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How to Stop Google Photos Backup: A Comprehensive Guide

Want to reclaim your storage or simply prefer manual control over your photo backups? Stopping Google Photos backup is a straightforward process, but the exact steps depend on the device you’re using. On Android and iOS devices, open the Google Photos app, tap your profile picture, select “Photos settings,” then “Backup & sync,” and toggle the “Backup & sync” switch to off. On your computer, you’ll need to unlink your Google account from the Google Drive desktop app.

Understanding Google Photos Backup

Before diving into the how-to, it’s crucial to understand what Google Photos backup actually does. It’s a service that automatically uploads your photos and videos to Google’s cloud storage, allowing you to access them from any device and protecting them from loss or damage to your physical devices. However, this convenience comes with a trade-off: it uses your Google account storage (shared across Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos) and requires an internet connection. Many users find themselves needing to disable backup for various reasons, which we’ll explore.

Step-by-Step Guide to Disabling Google Photos Backup

The specific method to disable Google Photos backup varies based on the device you’re using. Let’s break it down.

Stopping Backup on Android

Open the Google Photos App: Locate the Google Photos icon on your Android device (it usually looks like a multicolored pinwheel) and tap to open it.
Access Your Account Settings: Tap your profile picture (or initial) located in the top right corner of the screen. This will open a menu with various account options.
Navigate to Photos Settings: Within the menu, select “Photos settings”. This takes you to a dedicated settings page for the Google Photos app.
Go to Backup & Sync: Look for the “Backup & sync” option and tap it. This section controls the automatic backup functionality of Google Photos.
Toggle Backup & Sync Off: Find the “Backup & sync” toggle switch (usually at the top). Tap the switch to turn it off. When disabled, the switch will appear greyed out. This will immediately stop Google Photos from backing up any new photos or videos.
Confirm Disabling Backup (If Prompted): You might be prompted to confirm your decision to disable backup. Read the message carefully and confirm to proceed.

Stopping Backup on iOS (iPhone/iPad)

The process for disabling backup on iOS is almost identical to that on Android.

Open the Google Photos App: Find the Google Photos icon on your iPhone or iPad and tap to open it.
Access Your Account Settings: Tap your profile picture (or initial) in the top right corner.
Navigate to Photos Settings: Select “Photos settings” from the menu.
Go to Backup & Sync: Tap on the “Backup & sync” option.
Toggle Backup & Sync Off: Turn the “Backup & sync” toggle switch to the off position. The switch will turn greyed out to indicate that backup is disabled.
Confirm Disabling Backup (If Prompted): If prompted, confirm that you want to disable the Backup & Sync feature.

Stopping Backup on a Computer (Windows/macOS)

Disabling Google Photos backup on a computer involves a slightly different approach since you’re likely using the Google Drive desktop app. This app syncs files (including photos, if configured) between your computer and Google Drive, which in turn affects Google Photos.

Locate the Google Drive Icon: Look for the Google Drive icon in your system tray (Windows) or menu bar (macOS). It’s usually a cloud icon.
Open Google Drive Preferences: Click on the Google Drive icon and then select the “Settings” or “Preferences” option (the exact wording may vary depending on the version).
Navigate to Settings: Within the Google Drive settings, look for a tab or section related to settings or preferences.
Unlink Your Account: Find the option to “Disconnect account,” “Unlink account,” or something similar. This will sever the connection between your computer and your Google account. It is very important you disconnect the correct account if you have multiple accounts. Disconnecting your account will disable the syncing of any photos or videos.
Confirm Unlinking: You’ll likely be asked to confirm that you want to unlink your account. Read the warning message carefully, understanding that this will stop syncing all files, including photos. Confirm to proceed.
Alternatively, Choose Specific Folders Not to Sync: Instead of unlinking your account entirely, you can choose which folders on your computer not to sync with Google Drive. This can be useful if you only want to stop the backup of specific photo folders. In the Google Drive settings, look for a section related to folder selection or “Choose folders to sync.” Uncheck any folders containing photos you don’t want to back up.

