Effortlessly eliminate specific images from a Google Photos backup without prompting the eradication of the entire collection.
Hey there! Here's the scoop on Google's 'Undo device backup' feature. Losing all your precious data because it's stored in a single location is a risky bet, ain't it? That's where cloud backups come in handy. Google makes it easy with built-in backup services, ensuring your photos and videos are preserved in the cloud and readily accessible.
However, cloud backups ain't the only game in town. You could opt for conventional methods, like saving copies of your precious memories onto an external drive. Or maybe you're shifting platforms, and can't fathom letting Google keep all your media on their servers. Or perhaps you're paranoid about Google having access to your media and seek to reclaim that control.
Regardless of the reason, the trouble was always in undoing your Google Photos backup without deleting the files on your device – effectively negating the very purpose of the backup. That's where Google's "Undo device backup" feature swoops in like a knight in shining armor.
First announced in December, this feature aims to let users remove photos and videos from the cloud, provided they are already on the device in question. Initially available for iPhone users who may have inadvertently uploaded their media to Google Photos, Google is now gracefully rolling out this feature to Android users as well.
Ready to undo your Google Photos backup? Here's the lowdown: Open Google Photos on your iPhone or Android, tap your profile picture, navigate to Photos settings > Backup, scroll down, and choose Undo backup for this device. Check the box next to "I understand my photos and videos from this device will be deleted from Google Photos," and tap Delete Google Photos backup. Ta-da! Your backup for the device in question will be undone.
Just a friendly heads-up, this decision will shut down the Backup feature for the device you're using. So, before you take the plunge, make sure you've got a plan to back up those precious memories going forward. For instance, if you've got a Pixel phone and decide to undo your backup, those memories will now be forever nestled only within that device. And don't forget, electronics – especially phones – can be mercurial. They can suddenly conk out or shatter into a million pieces (it happens more often than you think). So, it's wise to have a safety net in place to safeguard your valuable memories.
- If you're worried about Google storing all your media and seek more control, Android users can now delete their Google Photos backup routinely using the 'Undo device backup' feature, just like iPhone users have been doing.
- To delete your Google Photos backup on Android, open the app, tap your profile picture, navigate to Photos settings > Backup, scroll down, and choose Undo backup for this device.
- However, be aware that undoing the backup will turn off the Backup feature for your device, so it's crucial to have routinely scheduled backups of your photos and videos on another tech, like an external drive, to avoid losing your precious memories due to device failure or loss.
