Google Photos is a fantastic service for backing up your precious memories, seamlessly syncing photos and videos across your devices. However, there might be times when you need to turn off Google Photos sync on your desktop computer. Whether you’re looking to conserve bandwidth, manage storage, or simply prefer to manually control your photo backups, disabling sync is a straightforward process.
This guide will walk you through several effective methods to turn off Google Photos sync on your Windows PC or Mac, providing step-by-step instructions to suit your needs.
Solution 1: Temporarily Pause Google Drive Sync
The simplest and quickest way to stop Google Photos from syncing is to pause the Google Drive sync application. This method is ideal when you need a temporary halt to uploads without fully disconnecting or altering your settings.
On Windows PC:
Step 1: Locate the Backup and Sync icon in your system tray (usually in the bottom right corner of your screen). Click on the icon to open the Backup and Sync app.
Step 2: Click the three vertical dots (ellipses) usually located in the top right corner of the Backup and Sync window.
Step 3: From the dropdown menu, select “Pause”. This will immediately halt all syncing processes, including Google Photos uploads.
Pausing Google Drive Sync on Windows
Alt text: Pausing Google Drive Sync on Windows: Click the Backup and Sync icon in the taskbar, select ellipses, and choose the Pause option from the menu.
On Apple Mac:
Step 1: Find the Backup and Sync icon in your macOS menu bar, typically at the top right of your screen. Click on the icon.
Step 2: Click the three vertical dots (ellipses) within the Backup and Sync app interface.
Step 3: Select “Pause” from the menu. This action will pause Google Drive sync and effectively stop Google Photos upload from your Mac.
Pausing Google Drive Sync on Mac
Alt text: Pausing Google Drive Sync on Mac: Access the Backup and Sync app from the macOS menu bar, click the ellipses, and select Pause to stop syncing.
Solution 2: Disconnecting Your Google Account from Backup and Sync
For a more definitive stop to Google Photos sync, signing out of your Google Account within the Backup and Sync application is an effective solution. This disconnects your computer from your Google Drive and Photos account, preventing any further syncing.
On Windows PC:
Step 1: Open the Backup and Sync app by clicking its icon in the system tray.
Step 2: Click the ellipses and then select “Preferences” from the menu.
Accessing Preferences in Backup and Sync on Windows
Alt text: Opening Preferences in Backup and Sync on Windows: Click the Backup and Sync icon, then the ellipses, and select Preferences to access settings.
Step 3: In the Preferences window, navigate to the “Settings” tab.
Step 4: Click the “Disconnect Account” button.
Disconnecting Google Account in Backup and Sync on Windows
Alt text: Disconnecting Google Account in Backup and Sync on Windows: Within the Settings tab, click the Disconnect Account button to sign out and stop Google Photos sync.
Step 5: Confirm your decision to disconnect your account when prompted.
On Apple Mac:
Step 1: Access the Backup and Sync app from the macOS menu bar.
Step 2: Click the ellipses and select “Preferences”.
Accessing Preferences in Backup and Sync on Mac
Alt text: Accessing Preferences in Backup and Sync on Mac: Open the Backup and Sync app from the macOS menu bar and select Preferences from the options.
Step 3: Go to the “Settings” tab and click “Disconnect Account”.
Step 4: Confirm the disconnection to stop Google Photos sync on your Mac.
Solution 3: Quitting the Backup and Sync App
Closing the Backup and Sync application entirely is another straightforward method to immediately halt Google Photos uploads. This is a quick way to stop syncing until you relaunch the app.
On Windows PC:
Step 1: Right-click the Backup and Sync icon in the system tray.
Step 2: Select “Quit” from the context menu. This will close the application and stop Google Photos syncing.
Pausing Google Drive Sync on Windows
Alt text: Quitting Backup and Sync App on Windows: Right-click the Backup and Sync icon in the system tray and select Quit to close the application and stop photo syncing.
