When it comes to digital storage, we’ve all been there – scrambling to free up space on our devices, only to find that our precious photos are taking up a significant chunk of that coveted storage real estate. But what if we told you there’s a way to delete those backed-up photos on Google without losing them on your phone? Sounds like a dream come true, right?
In this article, we’ll guide you through the process of deleting Google Backup photos without deleting them from your phone, ensuring you can keep those cherished memories while reclaiming valuable storage space.
Understanding Google Photos and Backup
Before we dive into the deletion process, it’s essential to understand how Google Photos and backup work.
Google Photos is a fantastic service that allows you to store an unlimited number of photos and videos, as long as they’re under 16 megapixels and 1080p resolution, respectively. When you enable backup on your device, Google Photos automatically uploads your photos and videos to the cloud, allowing you to access them from any device with an internet connection.
Here’s the catch: when you delete a photo from Google Photos, it will also be removed from your device if you have the “Backup & Sync” feature enabled. This can be a problem if you want to free up space on your phone without losing the original photos.
The Difference Between Google Drive and Google Photos Storage
It’s crucial to understand the difference between Google Drive and Google Photos storage. Google Drive is a cloud storage service that allows you to store files of any type, including photos and videos. Google Photos, on the other hand, is a specialized storage service specifically designed for photos and videos.
When you upload photos to Google Photos, they don’t count towards your Google Drive storage limit. However, if you upload files to Google Drive, they do count towards your storage limit. This distinction is vital when it comes to deleting backed-up photos without affecting your phone’s storage.
The Step-by-Step Process: Deleting Google Backup Photos Without Deleting Them from Your Phone
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s get to the good stuff! Here’s how to delete Google Backup photos without deleting them from your phone:
Step 1: Disable Backup & Sync on Your Device
On your Android device or iPhone, open the Google Photos app and go to the settings by tapping the three horizontal lines () on the top left corner. Scroll down to “Backup & Sync” and toggle the switch to the off position. This will prevent Google Photos from syncing your device’s photos with the cloud.
Alternative Method for Android Devices
On Android devices, you can also disable backup and sync from the Google Account settings. Go to Settings > Accounts > Google > Account sync, and toggle off the switch next to “Google Photos.”
Deleting Backup Photos from Google Photos
Now that you’ve disabled Backup & Sync, it’s time to delete the backed-up photos from Google Photos:
Step 2: Open Google Photos on the Web
Visit the Google Photos website (photos.google.com) and sign in with the same Google account linked to your device.
Step 3: Select the Photos You Want to Delete
Click on the “Photos” tab at the top and select the photos you want to delete from Google Photos. You can select multiple photos by holding the Ctrl key (Windows) or Command key (Mac) while clicking.
Step 4: Delete the Selected Photos
Click the “Trash” icon at the top right corner of the selected photos and confirm that you want to delete them.
What Happens to the Deleted Photos?
When you delete photos from Google Photos on the web, they’re moved to the “Trash” folder. These photos will be permanently deleted after 60 days, but you can restore them anytime during this period.
Here’s the important part: since you disabled Backup & Sync earlier, the deleted photos will only be removed from Google Photos and not from your device.
Tips and Precautions
Before you start deleting backed-up photos, keep the following tips and precautions in mind:
- Make sure you’ve disabled Backup & Sync: If you don’t disable Backup & Sync, deleting photos from Google Photos will also remove them from your device.
- Be cautious when deleting photos: Double-check the photos you’re deleting to ensure you’re not removing any important or sentimental images.
- Keep a local backup: Consider keeping a local backup of your photos on an external hard drive or cloud storage service, in case you need to access them in the future.
Conclusion
Deleting Google Backup photos without deleting them from your phone is a straightforward process, as long as you follow the steps outlined above. By disabling Backup & Sync, deleting photos from Google Photos on the web, and keeping a local backup, you can free up storage space on your device while preserving your cherished memories.
Remember to be cautious when deleting photos and always double-check the images you’re removing from Google Photos. With these steps, you’ll be able to manage your photo library with ease and reclaim valuable storage space on your device.
