Bengaluru: Google has changed the way computer users can back up their photos to Google Photos, bringing an important change for people who have relied on Google Drive for desktop to keep their pictures and videos safe.
The change takes effect on August 10, and it has caused some confusion among users because of reports suggesting that Google is ending photo backups. However, Google is not shutting down Google Drive or Google Photos. The change is specifically related to the way photos and videos stored on computers are backed up to Google Photos.
People who have already stored their photos in Google Photos do not need to worry about losing them. Google has confirmed that existing photos and videos already backed up to Google Photos will remain in users' accounts. The change only affects the way future photos and videos are uploaded from computer folders.
For several years, users have been able to use Google Drive for desktop to select folders on their computers and automatically back up their contents to Google Photos. This was particularly useful for people who keep large collections of family pictures, videos and other personal memories on their computers.
Google started preparing users for the change earlier this year. From June 15, users could no longer add new folders for Google Photos backup through the Drive for desktop application. Folders that had already been selected for backup continued to work during the transition period, but that arrangement has now ended.
Google is now encouraging users to move their photo backup activities to Google Photos itself. The company has introduced a feature called Back up folders, which allows users to choose folders on their computers that they want Google Photos to automatically upload.
To set this up, users can open Google Photos on their computer and select the option to add photos. They can then choose Back up folders and select the folders containing their pictures and videos. Once permission is provided, Google Photos can upload new content from those selected folders.
There is one important difference that users should understand. The new system works through Google Photos rather than the old Drive for desktop backup system. Google says the Google Photos web application needs to remain open or running in the background for automatic folder backup to continue.
This could be an important consideration for people who regularly keep their computers running and expect photos to be uploaded automatically. Users who frequently close their browser or shut down their computers may need to pay more attention to whether their new photos have actually been backed up.
Another issue is storage. Google provides 15 GB of free storage for each standard Google Account, with that space shared between Google Photos, Google Drive and Gmail. Users with large photo and video collections can therefore reach their storage limit quickly.
Google has also warned users to be careful about setting up both Drive syncing and Google Photos backup for the same folders. If the same photos are uploaded through different methods, users could end up with duplicate files and use more of their available storage.
The change is likely to have the greatest effect on people who have large photo collections stored on desktop computers. Professional photographers, families with years of personal photographs and users who regularly transfer pictures from cameras may need to review their backup arrangements.
For people who only use Google Photos on their phones, the change is much less significant. Phone users can continue using the normal Google Photos backup feature on their devices.
The most important message from Google is that users do not need to panic about their existing photo libraries. The photos that have already been backed up to Google Photos are not being removed because of this change.
Instead, users who depended on Drive for desktop to send photos to Google Photos need to change their backup method. Google recommends using the Back up folders option in Google Photos to continue protecting photos stored on computers.
The change highlights an issue that many people often overlook when storing important memories online. Having photos in the cloud does not necessarily mean that the backup system will always work in the same way. Services can change their features, and users may need to update their settings to make sure their important files continue to be protected.
For Google users, the safest step is therefore to check their current backup settings, identify where their important photos are stored and make sure new pictures are being uploaded correctly. Users with large collections should also check how much Google Account storage they have available.
Google's latest move does not mean the end of Google Photos or Google Drive. It simply marks the end of one particular way of transferring photos from computers to Google Photos. For users who make the necessary change, their regular photo backup can continue under Google's new system.