Samsung has revolutionized how Galaxy users manage their photo backups within the native Gallery application. Moving away from its long-standing reliance on OneDrive, the Samsung Gallery now features direct synchronization capabilities with Google Photos. This transition marks a significant shift for users, particularly those who have previously maintained both Samsung Gallery for organization and Google Photos for cloud storage. The new integration streamlines the backup process, consolidating media management for enhanced convenience.
The recent change in Samsung Gallery's cloud backup strategy became effective on September 30, 2026, when the integration with OneDrive officially concluded. Previously, OneDrive served as the primary cloud solution, allowing users to automatically secure their media files without the need for additional applications. While existing OneDrive backups remain unaffected, and manual backups via the OneDrive app are still possible, the seamless in-app integration has been replaced by the new Google Photos option. This update is especially beneficial for individuals who were already utilizing Google Photos for its extensive cloud storage and management features, as it negates the necessity of maintaining separate backup routines.
To activate the Google Photos synchronization within Samsung Gallery, users must ensure they have Gallery version 15.9.01.7 or newer, which can be updated through the Galaxy Store. The setup process is straightforward, exclusively supporting personal Google accounts; Workspace accounts are not compatible with this feature. Once the app is updated, users can navigate to the Gallery app's settings, select the 'Sync photos and videos' option, choose their desired personal Google account, and confirm the synchronization. By default, only the camera roll is set for backup, but users have the flexibility to select additional albums for synchronization and enable backups over mobile data or during roaming periods.
Upon successful setup, the Samsung Gallery will display the storage status of the linked Google account and commence backing up photos and videos. The Gallery app also provides direct links to options for managing Google Photos storage, such as freeing up space or upgrading to a Google One plan, ensuring users can maintain sufficient cloud capacity. This synchronization ensures that both Samsung Gallery and Google Photos libraries are continuously updated. Any deletions made in one application will automatically reflect in the other, maintaining consistency across platforms. However, editing behavior varies: modifications made within Samsung Gallery will update across all Samsung devices but will appear as new images in Google Photos, whereas edits in Google Photos will update directly within the Gallery app.
While the direct integration offers considerable convenience, it's important to note the distinctions in functionality between photos backed up through Samsung Gallery's cloud sync and those directly uploaded via the Google Photos app. Photos synchronized through Samsung Gallery will not be included in Google Photos features such as Memories, Highlights, Live Albums, or advanced search capabilities. Furthermore, Samsung Gallery will only display media backed up via its cloud sync, meaning photos from other devices uploaded directly to Google Photos will not appear in the Samsung Gallery. The Samsung Gallery also lacks a manual upload option for specific photos and videos, a feature readily available in Google Photos. These differences highlight that while the new integration simplifies backups, the dedicated Google Photos app still offers a more comprehensive suite of features for media management and discovery. For Microsoft 365 subscribers who relied on OneDrive for seamless backups, this shift may present a slight inconvenience, but for Google ecosystem users, it represents a notable enhancement in photo and video management.
