Archive · 10 Aug 2026
Google Drive ends Google Photos desktop photo backup today
Google has two apps: Google Drive for storing files and Google Photos for keeping pictures and videos.
Until now, Google Drive could automatically send pictures and videos from your computer to Google Photos.
That automatic backup from Drive is now ending.
The good news is that pictures and videos you already put in Google Photos are safe and will stay there.
Google Drive will still work normally for saving and syncing your regular files.
If you want new pictures from your computer to go to Google Photos, you will need to upload them yourself or use another backup service.
Pictures and videos taken on your phone will still be backed up to Google Photos automatically.
Google is making this change so each app has one clear job: Drive for files and Photos for pictures.
You do not need to delete or move anything you already have in Google Photos.
Google Drive will stop automatically syncing and backing up new photos and videos from computer folders to Google Photos, effective today.
Photos and videos already backed up to Google Photos will remain available and are not affected.
Regular file synchronization through Google Drive will continue to work, and Drive for desktop is not shutting down.
Users relying on Drive for desktop for computer folder backups must switch to Google Photos upload options or another backup service.
Mobile backups through the Google Photos app will continue to work as usual, and users should check which folders are currently backed up.
- Who
- Google users who use Google Drive for desktop to automatically back up photos and videos from computer folders to Google Photos.
- What
- Google Drive stops syncing and automatically backing up new photos and videos with Google Photos, while existing backups remain intact.
- When
- The change takes effect today, according to the articles.
- Where
- Not specified in the articles.
- Why
- To simplify how users manage files and photo backups, keeping Google Drive as a cloud storage and file-syncing service and Google Photos as the photo and video backup service.
- Service change
- Google Drive to stop syncing photos and videos with Google Photos
- Existing backups
- Photos and videos already in Google Photos remain available
- Drive file sync
- Regular file synchronization through Google Drive continues to work
- Desktop backups
- New automatic backups from computer folders via Drive for desktop will stop
- Mobile backups
- Backups through the Google Photos app continue to work as usual
- Drive for desktop
- Not shutting down; only the photo-video backup feature ends
- Recommended action
- Check currently backed-up folders and use Google Photos upload options or another backup service
- User guidance
- No need to delete or move the existing Google Photos library
