Google changes how it backs up computer photos starting August 10

Technology company Google has announced that a significant change will be made to the way photos are backed up on computers starting August 10, 2026. The company will end the automatic transfer of photos between Google Drive desktop backup and Google Photos.

This change will particularly affect users who back up photo folders on their computers via Google Drive and expect these photos to automatically appear in Google Photos.

After August 10, users will have to set up photo backups directly through the Google Photos website.

To do this

Open Google Photos and click on the + button at the top right, then select the Backup Folders option and select the desired folders.

After that, the user will have to grant the necessary permission to back up photos via ‘Allow’ or ‘Allow on Every Visit’.

The backup will continue automatically, but for this, it will be necessary to keep the Google Photos website or its dedicated web app open.

There is an additional restriction for Mac users. Google Photos will not be able to automatically back up Apple's Photos library directly.

Such users will first need to sync their photos via iCloud, after which they can be saved to Google Photos using the Google Photos app on their iPhone or iPad.