What is Google Backup and why is it taking up so much space?
Google Backup is a feature provided by Google that automatically backs up your device’s data, including photos and videos, to your Google account. This feature is enabled by default on most Android devices, and it’s intended to help users recover their data in case they lose their device or switch to a new one. However, this feature can take up a significant amount of space on your Google account, especially if you have a large collection of photos and videos.
The amount of space used by Google Backup depends on the quality of the photos and videos you’re backing up. If you’re backing up high-quality photos and videos, the amount of space used can add up quickly. Additionally, if you have multiple devices connected to the same Google account, the backup data from each device will contribute to the overall storage usage.
How do I access Google Backup on my device?
To access Google Backup on your device, go to the Settings app, then select “Google” or “Accounts,” and finally select “Backup & reset.” From there, you can view the backup data and manage the settings. Alternatively, you can also access Google Backup through the Google Drive app on your device. Open the Google Drive app, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines), and select “Settings.” Then, tap “Backup” to view and manage your backup data.
It’s worth noting that the exact steps to access Google Backup may vary slightly depending on the Android version and device manufacturer. However, in general, you can find the Google Backup settings somewhere in the Settings app or through the Google Drive app.
What happens if I delete photos from Google Backup?
If you delete photos from Google Backup, they will be permanently removed from your Google account. However, if you’ve synced your photos to multiple devices or platforms, deleting them from Google Backup won’t necessarily delete them from those other devices or platforms. For example, if you’ve synced your photos to your phone’s internal storage or to a computer, they will still be available on those devices even after you delete them from Google Backup.
It’s essential to understand that deleting photos from Google Backup is permanent and cannot be undone. Make sure to carefully review your backup data before deleting any photos or videos to ensure you’re not accidentally deleting important files.
How do I delete photos from Google Backup without deleting them from my phone?
To delete photos from Google Backup without deleting them from your phone, you’ll need to use the Google Photos app on your device. Open the Google Photos app, select the photos you want to delete from Google Backup, and then tap the ” δΈ‰” icon (three vertical dots) in the top right corner. From the menu, select “Remove from Google Photos” or “Delete from Google Photos.” This will remove the selected photos from your Google Backup without deleting them from your phone’s internal storage.
Keep in mind that removing photos from Google Backup won’t free up space on your device’s internal storage. If you want to free up space on your device, you’ll need to delete the photos from your device’s internal storage separately.
Will deleting photos from Google Backup affect my Google Photos library?
Deleting photos from Google Backup will not affect your Google Photos library. Your Google Photos library is a separate entity from your Google Backup data. The photos and videos in your Google Photos library are stored separately from your Google Backup data. When you delete photos from Google Backup, they will be removed from your Google account’s backup data, but they will still remain in your Google Photos library.
If you want to delete photos from your Google Photos library, you’ll need to do so separately. You can delete photos from your Google Photos library by selecting them in the Google Photos app and tapping the “Delete” icon.
Can I recover deleted photos from Google Backup?
Unfortunately, it’s not possible to recover deleted photos from Google Backup. When you delete photos from Google Backup, they are permanently removed from your Google account. Google doesn’t provide a trash or recycle bin for deleted backup data, so once you delete something, it’s gone forever.
However, if you’ve synced your photos to other devices or platforms, you may be able to recover them from those sources. For example, if you’ve synced your photos to your computer or to a cloud storage service like Dropbox or OneDrive, you may be able to recover them from those sources.
How do I manage Google Backup storage on my Google account?
To manage Google Backup storage on your Google account, go to the Google Account settings, then select “Storage” or “Data usage.” From there, you can view the amount of storage space used by Google Backup and manage the settings to optimize your storage usage. You can also upgrade your Google account’s storage plan to get more storage space.
Additionally, you can manage the quality of the photos and videos you’re backing up to optimize your storage usage. You can do this by going to the Google Photos app, tapping the menu icon (three horizontal lines), and selecting “Settings.” Then, tap “Backup & sync” and adjust the upload size to optimize your storage usage.