Google Photos backs up automatically unless you turn it off in settings
When you set up Google Photos on your phone or computer, it begins uploading photos and videos to Google's servers without asking each time. This happens in the background — you may not notice it happening. To stop this backup, you need to open Google Photos, find the settings menu, and switch off the backup toggle. The exact steps differ slightly between Android phones, iPhones, and computers, but the principle is the same in all three.
Turning off backup does not delete photos already uploaded. It only stops new photos from going to Google's servers going forward. If you want to remove photos that are already there, that is a separate step in the same settings area.
Key Takeaways
- Google Photos uploads automatically on Android phones and iPhones unless you disable backup in the app settings.
- On Android, open Google Photos, tap your profile picture, go to Photos settings, and toggle off Backup and sync.
- On iPhone, open Google Photos, tap your profile picture, go to Photos settings, and toggle off Backup and sync.
- On a computer, you must use Google One (the web version) or uninstall Backup and Sync software if you installed it separately.
- Disabling backup stops new uploads but does not remove photos already in your Google account.
How to disable backup on Android phones
Open the Google Photos app on your Android phone. Tap your profile picture in the top right corner — it appears as a small circle with your photo or initial inside. A menu will drop down with several options.
Tap Photos settings from that menu. You will see a list of settings including Backup and sync near the top. Tap on Backup and sync. You will see a toggle switch next to "Backup and sync" — it may currently be blue or green, meaning it is on. Tap the toggle to turn it off. The switch will turn gray, and backup will stop when ready.
If you see a message asking whether you want to keep your backed-up photos in Google Photos, you can choose to keep them or delete them. Keeping them does not restart backup — it just leaves them where they are. You can come back and delete them later if you change your mind.
How to disable backup on iPhones
Open the Google Photos app on your iPhone. Tap your profile picture in the top right corner. Tap Photos settings. Scroll down until you see Backup and sync and tap it.
You will see a toggle next to "Backup and sync" — turn it off by tapping it. The toggle will turn gray. On iPhone, Google Photos will also ask whether you want to keep your backed-up photos in Google Photos or delete them. Choose whichever you prefer; turning off the toggle stops new backups either way.
How to disable backup on Windows or Mac computers
If you installed Backup and Sync software on your computer (an older Google tool), right-click or control-click the Backup and Sync icon in your system tray or menu bar. Select Quit Backup and Sync or Exit. Then uninstall the program through your computer's settings: on Windows, go to Settings > Apps > Apps and features, find Backup and Sync, and click Uninstall. On Mac, open Applications, find Backup and Sync, and drag it to Trash.
If you use the newer Google One app or the web version at photos.google.com, you do not have automatic backup running on your computer unless you chose to set it up. You can verify this by opening Google One on your computer and checking the settings — if no backup is listed, nothing is uploading from your computer.
Some people confuse Google Photos backup with Google Drive sync. If you have Google Drive installed on your computer, that is a separate program and turning off Google Photos backup will not affect it. Google Drive will continue syncing files unless you also disable or uninstall that program.
What happens to photos already backed up
Turning off backup does not automatically delete the photos and videos already in your Google Photos account. They remain there until you remove them. If you want to delete them, open Google Photos on any device, select the photos you want to remove, and tap the trash or delete icon.
You can also delete all backed-up photos at once by going to photos.google.com on a computer, selecting all photos (usually a checkbox in the top left), and deleting them. Be careful with this step — deletion is permanent and cannot be undone.
Why you might want to disable backup
The most common reason to turn off backup is to save space in your Google account. Google Photos offers unlimited storage for compressed photos and videos on most accounts, but if you have a paid Google One plan or use original quality, your storage counts against your account limit. Disabling backup frees up that space for other files like Google Drive documents.
Another reason is privacy. Some people prefer not to have photos stored on Google's servers at all. Turning off backup means new photos stay only on your device unless you manually upload them elsewhere.
A third reason is to prevent accidental uploads. If you take screenshots, test photos, or temporary images you do not want to keep, backup will upload those too. Disabling it gives you control over what goes to the cloud.
Re-enabling backup if you change your mind
If you turn off backup and later want to turn it back on, the process is the same in reverse. Open Google Photos, tap your profile picture, go to Photos settings, find Backup and sync, and toggle it back on. Google Photos will ask for permission to access your photos and videos — grant that permission, and backup will resume.
When you re-enable backup, it will upload all new photos and videos from that point forward. It will not re-upload photos that were already backed up before you turned it off — those remain in your account from the earlier backup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does turning off backup delete my photos from Google Photos?
No. Disabling backup only stops new photos from uploading. Photos already in your Google Photos account stay there. You must manually delete them if you want them removed.
Will my phone run out of storage if I disable backup?
Not because of Google Photos. Disabling backup means photos stay on your device instead of moving to the cloud, so your phone storage may fill up faster over time. You will need to delete old photos manually or use a different cloud service.
Can I disable backup for only certain photos or folders?
Google Photos does not offer selective backup — it is all or nothing. If backup is on, all new photos upload. If you want to exclude certain photos, you must disable backup entirely and manually upload only the photos you want to keep.
What if I see a backup notification after I turned it off?
Check that the toggle is actually off by going back to Photos settings and Backup and sync. Sometimes the app needs a moment to register the change. If the toggle is off but notifications continue, try closing and reopening the Google Photos app, or restart your device.
Does disabling Google Photos backup affect my Google Drive?
No. Google Photos and Google Drive are separate services. Turning off Google Photos backup does not change Google Drive settings. If you have Google Drive installed on your computer, it will continue syncing files unless you also disable that program separately.