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How to Back Up Google Photos to Google Drive: A Comprehensive Guide

The digital age has gifted us with the ability to capture countless memories through photos and videos. Google Photos has become a ubiquitous platform for storing and managing these precious moments. Securing this vast collection against unforeseen data loss is crucial, making a backup strategy essential. While Google Photos itself offers storage, having a redundant backup in Google Drive provides an extra layer of security and accessibility. Let’s dive into the how and why.

The simple truth is, Google Photos doesn’t directly back up to Google Drive in the traditional sense anymore. Google removed the automatic “Google Photos” folder syncing feature in Google Drive back in 2019. However, there are still strategies you can leverage to essentially achieve the same goal of having your Google Photos data mirrored within your Google Drive. These involve manually downloading and uploading, utilizing third-party tools (with caution!), or strategically sharing photos and videos. We’ll break down the best methods in detail below.

Understanding the Landscape: Why the Change?

Before we delve into the solutions, it’s essential to understand why the direct integration between Google Photos and Google Drive was discontinued. Google cited reasons of storage efficiency and clarity for users regarding storage quotas. With the old system, users were sometimes confused about how their photos and videos were consuming storage across both services. Separating the services aimed to provide more control and transparency. This shift necessitates a more proactive approach to backing up your photos.

Methods to “Back Up” Google Photos to Google Drive

While the automatic sync is gone, several workable alternatives exist:

1. Manual Download and Upload

This is the most straightforward, albeit time-consuming, method.

How to do it:
1. Navigate to Google Photos in your web browser.
2. Select the photos and videos you wish to back up. You can select multiple items by holding down the Shift or Ctrl/Cmd key.
3. Click the three vertical dots in the top right corner and choose “Download.” This will download the selected files as a ZIP archive if you select multiple items.
4. Go to Google Drive in your web browser.
5. Create a new folder (e.g., “Google Photos Backup”).
6. Upload the downloaded ZIP file or the individual files to the new folder in Google Drive.
Pros: Complete control over what is backed up, free (uses your existing Google account storage), and no reliance on third-party applications.
Cons: Extremely time-consuming, particularly for large photo libraries, prone to human error (forgetting to back up regularly), and requires manual organization.

2. Sharing Photos/Videos from Google Photos to Google Drive

This method isn’t a true backup, but it allows you to access specific photos and videos from within your Google Drive.

How to do it:
1. In Google Photos, select the photo or video you want to “back up.”
2. Click the “Share” icon.
3. Look for the “Save to Drive” option. If you don’t see it directly, click “More” to reveal additional sharing options.
4. Choose the desired folder in your Google Drive to save the selected item.
Pros: Relatively quick for individual files, allows direct access to specific photos within Drive, and doesn’t consume extra storage if you’re just sharing.
Cons: Not a comprehensive backup solution, requires individual selection and sharing, and can become disorganized if not managed carefully.

3. Using Google Takeout (Archiving)

Google Takeout allows you to download an archive of your entire Google Photos library (or portions thereof). This can then be uploaded to Google Drive.

How to do it:
1. Go to Google Takeout (takeout.google.com).
2. Deselect all options except “Google Photos.”
3. Customize the export settings (e.g., choose specific albums, file type (.zip or .tgz), and maximum archive size). A smaller archive size is helpful if you have limited internet bandwidth.
4. Click “Next Step” and choose your delivery method (e.g., “Send download link via email” or “Add to Drive”).
5. If you choose to add it to Drive, it will automatically be saved as a ZIP file once the export is completed.
6. Google will then process your request, and you’ll receive an email when the archive is ready.
Pros: Comprehensive backup, supports filtering by album and date, and allows for customization of archive size.
Cons: Can take a significant amount of time to complete, depending on the size of your library, the resulting archive files can be very large and difficult to manage, and still requires manual uploading to Google Drive if the “Add to Drive” delivery method isn’t chosen.

4. Third-Party Backup Tools (Use with Caution!)

While no longer officially supported by Google in this way, some third-party applications claim to offer backup solutions from Google Photos to Google Drive.

