Feb 22, 2023

How do I get the Google photos app to sync with my iPhone photo library?

Hi everyone,

I've had Google photos installed on my iPhone for a few years and I use it to upload photos of my children for other family members to see. I edit the photos on my iPhone/MacBook and delete duplicates etc. The updated photos then appear in the Google photos app for me to upload.

In the past few months, the photos on my iPhone have stopped communicating with the Google photos app. I can see photos I've deleted long ago in my Google photos app, which is very frustrating.

Does anyone know how to stop this happening? I basically want Google photos to mirror exactly what's on my photos/iCloud as it used to.

I have an iPhone 13 Pro and the iOS is 16.3 if that has any bearing.

Thanks in advance.

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All Replies

PeteranDi

Diamond Product Expert

Peter, volunteer contributor Photos and Drive

Feb 22, 2023

Hi Tizzie,

A complete reset of the Google Photos app may be required,

delete the Google Photos app, photos in the camera roll will not be affected
power down/power up or restart the device, this is important to clear any cached settings
reinstall Google Photos checking the correct account is used and the backup size is correct - Check the Backup & sync settings - tap here
Google Photos should rescan the camera roll to backup all the photos which are not already online

If possible leave the app open and make sure that Background app refresh is enabled in the iOS settings; Google Photos

Regards,

Peter

Tizzie19

Original Poster

Feb 23, 2023

Hey, yes I want the Google photos app to be perfectly in sync with my photos on the iPhone/Mac. It's definitely possible as it's always worked for me in the past; when I've deleted photos on my Mac or iPhone they disappear from the 'photos' section of the Google app. This is why I'm so confused :( Now after painstakingly deleting months worth of photos from my phone, they are still appearing in the Google photos app.

I should state, I don't want Google photos to be backing up every photo I take on my iPhone - I have the iCloud for that. I just want Google to be backing up the photos I'm uploading to our family drive.

Thanks for persevering with this issue for me and hopefully I've clarified things :)

PeteranDi

Diamond Product Expert

Peter, volunteer contributor Photos and Drive

Feb 23, 2023

The only way the mismatch could have happened is that back up got switched on at some time. The only way it can operate the way you want is to leaved backup turned off. Unfortunately, there is no automatic way to recover. Any unwanted photos will need to be deleted manually.