If you used Google Drive for desktop to back up photos from your Windows PC or Mac to Google Photos, your old backup setup has stopped working. Google ended that feature on August 10, 2026. New files added to folders that were backed up through the old Drive setting will no longer be sent to Google Photos through that feature.
Your existing photos and videos already backed up to Google Photos are not being deleted. The change affects future backups from selected computer folders through Google Drive for desktop.
Google’s current Google Photos instructions provide a “Back up folders” option for automatically backing up selected computer folders. It works differently from the old Drive setup: the Google Photos browser tab needs to remain open, or the Photos web app needs to be running for automatic folder backup to continue.
As technology experts with over 20 years of experience in hardware and application research and development, we focus on what changes for real users: whether your photos are still being backed up, what you need to change, and whether the new method fits the way you work. This guide is for everyday users, families, photographers, content creators, and professionals who rely on automatic photo backups. Our recommendations are based on product research, technical analysis, real-world usability, and industry experience.
In this article, we explain what changed, what remains safe, how to switch to Google Photos’ folder backup, and how to verify that new files are actually being backed up.
Research disclosure: We did not perform a hands-on test of this transition. This guide is based on Google’s current support documentation, reviewed on August 11, 2026, along with an analysis of the affected workflows.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
- Google Drive is not shutting
- Existing Google Photos uploads remain
- The old Google Drive for desktop photo backup has
- New photos in those old folders will no longer be backed up through Drive for
- Google Photos’ Backup folders feature can back up selected computer
- The Google Photos tab or Photos web app needs to remain running for automatic folder
What changes after August 10, 2026
Google ended the Google Photos backup feature, not Google Drive itself.
| Feature or Data | Status After August 10, 2026 | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Photo-Folder Backup Through Google Drive for Desktop | Ended | New photos and videos in selected computer folders no longer upload to Google Photos through that setting. |
| Existing Items in Google Photos | Remain in Google Photos | Stopping the old backup method does not delete photos or videos that were previously uploaded. |
| Regular Google Drive File Synchronization | Not part of this change | Google continues to support file streaming, mirroring, and synchronization through Google Drive for desktop. |
| Google Photos App Backup on Phones or Tablets | Not part of this change | The change concerns selected computer folders previously backed up through Google Drive for desktop, rather than normal mobile Google Photos backup. |
| Google’s Computer-Folder Backup Option | Google Photos Website or Photos Web App | The browser tab or web app must remain open for automatic computer-folder backup to continue. |
Anyone who regularly moves images from a camera, card reader, scanner, or editing application into a selected computer folder may notice that Google Drive for desktop no longer backs up those files to Google Photos. Someone who uses only the Google Photos app on a phone or tablet may see no change from this desktop-specific announcement.
Are existing Google Photos safe?
Yes. Existing uploads remain in Google Photos unless someone deletes them manually. Google’s support page states that stopping a folder backup prevents future uploads; it does not remove media that has already reached Google Photos.
The main issue is future backups. You could keep adding photos to the same computer folder without realizing that they are no longer being uploaded to Google Photos.
After switching methods, verify recent files rather than relying only on the presence of older images.
REAL-WORLD EXAMPLE
Suppose your PC has a folder called Family Photos and you previously selected it in Google Drive for desktop. Photos added there after August 10, 2026 will no longer reach Google Photos through that old setting. Add the folder through Google Photos’ Back up folders option instead.
QUICK CHECK: Did you use Google Drive for desktop to back up computer folders? Yes / No / Not sure
How to back up photos to Google Photos from a computer
Here’s how to back up photos from Windows or Mac folders to Google Photos.
- Open google.com and sign in to the intended Google Account.
- At the top right, select Create and add photos.
- Under “Add photos,” choose Back up folders.
- Select the local folders that should be
- Grant Allow or Allow on every visit when the browser requests folder
- Keep the Google Photos tab open, or install and keep the Photos web app
- Check the backup status before treating the setup as
If the Google Photos folder backup option does not appear, or the site reports that the browser is unsupported, Google advises switching to a supported browser or updating the current one.
