Are photos stored locally?

[Zendroid1]

Ever since I got my 5x I've used Google photos only and everything is backed up to Google photos. I never thought about where the photos (if they are) are being stored locally? I don't mind having all my photos in the cloud only but I don't see another app pre-installed to view what photos are on my device unless I'm missing something?

 

[aysiu]

So if you go to Photos > Device Folders, you don't see any photos there?

Do you have a file manager installed (e.g., Estrongs)? If so, check out the /sdcard/DCIM folder.

 

[sfringer]

Ever since I got my 5x I've used Google photos only and everything is backed up to Google photos. I never thought about where the photos (if they are) are being stored locally? I don't mind having all my photos in the cloud only but I don't see another app pre-installed to view what photos are on my device unless I'm missing something?

In Google Photos, pull out the slide out menu and choose "Device folders". This will allow you to see things stored locally on your device. From there you can choose which folders are backed up to the cloud and select photos to delete from being stored locally ("Delete device copy").

 

[Zendroid1]

In Google Photos, pull out the slide out menu and choose "Device folders". This will allow you to see things stored locally on your device. From there you can choose which folders are backed up to the cloud and select photos to delete from being stored locally ("Delete device copy").

Thanks!

Do you know if there is any way to have the photos upload to Google photos only and not keep a device copy?

 

[eaccentsac]

Thanks!

Do you know if there is any way to have the photos upload to Google photos only and not keep a device copy?

Don't think so. You have to manually clean out your phone files.

 

[sfringer]

Thanks!

Do you know if there is any way to have the photos upload to Google photos only and not keep a device copy?

That is something I have not been able to track down. I do find manually reclaiming space a bothersome task (granted I know once space becomes constrained Photos will offer to remove local copies of older images; I just don't want to have to push it off that long).

 

[Zendroid1]

It would be so easy for Google to put in a toggle to "Save files locally" or an option for both or photos only.

 

[DWolf1231]

It would be so easy for Google to put in a toggle to "Save files locally" or an option for both or photos only.

Or set up a "delete local photos/videos older than ___ days" option in settings. If they want to get really involved, they could allow the user to "protect" certain photos/videos from auto-cleanups.

 

[sfringer]

Looks like some new options arriving soon; there's one to allow bulk delete of already backed up photos:

https://plus.google.com/+JohnElstone/posts/8yFHSgSdtDW

 

[aysiu]

Sounds great!