Google Photos syncing

[Zakjoe1234]

Hi guys.

I've backed up my phone using Google Photos, but on the pc as it was quicker. All photos had synced. However, when I restart my pc, I've noticed the folders start sync again. Is that normal?

It's also put files on my Google Drive although I didn't want it to, so the 15gb is full with tons of files. I'm assuming I could just search the folder names and delete? I had files on there already and now it says 20gb out of 15gb full (which is over lol).

 

[B. Diddy]

Syncing doesn't necessarily mean it's backing up the photos. Assuming that you're not seeing duplicates, it's probably just scanning your folders to look for any changes.

Are you sure you have the "Upload newly added photos and videos to Google Photos" option turned on? If not, then it might be defaulting to Drive instead: https://support.google.com/photos/a...if-you-already-have-backup-and-sync-for-drive

 

[Zakjoe1234]

Syncing doesn't necessarily mean it's backing up the photos. Assuming that you're not seeing duplicates, it's probably just scanning your folders to look for any changes.

Are you sure you have the "Upload newly added photos and videos to Google Photos" option turned on? If not, then it might be defaulting to Drive instead: https://support.google.com/photos/a...if-you-already-have-backup-and-sync-for-drive

Ah yes I had that option selected.

As for the photos. I had the pc left on for about 2 days. The back up was up until 2 weeks ago, so I guess I could just search random dates before this month to see. It's a bit hard to tell cause there's so many to back up.

 

[B. Diddy]

So you had the "Upload newly added photos and videos to Google Photos" option turned on, but it was still backing up to Google Drive?

Keep in mind that Google Photos storage may count toward your Google Drive space. If you don't have a 1st gen Pixel through the Pixel 3, and you're backing up at Original Quality (rather than High Quality) that will count against your Google Drive space. (Pixel 4 and 5 get unlimited High Quality backups, but Original Quality backups will also count against your Google Drive space.)

In addition, the unlimited High Quality backups that everyone got is going away on June 1 (again, unless you have a Pixel phone).

 

[Zakjoe1234]

So you had the "Upload newly added photos and videos to Google Photos" option turned on, but it was still backing up to Google Drive?

Keep in mind that Google Photos storage may count toward your Google Drive space. If you don't have a 1st gen Pixel through the Pixel 3, and you're backing up at Original Quality (rather than High Quality) that will count against your Google Drive space. (Pixel 4 and 5 get unlimited High Quality backups, but Original Quality backups will also count against your Google Drive space.)

In addition, the unlimited High Quality backups that everyone got is going away on June 1 (again, unless you have a Pixel phone).

Yeah it went to Google Drive anyway, I had high quality settings turned on.

I think it may have backed up. I can see random screenshots from August that I don't remember backing up, but I remember taking them.

Edit: Actually no, it hasn't backed up all, I took a photo on my birthday 2 months ago, which I don't see in my photos, and it's on my current phone. Is there a way to force back up?

Edit 2: The photo is there, a lot of the files have the wrong date. They are saved as the 8th of May (when I backed up my broken phone). I searched selfie, and my birthday was there, although the pic was taken in March.

Edit 3: Safe to assume it's all backed up and just needs sorting out? I searched through the browser btw.
As for Google Drive, probably cause I selected the option to backup everything not just photos/videos. I guess I could just search through it at a later date and delete unnecessary stuff?

 

[B. Diddy]

Open the Google Photos app on your phone, then tap Library, then next to Photos on Device, tap View All. You can see there if any of the folders are not set to backup -- if there's a cloud icon with a line through it, then it's not backing up.

Also, on the main Google Photos screen, tap your profile pic at the upper right. Under your account name, does it say Backup Complete, or does it say it's waiting to backup?

 

[Zakjoe1234]

Open the Google Photos app on your phone, then tap Library, then next to Photos on Device, tap View All. You can see there if any of the folders are not set to backup -- if there's a cloud icon with a line through it, then it's not backing up.

Also, on the main Google Photos screen, tap your profile pic at the upper right. Under your account name, does it say Backup Complete, or does it say it's waiting to backup?

The Google Photos app on my phone doesn't seem to back up regardless lol, I think it's due to the amount of files (like 70k), which is why I'm trying to back up and delete lol. I've basically backed it up using my Smart Switch backup, which had everything except 1 important folder, but I think it's lost forever. Anything after May 8th (the backup), I just did manually yesterday.

I'm basically backing up the phone via the pc app, but I'm not sure if it's actually done em. The app just has "!", because my Google Drive is full (20gb of 15gb used), dunno how it's gone over. I've just come back from work, and it's not saying "back up", or "syncing" or "checking", so I assume it's done?

 

[Zakjoe1234]

After having a look, to me it looks like they were backed up, but a large portion is on "May 8th" date, not sure why. Also, my phone has started working with the app randomly, it's currently on 40k (there's 70k in total).

 

[B. Diddy]

Did you copy all of the May 8th photos en masse to the computer on the same day, and then back up from there? Copying the photos changes the file creation date to that date, so it may be that Google Photos thought all of those photos were taken on 5/8.