How To Back Up Your Google Photos Library Without Auto-Sync
PCWorld|August 2019

The useful Google Drive auto-sync feature bites the dust.

Michael Simon
How To Back Up Your Google Photos Library Without Auto-Sync

Ever since Google Photos and its unlimited high-quality cloud storage arrived, Google has included a handy backup method with your Google Drive. As long as you had the Google Drive toggle flipped in the Google Photos settings (and enough space in your Drive), everything added to Google Photos synced back to Google Drive, so you could create a personal library of photos in their original quality.

On July 10 (go.pcworld.com/chan), that changed. Google said that Drive sync was causing confusion with users, so Photos will no longer include an option (go.pcworld. com/rchn) to sync with Google Drive. You’ll still be able to back up your photos in original quality if you choose, but you’ll no longer see new photos appear on your Drive. Similarly, anything you add to the Photos folders in Google Drive will no longer automatically appear in Google Photos.

So keeping a rolling backup of your photos is going to take some work. Here’s what’s changing and what your options are for creating a backup:

GOOGLE DRIVE

Storage

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM PCWORLDView all
Private Internet Access: A low-price, high-value VPN for everyone
PCWorld

Private Internet Access: A low-price, high-value VPN for everyone

This veteran VPN shows it can still hang with the best.

time-read
8 mins  |
November 2024
Hands-on: Kensington's first Thunderbolt 5 dock is built for the future
PCWorld

Hands-on: Kensington's first Thunderbolt 5 dock is built for the future

Thunderbolt 5 is here...but you'll need more than just this well-built Kensington dock to take advantage of it.

time-read
5 mins  |
November 2024
Tested: Intel's Lunar Lake chip wants you to forget Qualcomm laptops exist
PCWorld

Tested: Intel's Lunar Lake chip wants you to forget Qualcomm laptops exist

Great battery life, mediocre performance, surprisingly decent gaming: That is how Intel's Lunar Lake chip stacks up.

time-read
10+ mins  |
November 2024
7 laptop habits that coax the most out of your battery
PCWorld

7 laptop habits that coax the most out of your battery

Don't send your laptop into an early grave.

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2024
WordPad is gone from Windows 11. Here's how to bring it back
PCWorld

WordPad is gone from Windows 11. Here's how to bring it back

With the arrival of Windows 11 version 24H2, WordPad is officially gone. Want to keep using it? You're in luck.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 2024
Hackers know your social security number. Here's how to stay safe
PCWorld

Hackers know your social security number. Here's how to stay safe

Thanks to a multitude of data leaks, your most sensitive information is now easily accessible to the world.

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2024
20 insanely useful Windows 11 keyboard shortcuts I use every day
PCWorld

20 insanely useful Windows 11 keyboard shortcuts I use every day

After so many years, I'm still discovering new keyboard shortcuts.

time-read
7 mins  |
November 2024
WHAT THE HECK IS AN NPU, ANYWAY? HERE'S AN EXPLAINER ON AI CHIPS
PCWorld

WHAT THE HECK IS AN NPU, ANYWAY? HERE'S AN EXPLAINER ON AI CHIPS

ALL PCS WILL SOON HAVE NEURAL PROCESSING UNITS. HERE'S WHAT THAT MEANS FOR YOU IN SIMPLE TERMS.

time-read
7 mins  |
November 2024
WINDOWS 11'S 2024 UPDAATE: 5 BIG CHANGES I REALLY LIKE (AND MORE)
PCWorld

WINDOWS 11'S 2024 UPDAATE: 5 BIG CHANGES I REALLY LIKE (AND MORE)

WINDOWS 11'S ANNUAL UPDATE IS ROLLING OUT OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

time-read
8 mins  |
November 2024
Hackers are using AI-generated code for malware attacks
PCWorld

Hackers are using AI-generated code for malware attacks

Two separate attacks have been spotted using code that was probably written by artificial intelligence.

time-read
1 min  |
November 2024