Google Drive Photo Backup Change: What It Means for Your Photos

Google Drive Photo Backup changes kick in today, affecting Windows and Mac users who rely on the desktop app for automatic photo backups to Google Photos. The change, first announced in June, stops the desktop app from sending new photos and videos directly to Google Photos, but existing uploads remain safe.

Users who set up backup folders through Drive will need to reset things up if they want their future photos backed up automatically. Those using Android phones or iPhones with the Photos app won't be affected, as their backups continue uninterrupted.

To recover and reset photo backups, users can open Google Photos in a web browser, select Back up folders, choose the desired folders on their computer, and grant access permissions. This method will keep desktop photo backups alive, but it requires keeping the Google Photos tab or web app open on the machine.

A more reliable long-term fix is to switch photo backup habits to phones instead, installing the Google Photos mobile app to handle uploads automatically. Users should also be cautious not to double-up on backups by running both the old and new methods simultaneously, which can lead to duplicate files counted against storage limits.