Important Note: Be extremely cautious when using third-party tools. Ensure they are reputable, have positive reviews, and, crucially, have clear privacy policies regarding your data. Give very careful thought to providing any such tool access to your Google account. A data breach or malicious software could compromise your entire Google ecosystem.
How to do it: (If you choose this route):
1. Research and select a reputable third-party tool that explicitly states its ability to back up Google Photos to Google Drive.
2. Carefully read the terms of service and privacy policy.
3. Follow the instructions provided by the tool to connect your Google Photos and Google Drive accounts.
4. Monitor the backup process to ensure it’s working as expected.
Pros: Potentially automated backup, can be more convenient than manual methods.
Cons: Security risks, reliance on a third-party service, potential cost, and may violate Google’s terms of service in some cases. This is generally not recommended unless you have thoroughly vetted the tool and are comfortable with the risks.

Best Practices for Google Photos Backup

No matter which method you choose, consider these best practices:

Regularly Back Up: Don’t wait until disaster strikes. Schedule regular backups (e.g., weekly or monthly).
Verify Your Backups: After backing up, spot-check the files in Google Drive to ensure they are intact and accessible.
Organize Your Backups: Use a clear folder structure in Google Drive to keep your backups organized.
Consider Multiple Backup Locations: Don’t rely solely on Google Drive. Consider a local backup on an external hard drive for an additional layer of protection.
Stay Informed: Keep up-to-date with Google’s policies and best practices for data backup.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some common questions related to backing up Google Photos to Google Drive:

1. Is there a direct “sync” feature between Google Photos and Google Drive anymore?

No. Google discontinued the direct synchronization feature between Google Photos and Google Drive in 2019.

2. Does backing up Google Photos to Google Drive consume storage space?

Yes, unless you’re only sharing photos from Photos to Drive (which doesn’t create a duplicate file). If you download and upload or use Google Takeout and upload the resulting archive, it will count against your Google Drive storage quota.

3. How do I download all my photos from Google Photos at once?

Use Google Takeout. It allows you to download an archive of your entire Google Photos library.

4. Can I choose specific albums to back up using Google Takeout?

Yes. When using Google Takeout, you can select specific albums to include in the archive.

5. What file format should I choose when downloading from Google Takeout?

The default is .zip, but .tgz is also an option. Choose the format that is most compatible with your operating system and archiving software.

6. What is the maximum archive size I should choose in Google Takeout?

Consider your internet bandwidth and computer processing power. Smaller archive sizes (e.g., 2GB or 4GB) are easier to download and manage, especially if you have a slower internet connection. If your archive is larger than the specified size, it will be split into multiple files.

7. Is it safe to use third-party tools to back up Google Photos to Google Drive?

Use extreme caution. Research the tool thoroughly, read reviews, and understand the privacy policy before granting access to your Google account. Data breaches are a real concern.

8. Will backing up Google Photos to Google Drive preserve the original image quality?

Yes, if you download and upload using the “Original Quality” setting in Google Photos. However, if you have previously compressed your photos to “Storage saver” (formerly “High quality”), then you’ll be backing up the compressed versions.

9. What happens if I delete a photo from Google Photos after backing it up to Google Drive?

The photo will be deleted from Google Photos, but the copy in Google Drive will remain (assuming you truly backed it up, rather than just shared it.)

10. How can I automate the manual download and upload process?

There isn’t a native Google solution for this. Consider using scripting tools (like Python with the Google Drive and Photos APIs), but this requires technical expertise.

11. Does “Free up space” in Google Photos affect my backups in Google Drive?

Yes, if you shared files from Photos to Drive. If you use “Free up space” in Google Photos, it removes the photos from your device and from Google Photos. If you shared the photos to Drive, those shared links will remain and point to nothing. This is why a true backup (download and upload) is preferable.

12. Is there a future update planned by Google to simplify Google Photos backup to Google Drive?

Google’s product roadmap is constantly evolving, but currently, there’s no indication of a return to the direct sync functionality. Keep an eye on Google’s official announcements for any future changes.

Conclusion

While the direct, automatic backup of Google Photos to Google Drive is no longer available, several viable alternatives exist. Carefully weigh the pros and cons of each method and choose the one that best suits your needs and technical comfort level. Remember to prioritize regular backups, verify your backups, and stay vigilant about security. Your memories are precious – protect them!