Google Photos Stops Backing Up Social Media Folders By Default

Google Photos has stopped backing up images and videos from folders created by social media and messaging apps like WhatsApp, Messages, and TikTok (via Android Police).

Previously, Google's photo app would automatically upload all media saved to an iOS device, including any files saved in folders originating from social and messaging apps.

Google says it's now turning off this aspect of its cloud photo backup service "to save internet resources" as people share more photos and videos amid the ongoing global health crisis.

Users can reverse this change and re-enable backup of photos and video from social media and messaging apps by following these instructions.

Other digital services including YouTube and Disney+ adopted similar measures to reduce bandwidth strain caused by the global health crisis several months ago.

Tag: Google Photos

Top Rated Comments

Anarchy99

9 months ago

am i the only one that hates the new google photos logo

Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)

69Mustang

9 months ago

I was just saying this morning to a friend how bloody aggressive this app is. I hate how if you try to delete uploaded media from the app, it will also delete it from ios photos too. And if you try to turn off app permissions to read and write, the app gets blocked from opening. My friend uses it to send me uncompressed media files which is the only reason I want to use it. But I’m very tempted to delete it.

It's aggressive because it sounds as if it's set that way. Turn off auto-sync and back up. ← That's what you're phone is doing... syncing and backing up. It's why both are being deleted. You don't need to turn off app permissions, just the auto-sync and back up function.

Could it be related to the fact that in IOS 14 such behavior may raise eyebrows as people realize how intrusive this is.

No it is not.

Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

genovelle

9 months ago

Could it be related to the fact that in IOS 14 such behavior may raise eyebrows as people realize how intrusive this is.

Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Gsmaniac

9 months ago

I was just saying this morning to a friend how bloody aggressive this app is. I hate how if you try to delete uploaded media from the app, it will also delete it from ios photos too. And if you try to turn off app permissions to read and write, the app gets blocked from opening. My friend uses it to send me uncompressed media files which is the only reason I want to use it. But I’m very tempted to delete it.

Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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