diff --git a/src/AUTH/GoogleAUTH.js b/src/AUTH/GoogleAUTH.js
index 93f86b9..274a242 100644
--- a/src/AUTH/GoogleAUTH.js
+++ b/src/AUTH/GoogleAUTH.js
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import { File, Directory, Paths } from 'expo-file-system';
 import { AuthServiceBase } from './AuthServiceBase';
 import MediaMetadataService from '../services/MediaMetadataService';
 import { logError } from '../services/ErrorHandler';
+import { Platform, Linking } from 'react-native';
 
 WebBrowser.maybeCompleteAuthSession();
 
@@ -378,50 +379,80 @@ class GoogleAUTH extends AuthServiceBase {
     return results;
   }
 
-  async pickPhotos() {
-    try {
-      console.log('Creating Google Photos Picker session…');
-      const session = await this._createPickerSession();
+   async pickPhotos() {
+     try {
+       console.log('Creating Google Photos Picker session…');
+       const session = await this._createPickerSession();
 
-      if (session?.error) {
-        return this._buildPickerError(session.error.code, session.error.message);
-      }
-      if (!session?.id || !session?.pickerUri) {
-        return this._buildPickerError(0, 'Failed to create Picker session');
-      }
+       if (session?.error) {
+         return this._buildPickerError(session.error.code, session.error.message);
+       }
+       if (!session?.id || !session?.pickerUri) {
+         return this._buildPickerError(0, 'Failed to create Picker session');
+       }
 
-      console.log('Picker session created:', session.id);
-      console.log('Opening picker for user selection…');
+       console.log('Picker session created:', session.id);
+       console.log('Opening picker for user selection…');
+       console.log('Platform:', Platform.OS);
+       console.log('Picker URI:', session.pickerUri.substring(0, 100) + '...');
 
-      await WebBrowser.openBrowserAsync(session.pickerUri, {
-        dismissButtonStyle: 'done',
-        presentationStyle: 'pageSheet',
-      });
+       // Try WebBrowser first
+       let browserOpened = false;
+       try {
+         const result = await WebBrowser.openBrowserAsync(session.pickerUri, {
+           dismissButtonStyle: 'done',
+           presentationStyle: 'pageSheet',
+         });
+         browserOpened = true;
+         console.log('WebBrowser closed with result:', result?.type);
+       } catch (webBrowserErr) {
+         console.warn('WebBrowser failed:', webBrowserErr.message);
+         // Fallback: try direct URL linking on Android APK builds
+         if (Platform.OS === 'android') {
+           console.log('Attempting fallback with Linking.openURL...');
+           try {
+             const canOpen = await Linking.canOpenURL(session.pickerUri);
+             console.log('Can open URL:', canOpen);
+             if (canOpen) {
+               await Linking.openURL(session.pickerUri);
+               browserOpened = true;
+             } else {
+               console.warn('System cannot open picker URL');
+             }
+           } catch (linkErr) {
+             console.warn('Linking.openURL failed:', linkErr.message);
+           }
+         }
+       }
 
-      console.log('Browser closed — polling for selected photos…');
+       if (!browserOpened) {
+         return this._buildPickerError(0, 'Failed to open browser/picker. Please check your internet connection and try again.');
+       }
 
-      const ready = await this._waitForSession(session.id);
-      if (!ready) {
-        return this._buildPickerError(0, 'No photos were selected or the picker was dismissed', session.id);
-      }
+       console.log('Browser closed — polling for selected photos…');
 
-      const result = await this._fetchPickerMediaItems(session.id, 100, null);
-      let mediaItems = this._normalisePickerItems(result.mediaItems);
+       const ready = await this._waitForSession(session.id);
+       if (!ready) {
+         return this._buildPickerError(0, 'No photos were selected or the picker was dismissed', session.id);
+       }
 
-      console.log(`Picker returned ${mediaItems.length} selected items, downloading…`);
-      mediaItems = await this.downloadPickerPhotos(mediaItems);
-      console.log(`Downloaded ${mediaItems.filter((m) => m.local_path).length} photos to cache`);
+       const result = await this._fetchPickerMediaItems(session.id, 100, null);
+       let mediaItems = this._normalisePickerItems(result.mediaItems);
 
-      return {
-        mediaItems,
-        nextPageToken: result.nextPageToken || null,
-        sessionId: session.id,
-      };
-    } catch (error) {
-      logError('Pick Photos', error);
-      return EMPTY_PICK_RESULT;
-    }
-  }
+       console.log(`Picker returned ${mediaItems.length} selected items, downloading…`);
+       mediaItems = await this.downloadPickerPhotos(mediaItems);
+       console.log(`Downloaded ${mediaItems.filter((m) => m.local_path).length} photos to cache`);
+
+       return {
+         mediaItems,
+         nextPageToken: result.nextPageToken || null,
+         sessionId: session.id,
+       };
+     } catch (error) {
+       logError('Pick Photos', error);
+       return EMPTY_PICK_RESULT;
+     }
+   }
 
   async getMorePhotos(pageSize = 100, pageToken, sessionId) {
     try {
diff --git a/src/screens/HomeScreen.js b/src/screens/HomeScreen.js
index ebfaf9c..0a6e213 100644
--- a/src/screens/HomeScreen.js
+++ b/src/screens/HomeScreen.js
@@ -272,6 +272,7 @@ const HomeScreen = ({ navigation, route }) => {
     const googleAccount = linkedAccounts.find((a) => a.service_type === 'GOOGLE_PHOTOS');
     if (!googleAccount) {
       console.warn('No Google account linked');
+      Alert.alert('Error', 'No Google account linked. Please link your Google account in Settings.');
       return;
     }
 
@@ -297,6 +298,11 @@ const HomeScreen = ({ navigation, route }) => {
 
       if (result?.error) {
         logError('Import Google Photos', result.error.message);
+        Alert.alert(
+          'Google Photos Picker Error',
+          result.error.message || 'Failed to open Google Photos picker. Please try again.',
+          [{ text: 'OK' }]
+        );
       } else if (result?.mediaItems?.length) {
         await Promise.all(result.mediaItems.map((item) => DatabaseService.saveMediaItem(userId, item)));
 
@@ -306,6 +312,9 @@ const HomeScreen = ({ navigation, route }) => {
         setAllMedia((prev) => mergeMediaAcrossServices([...prev, ...result.mediaItems]));
 
         console.log(`Imported ${result.mediaItems.length} photos from Google`);
+        Alert.alert('Success', `Imported ${result.mediaItems.length} photos from Google Photos`);
+      } else {
+        console.log('No photos selected');
       }
 
       if (googleAuth.accessToken && googleAuth.accessToken !== data.accessToken) {
@@ -318,6 +327,11 @@ const HomeScreen = ({ navigation, route }) => {
       }
     } catch (err) {
       logError('Import Google Photos', err);
+      Alert.alert(
+        'Error',
+        `Failed to import from Google Photos: ${err.message}`,
+        [{ text: 'OK' }]
+      );
     } finally {
       setImporting(false);
     }