How to fix back up and sync feature in Google Photos for Android mobile?
Google is making certain changes in its Google Photos app. recently it added a new map view feature for exploring photos. Actually, Google had two separate apps for Google Drive and Google Photos on a computer. Everything was going well until Google decided to change things. Also Google mentioned in a post that it has turned off backup and sync on device folders for social media and messaging apps in the Android version of the app. So by default, it won’t sync media from Instagram, WhatsApp, Snapchat, and essentially any other folder outside of your regular camera.
Though you can change this anytime at the settings menu
- You can turn on backup and sync settings at any time within these apps.
- When backup and sync is turned off, you can still find photos and videos from messaging apps on your device and choose individual photos and videos to back up.
- Previously backed up photos and videos from messaging apps aren’t affected.
Here’s how to fix back up and sync feature in Google Photos for Android mobile.
First open Google Photos: While Google Photos has a fine desktop site, you’ll need to adjust the settings in the mobile app. So, go ahead and open it. By now, you should have the version 5 update that gives Google Photos a new logo and user interface. You will find that the facelift does not necessarily arrive immediately upon update, even if you have the new logo. Either way, you’ll start on the Photos tab.
Locate Device Folders: In the new interface, tap on Library in the bottom navigation bar. You’ll see Device Folders in the middle. You can scroll left to right to locate a specific folder or tap “View All” to see the folders in a grid. With the old setup, tap on the hamburger icon in the top left to access the menu. Then, tap on “Device Folders.”
Select a Folder: With the new change, you’ll find that many of the folders that you had previously designated for backup are now not. The change impacts messaging apps such as WhatsApp, Messages, and Kik, but we’ve seen that some social media apps, like Instagram and Snapchat, are impacted as well. Folders that are not backed up to Google Photos are designated with a broken cloud icon in the bottom right corner of the thumbnail, while folders with backup permission have no icon. Tap on a non-backed up folder.
Toggle Backup & Sync: Once you’re in the folder, you’ll see a slider at the top for backup and sync. Tap it to restore backup permissions. Go back and repeat for other folders. If you don’t want to upload everything from the selected folder, leave the slider alone and proceed to the next step.
Backup Individual Photos or Video: If you don’t want to backup everything from these disabled apps, select the photos you do want to backup, then tap the three dots icon in the top right corner and select “Back up now.” Or, you can open individual files, then swipe up to find the “Back up now” option. There’s another way that takes a few more taps, but might be quicker when dealing with a large volume of apps and/or folders. From any screen in the app, tap your profile photo, then “Photos settings.” In Settings, select “Back up & sync.” On the next page, tap “Back up device folders.” Here, you’ll find a list of all of your folders, with sliders next to them. If they are blue, they are backed up. Tap the grey ones to turn on sync.
Now you are ready to view all your photos that are backed up and synced.
What is the difference between Google Drive and backup and sync?
Google Drive is a platform to store and sync content across various devices. It has a web version and its mobile app is downloadable on Android and iOS devices.
Backup and Sync is Google Drive’s app for Windows and Mac computers that lets you access Google Drives files on your computer and also creates a backup of your selected local files to Google Drive. It also offers the ability to add photos to Google Photos.
As the name suggests, the app offers two functionalities — backup and sync. In the former case, the app lets you create a backup of your entire computer or the selected folders on Google Drive. You can also backup files from a USB drive or SD card.
The term backup is misleading here for the folders are constantly synced as well. Meaning, any change you make to the synced files on your computer or Google Drive will reflect on the other side too.
When it comes to sync, you can sync all your Google Drive folders or selected folders to your computer. That lets you access your Drive content on your PC even when you’re offline.
Since the Backup and Sync app works with both Google Drive and Google Photos, it can be downloaded from either website.
Once you install the app, you would want an interface similar to Drive or Photos. However, that’s not the case. The Backup and Sync app lacks a particular interface for it doesn’t let you view files. It’s just a medium to select the files. When you install and set the app, you will find the Backup and Sync icon in the Taskbar. Clicking on it will open the monitoring bar that houses various shortcuts and settings. That’s all you get with the app.
The photos and videos synced from local folders to Google Drive aren’t directly visible in Google Photos. You need to enable the setting ‘Upload newly added photos and videos to Google Photos’ present in Backup and Sync Preferences > My Laptop.
If you choose to add images in the Google Drive folder on your laptop, they won’t appear in Google Photos automatically. To show all your Drive photos and videos in Google Photos, you have to enable Google Drive setting in Google Photos using its website or mobile apps.
