Google Photos is a popular cloud storage solution that offers automatic photo and video backups across devices. While this feature is convenient, there may be times when you want to stop the backup, whether it's to save storage, maintain privacy, or avoid unnecessary uploads. In this article, we'll guide you through how to stop Google Photos backup on various devices, adjust your backup preferences, and troubleshoot common issues.

Understanding Google Photos Backup

Google Photos' backup feature ensures your media is safely stored in the cloud. Once enabled, it syncs photos and videos from your device automatically. While this is great for keeping memories secure, it might not always align with your needs.

Why Stop the Backup?

• Save Cloud Storage: Backups can quickly consume your free Google Drive storage quota.
• Privacy Concerns: You might not want personal photos uploaded to the cloud.
• Reduce Data Usage: Continuous uploads can use significant amounts of mobile data.
• Device-Specific Needs: You may want backups on some devices but not others.

Methods to Stop Google Photos Backup

Here's how you can stop Google Photos backup across various devices.

Stop Google Photos Backup on Android Devices

• Open the Google Photos App: Launch the app on your Android device.
• Access Settings: Tap your profile picture in the top-right corner and select Photos settings.
• Go to Backup & Sync: Tap on Backup & Sync.
• Turn Off Backup: Toggle the switch to turn off Backup & Sync.

Note: Disabling backup will stop future uploads but won't delete existing files in the cloud.

Stop Google Photos Backup on iOS Devices

• Open Google Photos App: Launch the app on your iPhone or iPad.
• Navigate to Settings: Tap on your profile icon and choose Photos settings.
• Disable Backup: Under Backup & Sync, toggle the switch off.

Stop Google Photos Backup on Desktop

For desktops, Google Photos backup uses the Backup and Sync tool:

• Open Backup and Sync: Locate the app in your system tray (Windows) or menu bar (Mac).
• Pause or Disconnect Account:
  • To pause, click on the app icon and select Pause.
  • To stop permanently, go to Preferences, deselect all folders, or disconnect your account.
• Uninstall the App: If you no longer need the backup service, uninstall the app.

Adjusting Backup Preferences

Instead of completely stopping the backup, you can modify your preferences to suit your needs.

Select Specific Folders for Backup

• On the desktop, open Backup and Sync Preferences.
• Uncheck unwanted folders from the list.

Change Backup Quality

• Navigate to Backup & Sync settings.
• Choose between Original Quality (uses more storage) or Storage Saver (compresses files).

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Backup Keeps Restarting

• Ensure you've disabled Backup & Sync on all devices.
• Restart the app or device to apply changes.

App Not Responding

• Update the Google Photos app to the latest version.
• Clear cache and data from your device's settings.

Stopping Backups Temporarily vs. Permanently

• Use the Pause Backup option if you only need a temporary halt.
• Disable Backup & Sync for a permanent solution.

Conclusion

Stopping Google Photos backup is straightforward and gives you more control over your media storage and privacy. Whether you want to halt uploads permanently, pause them temporarily, or adjust preferences, the steps above will help you manage your Google Photos effectively.

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.

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FAQs

Here are answers to your frequently asked questions about managing Google Photos backup settings:

How do I turn off Google Photos backup?

To disable the backup feature in Google Photos:

• Open the Google Photos app on your device.
• Tap your profile picture or initials in the top-right corner.
• Select Photos settings.
• Tap Back up & sync.
• Toggle off the Back up & sync option.

This will stop Google Photos from automatically backing up your photos and videos.

How do I stop ongoing backup in Google Photos?

To halt an ongoing backup in Google Photos:

• Open the Google Photos app.
• Tap your profile picture or initials in the top-right corner.
• Select Photos settings.
• Tap Back up & sync.
• Toggle off the Back up & sync option.

This will immediately stop any active backups.

How to stop Google Photos backup without deleting from phone?

To prevent Google Photos from backing up without deleting photos from your device:

• Open the Google Photos app.
• Tap your profile picture or initials in the top-right corner.
• Select Photos settings.
• Tap Back up & sync.
• Toggle off the Back up & sync option.

This stops future backups but retains existing photos on your device.

How do I stop gallery photos from going to Google Photos?

To prevent your device's gallery photos from uploading to Google Photos:

• Open the Google Photos app.
• Tap your profile picture or initials in the top-right corner.
• Select Photos settings.
• Tap Back up & sync.
• Toggle off the Back up & sync option.

This ensures photos from your device's gallery aren't automatically uploaded.

How do I stop Google Photos from taking up storage?

To manage Google Photos' storage usage:

• Open the Google Photos app.
• Tap your profile picture or initials in the top-right corner.
• Select Photos settings.
• Tap Back up & sync.
• Choose Upload size and select Storage saver to reduce file sizes.
• To free up space, consider deleting unwanted photos or using the Free up space feature in the app.

This helps minimize the storage Google Photos occupies.

Why are all my photos going to Google Photos?

If all your photos are uploading to Google Photos, it's likely because the Back up & sync feature is enabled.

To check this:

• Open the Google Photos app.
• Tap your profile picture or initials in the top-right corner.
• Select Photos settings.
• Tap Back up & sync.
• If it's toggled on, your photos are set to automatically back up to Google Photos.

You can disable this feature if you prefer not to upload all your photos.