Important Considerations After Disabling Backup

Existing Backups Remain: Disabling backup does not delete any photos or videos already backed up to Google Photos. They will remain in your Google Photos account until you manually delete them.
Storage Management: While disabling backup prevents new uploads, it doesn’t free up storage space consumed by existing backups. If you need to free up space, you’ll need to manually delete photos and videos from your Google Photos library. Remember to empty the “Trash” or “Bin” within Google Photos to permanently remove the files and reclaim storage space.
Manual Backup Option: Even with automatic backup disabled, you can still manually upload photos and videos to Google Photos through the app or website.
Review and Organize: This is a good opportunity to review your existing Google Photos library, organize your photos into albums, and delete any duplicates or unwanted images.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What happens to the photos already backed up to Google Photos if I stop the backup?

Your previously backed-up photos remain safe in your Google Photos account. Disabling the backup feature only prevents new photos and videos from being automatically uploaded.

2. Will stopping Google Photos backup free up space on my phone?

No. Stopping backup only prevents new photos from being uploaded. To free up space on your phone, you need to manually delete photos from your device’s storage. Google Photos has a tool called “Free up space” that removes already backed-up photos from your device, but only use it if your photos are actually backed up to Google Photos.

3. Can I selectively back up certain folders on my phone to Google Photos?

Yes, Google Photos allows you to choose which device folders to back up. In the app settings, navigate to “Backup & sync” and then “Back up device folders”. From there, you can select which folders you want to include or exclude from the backup process.

4. How do I delete photos from Google Photos to free up storage space?

Open Google Photos, select the photos you want to delete, and tap the “Delete” (trash can) icon. Remember that deleted photos go to the “Trash” or “Bin” and remain there for 60 days before being permanently deleted. You need to empty the Trash/Bin to permanently free up storage.

5. I have multiple Google accounts. How do I ensure I’m disabling backup for the correct account?

Before disabling backup, double-check which account is currently active in the Google Photos app. Tap your profile picture in the top right corner to see the currently signed-in account. If it’s the wrong account, switch to the correct one before proceeding.

6. What’s the difference between “High quality” and “Original quality” backup?

“Original quality” backs up your photos and videos in their original resolution, consuming more storage space. “High quality” (formerly known as “Storage saver”) compresses your photos and videos slightly, reducing their file size and using less storage. Google provides free storage for photos backed up in “Storage saver” quality.

7. If I delete a photo from Google Photos, will it also be deleted from my phone?

That depends. If “Backup & sync” is enabled and you delete a photo from Google Photos, it will also be deleted from your device. If “Backup & sync” is disabled, deleting a photo from Google Photos will not delete it from your phone, and vice versa.

8. Can I pause Google Photos backup instead of completely disabling it?

Yes, you can “pause” the backup process in the “Backup & sync” settings. Pausing temporarily stops the backup without completely disabling it. This can be useful when you’re on a limited data connection or want to delay backups.

9. Is it possible to back up photos to Google Photos only when connected to Wi-Fi?

Yes. In the “Backup & sync” settings, you can find options to control when backups occur. You can choose to back up photos and videos only when connected to Wi-Fi to avoid using mobile data.

10. I disabled backup, but Google Photos is still showing “Backing up”. What’s happening?

Sometimes the app might take some time to reflect the change. Try restarting the Google Photos app or even your device. Also, double-check that “Backup & sync” is indeed toggled off in the settings.

11. If I stop paying for Google One storage, what happens to my backed-up photos?

If you exceed your free storage limit after your Google One subscription expires, Google may eventually stop backing up new photos and videos. You might also lose access to other Google One benefits. It’s important to manage your storage and potentially delete files to stay within the free limit.

12. Is there a way to download all my photos from Google Photos before stopping the backup?

Yes. You can use Google Takeout to download a copy of all your photos and videos from Google Photos. Go to Google Takeout, select Google Photos, and choose the desired format and download method. This ensures you have a local backup before making any changes to your Google Photos account.