My photos aren't backing up

If your photos and videos don't sync to your Google Account, check your backup status.

Backup is a storage service that automatically saves your photos and videos to your Google Account. These photos and videos are accessible from any device where you’re signed in to your account. Learn more about backup benefits.

Check your backup status

On your Android device, open the Google Photos app .
At the top, tap your account profile photo or initial. Look for one of the following messages:
- Backup complete: You have no more items waiting to back up.
- Backup is off: "Backup" is turned off. To turn on backup, tap Turn on backup.
- Backing up: Your photos and videos are currently backing up. You’ll also find the number of items remaining.
- Preparing backup or Getting ready to back up: Your photos and videos are getting ready to back up.
- Waiting for connection or Waiting for Wi-Fi: Change your settings or connect to a Wi-Fi or mobile network.

Troubleshoot your backup

Check your backup settings

Open the Google Photos app .
At the top, tap your account profile picture or initial Photos settings Backup.
If "Backup" is turned on, you should find these options:

Backup account: Make sure that the account listed is the same one you're viewing in the Google Photos app. To find which account you're viewing in the Google Photos app, open the Google Photos main menu and find your email address at the top.
Back up device folders: Tap and select to back up photos and videos from other apps, like Google Chat and WhatsApp.
Backup quality: Tap to change the backup quality of your photos and videos. Learn how to change your backup quality.
Mobile data backup: Choose whether you want to back up your photos or videos using your mobile network (rather than just Wi-Fi). Charges from your service provider may apply.

Tip: Turn on "back up while roaming" if you want to back up photos and videos even when you’re in other countries or regions.

Check the file size or type

A photo or video may not upload because it doesn't meet requirements:

Photos can't exceed 200 MB or 200 megapixels
Videos can't exceed 10 GB

Check which photos are backed up

As your backup progresses, at the top, you can find how many photos are left and their thumbnails.

Check which photo isn’t backed up

Select a photo.
If a photo isn't backed up, at the top, you can find Back up .

Tip: To find all your backed-up photos and videos, on your computer, go to photos.google.com. Every photo and video you find here is backed up.

Back up device folders

Important: When you turn “Backup” on, your chosen device folders are automatically backed up too, not only your camera. You can choose to automatically backup all folders, or turn “Backup” on or off for individual device folders.

On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Photos app .
Sign in to your Google Account.
At the top right, tap your Profile picture or Initial.
Tap Photos settings Backup.
Under "Settings," tap Back up device folders.
Tap the folders you want to back up.
- Next to the folders you don't want to back up, turn off the setting.
- Next to the folders you want to back up, turn on the setting.
Optional: Turn Back up all device folders on or off.
- If "Back up all device folders" is on, photos in new device folders automatically back up.

Tip: If you don’t want content from your device folders to appear in your Photos view, you can hide it. Learn how to hide content from your Photos view.

Put your device on the charger

To save your battery, the backup process may pause when your device screen is off or in screen saver mode.

Delete blank or empty photo & video files

Important: To remove blank or empty photo and video files from your Android device, download the Files by Google app.