How to backup screenshots to separate Google Photos folder/album?

[ashune]

Is there away to automatically back up my screenshots to Google Photos, but into a separate folder/album so they don't clutter up my collection of photos taken with the camera? Did they implement this feature recently maybe? The last time I enabled uploading of screenshots it just put all the screenshots and photos together and made a mess out of my library.

 

[B. Diddy]

Unfortunately, no -- photos get backed up en masse to your main Google Photos feed. You can then create virtual albums and select which photos to place in those albums, but I don't think you can make it so that screenshots get automatically added to that virtual album.

 

[ashune]

Unfortunately, no -- photos get backed up en masse to your main Google Photos feed. You can then create virtual albums and select which photos to place in those albums, but I don't think you can make it so that screenshots get automatically added to that virtual album.

Oh okay. Thanks for the reply. I think I'll just go with installing an app that 'll automatically upload my screenshots to Google Drive. I found an app called "Autosync for Google Drive".

On another note, OneDrive does have a Google Photos-like backup feature that can also back up multiple folders and separate the photos in them, but I like Google Photos more for picture management.

 

[B. Diddy]

Good to know about OneDrive, especially for the Samsung users out there! I wonder if Amazon Photos can do it (and they give unlimited original quality backups for Amazon Prime members) -- but I'm not interested in trying it, since I trust Google with my photos way more​ than I would trust Amazon with them.

 

[smvim]

Is there away to automatically back up my screenshots to Google Photos, but into a separate folder/album so they don't clutter up my collection of photos taken with the camera? Did they implement this feature recently maybe? The last time I enabled uploading of screenshots it just put all the screenshots and photos together and made a mess out of my library.

Yes, there is a standardized, simple way to do what you're asking. It involves using a '.nomedia' file. Basically, when you have a folder containing some photos and a .nomedia file, that folder's content won't be automatically scanned and indexed by apps like Google Photos nor Gallery. The .nomedia file excludes that folder.
The .nomedia file is an industry-wide matter that applies to a lot of other platforms (Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, etc.) and it isn't just photo image files. This applies to audio too, so if you have a collection of song files you don't want to be included in your VLC app or PowerAmp app autodetect, create a folder, add in a .nomedia file, and that instructs your multimedia app to skip from being automatically indexing the content inside that folder.

Use your file manager app to create a separate screenshot folder, and create a .nomedia file (just a blank document will work) in that folder so Google Photos ignores that particular folder. Or dig around in some other folders in your device, there's undoubtedly a folder containing a .nomedia file (be sure to go into your file manager app's Settings to enable hidden files/folders or you won't see them). That period at the beginning of the name is important, that's what flags the file as hidden.
https://medium.com/@mutiakun/getting-know-about-nomedia-files-on-android-a51068430e38

 

[B. Diddy]

Yes, there is a standardized, simple way to do what you're asking. It involves using a '.nomedia' file. Basically, when you have a folder containing some photos and a .nomedia file, that folder's content won't be automatically scanned and indexed by apps like Google Photos nor Gallery. The .nomedia file excludes that folder.
The .nomedia file is an industry-wide matter that applies to a lot of other platforms (Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, etc.) and it isn't just photo image files. This applies to audio too, so if you have a collection of song files you don't want to be included in your VLC app or PowerAmp app autodetect, create a folder, add in a .nomedia file, and that instructs your multimedia app to skip from being automatically indexing the content inside that folder.

Use your file manager app to create a separate screenshot folder, and create a .nomedia file (just a blank document will work) in that folder so Google Photos ignores that particular folder. Or dig around in some other folders in your device, there's undoubtedly a folder containing a .nomedia file (be sure to go into your file manager app's Settings to enable hidden files/folders or you won't see them). That period at the beginning of the name is important, that's what flags the file as hidden.
https://medium.com/@mutiakun/getting-know-about-nomedia-files-on-android-a51068430e38

I'm not sure if that's what the OP is aiming for. From what I gather, he still wants Google Photos to automatically backup screenshots to the cloud, but only to a specific album in Google Photos so that they don't clutter the main camera roll. I think creating a screenshot folder and adding a .nomedia app would make Google Photos ignore that folder and therefore not back them up at all.

 

[smvim]

I'm not sure if that's what the OP is aiming for. From what I gather, he still wants Google Photos to automatically backup screenshots to the cloud, but only to a specific album in Google Photos so that they don't clutter the main camera roll. I think creating a screenshot folder and adding a .nomedia app would make Google Photos ignore that folder and therefore not back them up at all.

Ahhh, my mistake and ignore my previous posting. OP needs an advanced AI solution that's able to read human minds to determine unique situations.

 

[ashune]

Ahhh, my mistake and ignore my previous posting. OP needs an advanced AI solution that's able to read human minds to determine unique situations.

Hm it's not that advanced. "If picture file not in DCIM folder, put file into separate album/folder."������

 

[smvim]

Hm it's not that advanced. "If picture file not in DCIM folder, put file into separate album/folder."������

Actually it is something of a unique situation, the OP wants to force an app to do a specific task that it's by design not a default function. Selectively having some image files get automatically backed up to a specific, user-defined location elsewhere while not being visible in the main display is something of an advanced task to implement. For the most part, only being able to select which folders get automatically backed and synced using the Google Photo app's Settings is possible but the selective display (only some not all) and specific location for backup is a matter of a lot more work.
If it is as simple as you claim, please provide details.

