Upload photos and videos

You can automatically upload photos and videos to a private album as you take them. Your photos remain private until you share them.

Upload options

  • Photos are stored at original size and count as part of your free storage on Drive.
  • Photos are stored at standard size (2048px) after you reach the free storage limit. (You’ll receive a message when you approach the limit and can purchase more space or delete unwanted files to continue uploading at original size.)
  • Standard size photo uploads are unlimited and do not count as part of free storage on Drive.
  • Video uploads are unlimited and do not count as part of free storage on Drive if they are less than 15 minutes long and 1080p or lower resolution.

Back up automatically

TipBack up & sync backs up photos and videos you capture with your phone. You can still use Gallery to manage and share photos stored on your phone.

To set it up anytime:

  1. Touch > Photos.
  2. Touch > Settings > Back up & sync.
  3. Turn Back up & sync on .

  4. Adjust settings as needed:

    • To choose high quality or original size for uploads, touch Upload size.
    • To back up items in your Download, Screenshots, and third-party app folders, touch Back up device folders.
    • To back up items over your cellular network, turn Photos and Videos on.
    • To allow syncing when your cellular service is roaming, turn Roaming on .

Back up manually

Photos and videos that aren't backed up will have this icon . To manually back it up:

  1. Open the photo or video.
  2. On the photo or video, touch .

View your backed up files

From your phone, open the Photos app.

From your computer, sign in to photos.google.com.

More help

To learn more, open the Photos app and touch > Help.