Why does Google Photos need to stay open?
The new backup method works differently from the old Drive setup.
- Close the Google Photos tab: new files will stop uploading
- Keep the tab open: Google Photos can continue backing up the selected
- Use the Photos web app: this is another way to keep the backup
- Need unattended backups? Consider a separate backup method that does not depend on an open browser or web
What happens when a folder contains old media?
Google Photos tries to process the selected folder. Google says content already backed up is not re-uploaded. Content that was not previously uploaded—or that was uploaded and later edited or deleted while backed up—can upload.
Check storage use after selecting a large archive, especially if it contains edited files or items previously removed from Google Photos.
How do I know my photos are actually backed up?
To check Google Photos backup status, open photos.google.com and look at the status shown at the top of the library. Google documents the following states:
- No backup
- Preparing backup
- Backing up photos
- Backup complete
- Backup paused
Do not stop at the overall message. Open several recent items, select Info, and check whether each one is backed up. Google may also show the file size and upload source.
To test the setup:
- Add one new test image to each selected
- Keep Google Photos open until the interface reports
- Find each test image in Google
- Open Info and confirm its backup
- If the workflow must survive restarts, reopen the browser or Photos web app, add another test image, and verify it again.
This won’t verify a large archive item by item, but it can catch a missed folder, wrong account, closed tab, or paused upload.
Import photos from Google Drive to Google Photos
The steps above apply to files stored on the computer. Use a different process to import photos from Google Drive to Google Photos when the media is already stored in Google Drive:
- Open google.com.
- Select Add, then Google Drive.
- Find and select the photos or
- Select Upload.
This creates a separate copy in Google Photos; it does not create a permanently linked item.
| Question | Local Folder Backup | Import from Google Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Where does the source file begin? | A normal folder stored on the computer | Google Drive in the cloud |
| Is the process ongoing? | Yes, while the Google Photos tab or Photos web app is running | No; the user manually selects the items to import |
| Do later Google Drive edits change the Google Photos copy? | Not applicable | No. Changes made later in Google Drive do not modify the imported Google Photos copy. |
| Does deleting the Google Drive file delete the Google Photos copy? | Not applicable | No. The imported Google Photos copy remains separate. |
| What should work or school users know? | Check the organization’s account and administrator policies. | For work or school accounts, Google says users need to download the media from Google Drive and then re-upload it to Google Photos. |
Do not use an import from Google Drive as a substitute for monitoring a local camera folder. It solves a different problem.
Do Google Drive and Google Photos count twice for storage?
They can. Google states that a new copy imported from Google Drive into Google Photos also uses shared Google Account storage. Changes and deletions in one service apply only to that service.
Google says each Google Account includes up to 15 GB of storage shared across Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos. An account may have more storage through a Google One membership, a promotion, or a related purchase.
Before copying a large Google Drive library, check:
- how much shared Google Account storage remains;
- whether the Google Drive copy still serves a separate purpose;
- whether Original quality or Storage saver matches the archive’s needs; and
- whether another local or independent copy already
Google says an account that is over its storage limit cannot back up new photos or videos. The available responses are to reduce storage use or purchase more capacity through Google One where available. This change does not itself require a paid membership, and no price is quoted here because plans and availability can vary by market.
Apple Photos Library and Mac limitations
The Apple Photos Library limitation deserves separate attention. Google says the browser-based Back up folders feature does not support Apple Photos Library.
Google instead points users to the Google Photos app on an iPhone or iPad to back up those photos or videos. That route depends on the required media being available on the mobile device. Mac users can use the browser workflow for supported media stored in ordinary folders outside Apple Photos Library.
Granting browser access on a Mac does not make Apple Photos Library a supported source. Confirm the actual folder source and check several recent files in Google Photos.