 

[mustang7757]

Is there away to automatically back up my screenshots to Google Photos, but into a separate folder/album so they don't clutter up my collection of photos taken with the camera? Did they implement this feature recently maybe? The last time I enabled uploading of screenshots it just put all the screenshots and photos together and made a mess out of my library.

On Samsung it doesn't separate screenshot it goes to main camera folder but on my pixel 6 pro it's separate from camera folder

 

[B. Diddy]

Actually it is something of a unique situation, the OP wants to force an app to do a specific task that it's by design not a default function. Selectively having some image files get automatically backed up to a specific, user-defined location elsewhere while not being visible in the main display is something of an advanced task to implement. For the most part, only being able to select which folders get automatically backed and synced using the Google Photo app's Settings is possible but the selective display (only some not all) and specific location for backup is a matter of a lot more work.
If it is as simple as you claim, please provide details.

I agree. The way I look at it, Google Photos backs up whatever the user chooses (Camera Roll by default, and any other physical folder on the device's storage that the user toggles on) -- but all of those photos go into one single bucket. Then it's up to the user to create virtual albums if they want to organize the photos further in the Google Photos interface.

 

[ashune]

Actually it is something of a unique situation, the OP wants to force an app to do a specific task that it's by design not a default function. Selectively having some image files get automatically backed up to a specific, user-defined location elsewhere while not being visible in the main display is something of an advanced task to implement. For the most part, only being able to select which folders get automatically backed and synced using the Google Photo app's Settings is possible but the selective display (only some not all) and specific location for backup is a matter of a lot more work.
If it is as simple as you claim, please provide details.

You're reading too much into it. My question was if this feature has been implemented or if there's another similar feature present that would allow me to achieve the same in GPhotos.

 

[smvim]

By design the Google Photos app has a preset default location into one's online Google account storage. Apparently others believe it's a user-definable matter where you can just add your own folders and re-direct the automatic backup and sync function to use that instead, but nobody is stating just how that's actually doable.
So no, I don't think I'm reading too much. You're trying to force an app to do something it's not able to. The Google Photos app is just a photo display app, that happens to include a very basic but reliable backup and sync feature. What you need instead is an actual back up service app that is, by design, going to give you the ability to selectively pick and choose what to backup and where. I'd recommend you look into Syncthing, it's very configurable, will run automatically in the background, and it has a long history. And it's an Open Source project so no ties to any corporate oversight.
https://forums.androidcentral.com/e...yncthingandroid&hl=en_US&gl=US&token=TFU0oTXc
https://syncthing.net/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syncthing

 

[B. Diddy]

Ok folks, I think the question is settled. Let's just leave it at that, thanks.

 

[Rob Wilkinson1]

On Samsung it doesn't separate screenshot it goes to main camera folder but on my pixel 6 pro it's separate from camera folder

I've been looking for a solution to this for the same reason. My phone (also a Pixel 6) appears to be putting screenshots into a separate folder already, but when uploading to the google photos backup, it just dumps then in the main photo folder. I'm thinking there could/should be a way to have the folder level on the phone recognized (especially since it's a google product)..?

 

[mustang7757]

I've been looking for a solution to this for the same reason. My phone (also a Pixel 6) appears to be putting screenshots into a separate folder already, but when uploading to the google photos backup, it just dumps then in the main photo folder. I'm thinking there could/should be a way to have the folder level on the phone recognized (especially since it's a google product)..?

I havnt looked into this why on a non pixel phone Google photos does that, i can look later on and see if i can come up with anything or setting that was missed

 

[mustang7757]

By the way welcome to AC!

 

[B. Diddy]

I've been looking for a solution to this for the same reason. My phone (also a Pixel 6) appears to be putting screenshots into a separate folder already, but when uploading to the google photos backup, it just dumps then in the main photo folder. I'm thinking there could/should be a way to have the folder level on the phone recognized (especially since it's a google product)..?

Welcome to Android Central! I mentioned this above, but I think it's just how it works. Any physical folder that's set to back up (not just the screenshots one) will back the images up to the main Google Photos feed. It's up to the user to create a virtual album afterwards in the Google Photos interface.

But I can certainly see why users would want this, so send feedback to Google via the Google Photos settings menu to ask for this feature. If enough people ask for it, maybe they'll listen.

 

[mustang7757]

Welcome to Android Central! I mentioned this above, but I think it's just how it works. Any physical folder that's set to back up (not just the screenshots one) will back the images up to the main Google Photos feed. It's up to the user to create a virtual album afterwards in the Google Photos interface.

But I can certainly see why users would want this, so send feedback to Google via the Google Photos settings menu to ask for this feature. If enough people ask for it, maybe they'll listen.

For some reason wasn't paying attention everyone saying back up lol ..thought they didn't see screenshot catagory when they open Google photos lol , still case on my s22U but it's there on 6pro

 

[B. Diddy]

For some reason wasn't paying attention everyone saying back up lol ..thought they didn't see screenshot catagory when they open Google photos lol , still case on my s22U but it's there on 6pro

On Samsung phones, are screenshots saved directly to the /DCIM/Camera directory, or is it /DCIM/Screenshots? I know that Samsung still does this odd thing where screenshots are saved somewhere on DCIM, which means they get backed up to Google Photos by default. Most other manufacturers save screenshots to /Pictures/Screenshots, which does not get backed up by default.