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How to Turn On Automatic Backup in Google Photos

Tap a step to see how to turn on automatic backup in Google Photos, from finding the setting to choosing upload quality.

  1. Open Google Photos and tap your profile icon

    Launch the app and tap the profile icon in the top-right corner to open the account menu.

  2. Choose "Photos settings"

    Select "Photos settings" from the menu to open the detailed settings screen.

  3. Tap "Backup"

    Tap "Backup" in the settings list (some older app versions still label this "Backup & sync").

  4. Turn on the switch and pick an upload quality

    Turn on the Backup switch, then choose either "Storage saver" or "Original quality" as your upload option.

  5. Why this is worth doing

    Even if your phone is lost or damaged, turning on automatic backup keeps every photo and video you've taken safely stored in your Google account, viewable from any other device.

Backed-up photos still count against your Google account storage

Since 2021, Google Photos no longer offers unlimited free storage for uploads; even the "Storage saver" option now counts against your Google account's shared storage (15GB free, or more on a paid Google One plan). If you're relying on backup to hold years of photos, it's worth checking your remaining storage periodically.

Free up phone storage once photos are backed up

After photos finish backing up, many photo apps offer a "Free up space" feature that removes only the local copies from your device while keeping everything safely in the cloud, letting you reclaim storage without losing anything.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do backed-up photos count against my Google account storage?

Yes. Since June 2021, both "Storage saver" and "Original quality" uploads count against your Google account's storage (15GB free, or your Google One plan's capacity). There is no longer an unlimited free tier.

Can I set backup to only happen over Wi-Fi?

Yes. In the same Backup settings, turning off "Use mobile data" makes backup happen only when you're connected to Wi-Fi.