Which photos and videos can Google Photos back up?
Google currently documents these computer-backup limits:
| Item | Documented Requirement |
|---|---|
| Photo Size | Up to 200 MB or 200 megapixels |
| Video Size | Up to 10 GB |
| Minimum Dimensions | Larger than 256 × 256 pixels |
| Listed Photo Formats | .jpg, .heic, .heif, .png, .webp, .gif, .avif, and most RAW files |
| Listed Video Formats | Includes .mp4, .mov, .avi, .mkv, and other formats listed on Google’s support page |
Google cautions that an unlisted file type may not back up. Camera users should check the official RAW photo compatibility list for their camera or file type rather than assuming that every RAW variation is supported.
Is Google Photos folder backup enough for you?
These methods serve different storage and recovery needs.
| Method | Main Advantage | Main Limitation | Suitable Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Photos Web Folder Backup | Automatically adds selected computer folders to Google Photos. | Requires an open browser tab or the Google Photos web app to remain running. | Computer folders that need automatic photo backup while Google Photos is running. |
| Import from Google Drive | Copies selected cloud files into Google Photos. | Imported copies are independent and may consume storage in both services. | Best for a one-time import of selected photos and videos stored in Google Drive. |
| External-Drive Copy | Maintains a local backup copy outside your Google Account. | Requires a defined backup schedule and secure physical storage for the drive. | Useful as a local recovery copy of an important photo and video library. |
| Network Storage / Dedicated Backup Software | Can provide scheduled or continuous backup workflows, depending on the configuration. | Requires additional setup, maintenance, and usually extra cost. | Better for automated workflows that should not depend on an open browser tab. |
| Google Photos App on Phone / Tablet | Backs up supported photos and videos stored on the mobile device. | Does not monitor ordinary folders on a Windows or Mac computer. | Best for phone photography and the documented mobile route for Apple Photos Library content. |
Google Photos provides off-device access, but media can still be deleted from the account. For irreplaceable work, consider keeping a separate local copy and, where appropriate, another separate backup copy in a different location. This is general backup-planning advice. Google’s published folder-backup requirements do not specify a particular drive, network storage system, or paid subscription.
Frequently asked questions
Is Google Photos shutting down?
Google’s announcement does not say that Google Photos is shutting down. It applies to the Google Photos backup function that was previously available in Google Drive for desktop.
Does automatic Google Photos folder backup work with the browser closed?
No. Google says the Google Photos tab must remain open, or the Photos web app must keep running, for automatic folder backup.
What if Google Photos Back up folders is missing?
Google advises updating the current browser or switching to a supported browser if the option is missing or a “Browser not supported” message appears.
Can Google Photos import directly from Google Drive?
A personal Google Account can use Add → Google Drive in Google Photos. For work or school accounts, Google says users need to download the media from Google Drive and re-upload it to Google Photos.
Will deleting an imported Google Drive file remove its Google Photos copy?
No. Google describes them as independent copies. Changes or deletion in Google Drive do not carry over to the Google Photos copy, and the reverse also applies.
Does this change require a purchase?
No purchase is required solely to use the replacement folder-backup feature. Paying for Google One storage or buying separate backup equipment is a different decision based on available Google Account storage and recovery needs.
Final assessment
The end of Google Drive for desktop photo backup does not put existing Google Photos uploads on a deletion timer. It changes how new files travel from a computer to Google Photos.
For PC or Mac folder backups, Google Photos can handle selected folders while the Google Photos tab or Photos web app remains running. For unattended or high-volume workflows, that requirement makes verification and a separate backup plan more important.
The practical next step is to select the required folders in Google Photos, upload a few test files, confirm their status, and review shared Google Account storage before moving a large archive. No purchase is required solely because Google Drive for desktop dropped this feature.
Have you switched from Google Drive for desktop to Google Photos folder backup? Tell us how it went in the comments. If you’re having trouble with the new setup, leave your question below and we’ll try to help.
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