Google Drive is ending Google Photos backups on August 10: Why users need to change their settings before the deadline to keep new photos and videos backed up

If you are using Google Drive for desktop to automatically back up photos and videos to Google Photos, there is an important change you need to know about.

Google is ending support for Google Photos backups through the Drive for desktop app on August 10, 2026. Google Photos is not shutting down and it does not mean your existing photos will suddenly disappear. Instead, Google is changing how desktop users back up photos to the service.

For people who regularly use a computer to save and back up their photo collections, they should check the settings before the deadline.


ALSO READ: Why billionaire Michael Moritz and wife Harriet Heyman are offering up to $150 million to transform San Francisco

What is happening to Google Drive photo backups?

Google Drive for desktop has allowed users to select folders on their computers and automatically upload photos and videos to Google Photos. That option is now being retired.

From August 10, Drive for desktop will no longer support Google Photos backups. Google has already stopped allowing users to create new Google Photos backup folders through the Drive desktop app, while existing folders have continued syncing during the transition.

ALSO READ: Quote of the Day by Nicolas Cage: “One of the first signs of being depressed is that…

The important distinction is that Google Photos itself is not going away. The change affects the connection between the desktop Drive application and Google Photos.

What you need to do before August 10

If you currently use Drive for desktop to back up folders to Google Photos, Google is directing users to move that backup process to Google Photos itself.

You can use the Google Photos website and select the folders you want to back up there. Google also supports using the Google Photos web app for this purpose.

The basic process is:

• Open Google Photos on your computer.
• Select the option to back up folders.
• Choose the folders containing the photos and videos you want to protect.
• Allow the new backup process to complete.
• Check Google Photos afterward to make sure the files are appearing correctly.

If you have important photos stored on your computer, don't assume the transition worked without checking.

Who needs to worry about the change?

This update mainly matters to people who use Google Drive for desktop to send photos and videos from computer folders to Google Photos.

If you only use Google Photos to back up pictures directly from your smartphone, this particular Drive desktop change should not affect that routine.

Likewise, if you don't use Drive for desktop's Google Photos backup feature at all, there may be nothing you need to change.

Why Google is making the change

Google is moving desktop photo backups away from the Drive for desktop interface and toward a dedicated Google Photos experience.

The company is effectively separating the two services rather than continuing to maintain photo backup functionality inside Drive for desktop.

For casual users, the change may barely be noticeable. But people with large photo libraries or photographers who regularly transfer pictures from a computer may find the new process less convenient than the old setup.

The most important thing to remember is August 10, 2026.

After that date, Drive for desktop will no longer back up photos to Google Photos. If you depend on that feature, setting up your folders through Google Photos before the deadline can help prevent an unexpected gap in your photo backups.

And while this is not a warning that Google Photos is deleting your pictures, it is a good reminder to check how your most important memories are being backed up.

If your photos matter to you, don't rely on a single cloud copy. Keeping another backup on an external drive or another secure location can provide an extra layer of protection.