Google will discontinue support for backing up photos and videos to Google Photos through its Drive for desktop application on Aug. 10, requiring users to switch to the Google Photos interface if they want to continue automatically uploading media from their computers.
The change affects users who currently use Google Drive for desktop to sync photos and videos from local folders directly to Google Photos. Google said content that has already been backed up will remain safely stored in Google Photos and will not be deleted.
Transition began in June
Google began notifying affected users on June 15, when it stopped allowing new Google Photos backup folders to be configured through Drive for desktop.
Existing backup folders have continued to function during the transition period but will stop uploading photos and videos once the feature is retired on Aug. 10.
To continue automatic backups after that date, users must reselect their preferred folders through the Google Photos interface.
Photo backups move to Google Photos
After Aug. 10, Google Drive for desktop will no longer upload photos or videos to Google Photos.
Instead, Google said users should configure backups directly within Google Photos, where supported. The company is consolidating photo backup management into the Google Photos experience rather than maintaining the feature inside Drive for desktop.
The change applies only to Google Photos backups.
Google emphasized that Drive for desktop will continue to synchronize files stored in Google Drive, including documents, spreadsheets, presentations and other supported file types.
Users should avoid duplicate storage
Google cautioned that folders configured for both Google Drive synchronization and Google Photos backup before the transition may consume storage in both services because files are uploaded independently.
Users should review their backup settings after migrating to avoid unintended duplicate uploads and unnecessary storage usage.
Existing photos will remain available
According to Google’s support documentation, disabling a folder backup before Aug. 10 only prevents future uploads.
Photos and videos that have already been backed up to Google Photos will remain in users’ libraries unless they are manually deleted.
Google said the update is part of its broader effort to centralize photo backup management within Google Photos. The company announced the transition through its official support documentation and has not published a separate announcement on its corporate blog.
This report is based on official Google support documentation.
