My photos aren't being backed up - Android (2024)

1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Photos app .
2. At the top, tap your account profile photo or initial. Look for one of the following messages:
   • Backup complete: You have no more items waiting to be backed up.
   • Backup is off: 'Backup' is turned off. To turn on backup, tap Turn on backup.
   • Backing up: Your photos and videos are currently being backed up. You'll also find the number of items remaining.
   • Preparing backup or getting ready to back up: Your photos and videos are getting ready to be backed up.
   • Waiting for connection or waiting for Wi-Fi: Change your settings or connect to a Wi-Fi or mobile network.

1. Open the Google Photos app .
2. At the top, tap your account profile picture or initial Photos settings Backup.
3. If 'Backup' is turned on, you should find these options:

• Backup account: Make sure that the account listed is the same one as you're viewing in the Google Photos app. To find which account you're viewing in the Google Photos app, open the Google Photos main menu and find your email address at the top.
• Back up device folders: Tap and select to back up photos and videos from other apps, like Google Chat and WhatsApp.
• Backup quality: Tap to change the backup quality of your photos and videos. Learn how to change your backup quality.
• Mobile data backup: Choose whether you want to back up your photos or videos using your mobile network (rather than just Wi-Fi). Charges from your service provider may apply.

Tip: Turn on 'back up while roaming' if you want to back up photos and videos even when you’re in other countries or regions.

A photo or video may not upload because it doesn't meet requirements:

• Photos must not exceed 200MB or 200megapixels
• Videos must not exceed 10 GB

As your backup progresses, at the top, you can find how many photos are left and their thumbnails.

Check which photo isn’t backed up

Tip: To find all your backed-up photos and videos, on your computer, go to photos.google.com. Every photo and video that you find here is backed up.

To save your battery, the backup process may be paused when your device screen is off or in screensaver mode.

Important: To remove blank or empty photo and video files from your Android device, download the Files by Google app.

1. Open the Files by Google app .
2. Tap Images or Videos.
3. At the top, tap More Sort by Smallest first.
4. Select files with a byte size of 0.
5. Tap Delete Move files to bin.

Tip: To select multiple photo or video files, touch and hold the first file, then tap the other files that you want to delete.

• Delete photos and videos
• Find lost photos and videos