On Apple Mac:
Step 1: Click the Backup and Sync icon in the macOS menu bar.
Step 2: Select “Quit Backup and Sync” from the menu options. This will close the application and cease Google Photos uploads from your Mac.
Pausing Google Drive Sync on Mac
Alt text: Quitting Backup and Sync App on Mac: Click the Backup and Sync icon in the macOS menu bar and choose Quit Backup and Sync to stop photo uploads.
Solution 4: Uninstalling the Google Backup and Sync App
For a permanent solution to stop Google Photos sync from your desktop, uninstalling the Backup and Sync application is the most decisive action. This removes the application entirely, preventing any automatic syncing between your computer and Google Photos.
On Windows PC:
Step 1: Click the Windows “Start” menu and then click on “Settings” (the gear icon).
Accessing Settings in Windows to Uninstall App
Alt text: Accessing Settings in Windows to Uninstall App: Open the Windows Start menu and click on the Settings gear icon to access system settings.
Step 2: In the Settings window, click on “Apps”.
Step 3: In the “Apps & features” section, scroll down and locate “Backup and Sync from Google”.
Locating Backup and Sync in Apps & Features on Windows
Alt text: Locating Backup and Sync in Apps & Features on Windows: Find “Backup and Sync from Google” in the list of installed applications within Apps & Features settings.
Step 4: Click on “Backup and Sync from Google” and then click the “Uninstall” button. Confirm your decision to uninstall the application.
On Apple Mac:
Step 1: Open “Finder” and click on “Applications” in the sidebar.
Step 2: Locate the “Backup and Sync” application icon.
Step 3: Drag the “Backup and Sync” icon to the “Trash” or “Bin” icon in your Dock. Alternatively, you can right-click (or two-finger tap) on the icon and select “Move to Trash”.
Moving Backup and Sync to Trash on Mac
Alt text: Moving Backup and Sync to Trash on Mac: Drag the Backup and Sync app icon from the Applications folder to the Trash icon in the Dock to uninstall.
Step 4: Empty the Trash by right-clicking on the “Trash” or “Bin” icon in the Dock and selecting “Empty Trash”.
Emptying Trash on Mac to Complete Uninstall
Alt text: Emptying Trash on Mac to Complete Uninstall: Right-click the Trash icon in the Dock and select Empty Trash to permanently remove the Backup and Sync application.
Solution 5: Preventing Photos from Uploading in Backup and Sync Settings
If you prefer to keep the Backup and Sync app installed but want to prevent only photos from being uploaded to Google Photos, you can adjust the application’s settings to deselect photo backup options.
On Windows PC:
Step 1: Open the Backup and Sync app from the system tray.
Step 2: Click the ellipses and select “Preferences”.
Step 3: In the Preferences window, under “My PC”, uncheck the box next to “Pictures”.
Step 4: Under “Google Photos”, uncheck the option “Upload newly added photos”.
Deselecting Photo Backup Options in Backup and Sync on Windows
Alt text: Deselecting Photo Backup Options in Backup and Sync on Windows: In Preferences, uncheck Pictures under My PC and Upload newly added photos under Google Photos to disable photo syncing.
On Apple Mac:
Step 1: Access the Backup and Sync app from the macOS menu bar.
Step 2: Click the ellipses and select “Preferences”.
Step 3: In the Preferences window, uncheck “Pictures” and “Photo Library” under “Choose folders to sync from your computer”.
Step 4: Uncheck the option “Upload newly added photos to Google Photos” under “Google Photos”.
Deselecting Photo Backup Options in Backup and Sync on Mac
Alt text: Deselecting Photo Backup Options in Backup and Sync on Mac: Within Preferences, uncheck Pictures, Photo Library, and Upload newly added photos to disable Google Photos syncing.
By following these methods, you can effectively turn off Google Photos sync on your desktop, giving you greater control over your photo backups and data usage. Choose the solution that best fits your needs, whether it’s a temporary pause or a permanent stop to photo syncing.
