Google Photos is a fantastic service for photo and video storage, offering accessibility across devices and simplifying media management. Initially providing generous free storage, Google’s shift away from unlimited storage for compressed photos means users now need to be more mindful of their 15GB quota, shared across Google services. Many users find themselves in situations where they need to manage or even remove their Google Photos backups to free up space or address privacy concerns.
Have you ever accidentally enabled backup and sync, only to find your Google storage maxed out? Or perhaps you’re reconsidering what you want stored in the cloud? Like this Reddit user:
I accidentally activated the photo backup option for photos and it completely filled my storage to the max. How do I remove those photos and videos without deleting them from my phone gallery too? I already deactivated photo backup but everything is still there.
This guide will walk you through the process of unbacking up your Google Photos, covering how to remove existing backups and prevent future automatic uploads. We’ll ensure you understand the implications and can confidently manage your photo storage.
Understanding What Happens When You Unbackup Google Photos
Before you proceed with deleting backups, it’s crucial to understand the consequences. Removing a backup from Google Photos only affects the cloud copy of your photos and videos. Your original files will remain safely stored on your local devices, such as your phone or computer.
This distinction is important for both privacy and data security. Deleting backups from Google Photos can enhance your privacy by removing your media from cloud servers. However, it also means your photos are solely reliant on your local device’s storage, increasing the risk of data loss if your device is damaged, lost, or malfunctions.
If you’re comfortable with your photos existing only on your devices and wish to free up Google storage or manage your cloud presence, then removing Google Photos backups is the right step. Let’s explore how to do it effectively.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Remove Google Photos Backups
There are two main ways to remove your Google Photos backups: through a web browser on your computer or directly via the Google Photos app on your phone. Both methods are straightforward, and we’ll cover both in detail.
Removing Backups via Web Browser
Using a web browser offers a convenient way to manage your Google Photos, especially when dealing with a large number of photos and videos.
Step 1: Open your web browser and navigate to the Google Photos website. Sign in to your Google account if you’re not already logged in.
Step 2: Locate and select the photos and videos you wish to remove from your Google Photos backup. Hover over a photo and click the checkmark in the top-left corner to select it. You can select multiple items by clicking on each one, or by using shift-click or ctrl/cmd-click for bulk selection.
Step 3: Once you’ve selected all the items you want to remove from backup, click the Trash icon (dustbin) located in the top-right corner of the Google Photos interface. This will move the selected photos and videos to your Trash.
Step 4: To permanently delete these items and free up storage space, you need to empty the Trash. On the left-hand menu, click on Trash.
Step 5: In the Trash, you will see all the photos and videos you’ve recently deleted. You have two options here:
- To delete specific items permanently, select them and click Delete permanently.
- To empty the entire Trash, click Empty trash in the top-right corner.
Step 6: Confirm your action in the pop-up window by clicking Delete permanently. This action will permanently remove the selected photos and videos from your Google Photos account, freeing up your storage space.
Emptying the Trash
It’s important to remember that simply moving photos to the Trash doesn’t immediately free up storage space. Photos in the Trash still count towards your storage quota for 60 days before being automatically and permanently deleted. To immediately reclaim your storage, you must manually empty the Trash as described in Steps 4-6 above.
Preventing Future Backups: How to Stop Auto Backup in Google Photos
To avoid future storage issues and manage exactly what gets backed up, you can disable the automatic backup and sync feature in Google Photos. Here’s how to do it on both your phone and desktop.
On Your Phone (Android/iOS)
Disabling backup on your phone prevents new photos and videos from automatically uploading to Google Photos.
Step 1: Open the Google Photos app on your Android or iOS device.
Step 2: Tap your Profile picture or initial in the top-right corner of the app.
Step 3: Select Photo settings.
Step 4: Tap Backup & sync.
Step 5: Toggle the Backup & sync switch to the Off position. It will typically be at the top of the screen.
With Backup & sync turned off, your phone will no longer automatically upload new photos and videos to Google Photos. Photos taken after disabling backup will only reside on your device unless you manually choose to back them up.
On Desktop (Google Drive for Desktop)
If you use Google Drive for Desktop and have chosen to sync folders to Google Photos, you can also disable backup from your computer.
Step 1: Locate the Google Drive for Desktop icon in your system tray (usually in the bottom-right corner on Windows or top-right on macOS). Click on the icon.
Step 2: Click the Settings icon (gear icon) and select Preferences.
Step 3: In the Preferences window, go to My Computer.
Step 4: Find the folder(s) you have set to sync with Google Photos. These will be listed under “Folders synced to Google Drive and Google Photos”.
Step 5: To stop backing up a specific folder to Google Photos, click on the folder.
Step 6: Uncheck the box next to Back up to Google Photos.
Step 7: Click Done to save your changes.
By unchecking “Back up to Google Photos” for selected folders, you prevent files in those folders from being automatically uploaded to Google Photos via Google Drive for Desktop.
Bonus Tip: Consider Cloud-to-Cloud Backup (Optional)
While removing backups from Google Photos and stopping auto-backup helps manage storage and privacy, it’s essential to consider the safety of your precious memories. Relying solely on local device storage can be risky.
Instead of completely abandoning cloud backups, you might consider backing up your Google Photos to an alternative cloud storage service. This provides an extra layer of security without constantly filling up your primary Google account storage.
Services like MultCloud offer cloud-to-cloud backup solutions, enabling you to automatically backup your Google Photos to services like Dropbox, OneDrive, or others. This way, you can maintain a secure cloud backup of your photos while keeping your Google Photos storage lean and manageable. Exploring these options can provide peace of mind and better control over your digital assets.
Final Words
Managing your Google Photos backups effectively is essential for both storage optimization and privacy control. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can confidently remove unwanted backups and prevent future automatic uploads. Whether you’re freeing up space, managing privacy, or exploring alternative backup strategies, understanding how to unbackup Google Photos gives you greater control over your digital photo library.
