Google is changing the way computer-based photo backups work across Google Drive and Google Photos. From August 10, 2026, Google Drive for desktop will no longer automatically sync newly backed-up photos with Google Photos.
The change is particularly important for people who keep large photo collections on their Windows PCs or other computers and rely on Drive’s desktop backup feature to send those images to Google Photos.
The good news is that photos already stored in Google Drive will remain untouched. Users who want future photos to appear in Google Photos will simply need to use the service’s direct folder backup option.
What Happens to Google Drive Photos After August 10?
The existing photos in your Google Drive account will not disappear when the new policy takes effect.
Instead, Google is ending the automatic connection that allowed photos backed up through Drive for desktop to also appear in Google Photos.
This means new images added to a computer folder will no longer automatically make their way into Google Photos through the old setup.
If you only use Google Drive as a storage location for your pictures, you can continue using it as before.
How to Continue Backing Up Photos to Google Photos
Google provides a way to back up folders directly through Google Photos on the web.
To set it up:
- Go to Google Photos using your computer.
- Click the + icon near the top-right corner.
- Choose Back up folders.
- Select the folder or folders containing your pictures.
- Give the website permission to access the selected folders.
- Choose Allow or Allow on every visit.
After setup, Google Photos can back up photos from those folders.
One thing to remember is that the Google Photos website or its web app needs to remain open for the backup process to take place automatically.
Your Old Photos Will Not Be Removed
The August 10 deadline does not mean Google is going to delete photographs already saved in Drive.
Any photos that have already been uploaded will continue to be available in your Google Drive account. Images that were previously transferred to Google Photos will also remain there.
The change is primarily about future automatic uploads.
So, there is no need to download your entire photo collection or move everything before the deadline simply because of this change.
Check Your Backup Settings to Avoid Using Extra Storage
There is another issue users should keep in mind: duplicate files.
If you configure Google Photos to back up a folder while continuing to sync the same folder with Google Drive, you may end up keeping additional copies of your photos in your Google account.
That can use up your available cloud storage faster. Once your storage fills up, you may need to upgrade your Google One plan.
If Google Photos is going to become your main photo backup destination, consider reviewing which folders are still being backed up through Drive for desktop.
How to Turn Off Drive Sync for a Photo Folder
You can disable Google Drive syncing for individual folders from the Drive for desktop application.
Here’s the process:
- Open Google Drive for desktop.
- Go to Settings.
- Select Preferences.
- Open Folders from your computer.
- Select the photo folder you want to change.
- Disable Sync with Google Drive.
- Select Done and then Save.
This can help prevent unnecessary duplicate copies of your pictures.
Mac Users Should Know About This Limitation
Mac users with large libraries stored inside Apple’s Photos app should be aware of an additional limitation.
Google’s direct folder backup option does not automatically back up the Apple Photos library in the same way. Users may need to rely on iCloud to sync their Apple Photos library and then use Google Photos on an iPhone or iPad to save those images to Google’s service.
How to Find Out How a Photo Was Uploaded
If you aren’t sure whether your existing photos came through Google Drive or another source, Google Photos provides upload information.
Open an image in Google Photos on the web and select the Info (i) icon. The information panel can help identify how the particular photo was added.
This is useful if you’re trying to clean up your backup setup before August 10.
Is Any Action Required?
It depends on how you currently use Google’s services.
If you only store photos in Google Drive:
You don’t need to make any immediate changes. Existing files will remain safe.
If you use Drive to automatically send photos to Google Photos:
You’ll need to switch to Google’s direct folder backup method if you want new images to continue appearing in Google Photos.
If you already use the Google Photos app for your phone:
Your regular mobile photo backup workflow may not be affected by this particular Drive change.
Don’t Rely on a Single Cloud Backup
Regardless of which service you choose, keeping important photographs in just one cloud account isn’t ideal.
For valuable family photos, documents or irreplaceable memories, consider maintaining another copy on an external hard drive, SSD or another trusted backup service.
