How to Fix "A Photo or Video was Skipped" Issue on Google Photos?

Google Photos is a great platform for storing and organizing all your photos and videos. However, sometimes you may encounter an error message saying "A photo or video was skipped" when trying to back up media to your Google Photos library. This can be frustrating, but thankfully there are a few things you can try to resolve this issue.

In this comprehensive guide, we will cover the main causes of the "skipped" error in Google Photos and the different solutions you can use to fix it. Whether it's an individual file or bulk uploads being skipped, we've got you covered. Let's dive in!

What Causes the "A Photo or Video was Skipped" Error Message?

There are a few main reasons why you may see the "skipped" error in Google Photos:

Corrupt or Unsupported File Types

If the photo or video file is corrupted or an unusual file type not supported by Google Photos, the platform may fail to back it up and skip it with this error message. This is a common reason.

Large File Size

Google Photos has size limits on how big a photo or video can be to be backed up. If the file exceeds these size restrictions, such as over 100MB, you'll get the skipping error.

Poor Internet Connection

An unstable or slow internet connection can also interrupt and fail the backup process, leading photos or videos to be skipped. This can happen especially with large uploads.

Restricted File Names

Google Photos places restrictions on certain characters you can use in a filename. If the file has illegal characters in its name, it will fail to back up.

Google Photos Server Issues

Sometimes the issue may not even be on your end - Google Photos servers could be having problems, also causing backups to fail with this message.

How to Fix Skipped Photos and Videos in Google Photos

Now that you know what's most likely causing the problem, here are the best ways to troubleshoot and fix the "skipped" error in Google Photos:

1. Check File Types and Sizes

Go through the files being skipped and check their file extensions and size. Rename or fix any corrupted files. Use a tool like Compressor to optimize large files over 100MB before re-uploading. This resolves the most common factors causing skipping.

2. Check Internet Connection

Make sure you have a strong, stable internet connection when trying to backup large amounts of photos or videos to Google Photos. Use WiFi over mobile data whenever possible. For large library uploads, do it in batches over time instead of all at once.

3. Verify No Illegal Characters in Names

Carefully check the names of any files being skipped to make sure there are no illegal characters like ? / < > : " * |. Try renaming the files to remove these characters and backing up again.

4. Convert to Supported Format

For uncommon or unsupported file types being skipped, try converting them to a supported format like JPG for images or MP4 for video. Then back them up again after conversion to see if that fixes it.

5. Update Google Photos App

If all else fails, make sure you're running the latest version of the Google Photos app. An update could resolve any app bugs causing the skipping behavior. Update and retry the backup.

6. Clear Google Photos Cache/Data

In rare cases, corrupted app cache or data could lead to the error. Clear the app cache and data in app settings, then re-launch Google Photos and try again. This wipes any bad data causing issues.

7. Contact Google Photos Support

If you still can't resolve the error after trying the above solutions, reach out to Google Photos customer support. They may be able to assist if it's an issue on Google's end, or provide personalized help fixing any unusual problems leading to skipping.

Why Does Google Photos Skip Some Files?

Now that you know how to fix it, you may be wondering why the “skipped” error happens in the first place. Here’s a bit more background:

Google Photos wants to ensure all files uploaded to the cloud are compatible and stable. Unsupported formats, oversized files, and corrupt data can cause issues in the cloud storage and ecosystem.

By skipping files that don’t meet requirements, Google avoids technical problems down the line. It keeps your library intact and running smoothly.

The “skipped” error protects both you and Google. You avoid potentially losing access to unstable files, and Google dodges issues that bad data can cause on the back end.

Quick Tip to ensure your videos never go missing

Videos are precious memories and all of us never want to ever lose them to hard disk crashes or missing drives. PicBackMan is the easiest and simplest way to keep your videos safely backed up in one or more online accounts. Simply Download PicBackMan (it's free!), register your account, connect to your online store and tell PicBackMan where your videos are - PicBackMan does the rest, automatically. It bulk uploads all videos and keeps looking for new ones and uploads those too. You don't have to ever touch it.

How to Prevent “Skipped” Errors Going Forward

Following these best practices will help prevent the skipping error from happening again in the future:

• Compress Large Files: Use a compression tool to optimize any photos or videos over 100MB in size before backup.

• Convert Formats Before Uploading: Change unsupported formats to widely compatible ones like JPG or MP4 beforehand.

• Stable Internet Connection: Only back up when you have a strong WiFi or mobile data connection to avoid interruptions.

• Update App Regularly: Keep the Google Photos app updated to the latest version to avoid any bugs.

• Clean Library of Corrupt Files: Remove any corrupted files from your device and cloud library to avoid repeat issues.

• Add to Albums After Upload: Wait until files are fully backed up before adding them to cloud albums to be safe.

Following these tips will help ensure smooth backups and minimize errors when adding photos and videos to Google Photos!

Common Questions about Fixing Google Photos Skipped Files

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about fixing the “skipped” error in Google Photos:

How do I find the photos and videos that were skipped?

Open the Google Photos app and view the Backup failures option under Library Help. This will surface all media that failed to backup recently with errors like “skipped”.

What if my whole Google Photos library won’t sync?

If it’s your entire library failing and not individual files, the issue is likely with your internet connection. Ensure you have a stable WiFi or LTE connection before trying to backup a large library.

What file types does Google Photos support?

Google Photos supports common formats like JPG, PNG, GIF, MP4, MOV, and more. Uncommon formats like HEIC or RAW images may need conversion before backup. Check Google’s help docs for a full list.

Can I upload skipped photos again later?

Yes, you can re-attempt to upload the skipped photos/videos again after resolving the underlying issue, whether it was corruption, size, format, etc. The files are not permanently blocked if skipped once.

What happens if I delete a skipped photo?

If you delete a skipped photo from your device before re-uploading, it will also be deleted from your Google Photos library and not retrievable. So only delete after fixing the issue and uploading correctly.

Conclusion

Dealing with the “skipped” error in Google Photos can be annoying, but following the troubleshooting methods outlined in this guide should help you resolve it swiftly. The most common fixes are checking file sizes, formats, connections, app issues, and retrying uploads selectively.

Preventing the error in the future comes down to proper file optimization, stable connections, updated software, and regular library maintenance. With these best practices, you can minimize errors during Google Photos backups going forward.

The key is not to panic when you see skipped files, but to review our fixes and find the right solution. Patience and selectively retrying uploads will help get those memories safely backed up. Don’t let the “skipped” message stop you from securing your photo and video collections!