts towards the 5000 limit. This includes:
– Albums you have manually created to organize photos.
– Albums automatically generated for timeline photos.
– Albums created when you upload a batch of photos.
– Albums generated from synced photos from your camera or phone.
– Albums converted from pre-timeline photo galleries.
All of these different types of albums count the same towards the limit. The only exception is album-like collections created through third-party apps, which sometimes don’t count.
It doesn’t matter how many photos are in each album – an album containing 100 photos counts the same as an album containing 1 photo. Once 5000 albums are reached, no more can be created.
The number of albums you have created can be seen directly on your Facebook profile under the Photos section, or through the Albums link at the top of the left sidebar. Use these to monitor your total.
Tips for managing a large number of photo albums
If you are an active Facebook users who takes and shares lots of photos, you may come up against the 5000 album limit. Here are some tips for efficiently organizing your albums to get the most out of the limit:
1. Consolidate and merge similar albums
Look for albums that cover the same topic, event type, time period etc. Consider merging them into a single larger album to free up space for new ones. The existing albums can be deleted after merging.
2. Convert informal albums to photos
For informal or temporary albums, consider converting them to an unsorted photo collection and deleting the album itself. This works if you don’t need to continue organizing every photo.
3. Move childhood and old photos offline
If you have lots of old albums covering your childhood or early life, consider moving these off Facebook to free up album slots. These old photos usually have less engagement. Move them to an offline archive or photo storage site.
4. Evaluate album importance
Be ruthless in evaluating less important or poorly performing albums for deletion. For example, albums with few views, likes, or comments may not be worth the album slot. Delete these to make room for better albums.
5. Use descriptive album titles
Concisely describe what the album contains in the title rather than using generic names like “Family photos 2013”. This helps you and others quickly identify relevant albums.
6. Organize by year and topic
Try to group photos into annual albums (e.g. 2020) supplemented by albums for specific events, trips, parties etc. This gives a good hierarchical structure. Can also group by people.
7. Synchronize with hard drives
Use your computer’s file system or a cloud drive to store photos in the same album structures. This provides a backup if you need to delete Facebook albums.
8. Consider switching to Google Photos
Google Photos does not have an album limit. So switching allows unlimited albums. Tradeoff is losing Facebook integration and sharing.
Example Album Structures
Here are some example album organization structures that make efficient use of the 5000 album limit:
By Year and Event
- 2020
- 2019
- 2018
- 2017
- 2016
- 2015
- 2014
- 2013
- 2012
- Etc…
- Hawaii Vacation 2020
- John’s Wedding
- Jane’s Birthday Party
- Christmas 2019
- Picnic Reunion
- Jimmy’s Bar Mitzvah
By Location
- New York City
- San Francisco
- London
- Paris
- Tokyo
- Central Park
- Golden Gate Bridge
- Notre Dame Cathedral
- Louvre Museum
- Shibuya Crossing
By People/Family
- Mom and Dad
- Grandparents
- Sister
- Brother
- Cousins
- Uncle Bob
- Aunt Mary
- Jennifer’s Baby Shower
- Adam’s Graduation
- Nana’s 90th Birthday
Conclusion
Facebook currently limits each user account to a maximum of 5000 photo albums. This provides ample space for most people to organize their photos, but heavy users may reach the limit over time.
There are no known effective workarounds. Once the limit is reached, no additional albums can be created. Careful management of albums by consolidating, deleting unimportant ones, and archiving older photos can help maximize use of the 5000 available slots.
Adopting a consistent album naming and organizational structure by year, events, people, and location categories can also help use album space more efficiently. Periodic cleanup of unnecessary albums frees up room for newer photos.
Moving childhood or older nostalgic albums off Facebook to other storage and archiving options helps utilize album real estate for more active photos that need exposure and engagement.
But overall, 5000 remains the hard ceiling from Facebook itself on total photo albums per account. Budgeting and planning album use carefully avoids hitting an impassable wall down the road.