Nov 20, 2018

Google Photos Backup and sync wifi ONLY

It seems Photos is backing up on my data. I went wayyy over my data usage last month because of it. I can't seem to find the wifi setting to ensure it only backs up on wifi. It would also seem that I cannot use the app at all if backup and sync is turned off...

Very frustrating.

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Last edited Jun 6, 2019

All Replies (38)

ScottG_TC

Product Expert Alumni

He/Him, Triathlete, Coach, Father, Husband, Brother, RN

Nov 20, 2018

Open the app, click the three horizontal lines on the top left, choose Backup and Sync and there are sliders for cellular or not.

Last edited Nov 21, 2018

MOLOY মলয়🇧🇩

Aug 18, 2019

Any other network support

John Gordon 1537

Aug 23, 2019

Some comments here claiming the option doesn't exist: If you have gotten this far and don't see the "back-up on wifi" option, just go a little further, click backup and sync, and some extra options will open up. The default is to wait for wifi to backup.

Juliew952

Aug 24, 2019

Not true. I just got the app today and there is clearly no option anywhere, much less in Back up and sync, to select Wifi only. In addition, I selected the high quality resolution option, purportedly allowing unlimited free storage. Yet a message under Back up and sync indicates that I've used 11.7 GB of 15GB left, and of course, offers 100GB for $1.99 below the message. Deleting the Wifi only election is frustrating, but trying to trick the use into purchasing the monthly storage is devious.

Irene Wibawa

Aug 28, 2019

On Google photos, I turned backup and sync off. Then turned it back on. Then it showed it uses cell and wifi for backup. I clicked on settings. Then unchecked cellular data.

Last edited Aug 28, 2019

User 18407523213020038854

Sep 3, 2019

People's replies are terrible.

Go to photos App.

Click 3 bars at top left

Click settings (don't know why people left this step out)

Click back up and sync

Go to cellular back up and slide the photos and videos to the left.

Google user

Sep 5, 2019

A simple "I don't know" should suffice for most of these replies.

I take it that the OP has this issue in the Google Photos App for his tablet. There is no option to turn cellular backups on or off on the tablet. Only on cellular devices. I too have this issue. My photos back up just fine on my phone, but for whatever reason the photos that I snapped on my tablet are not being backed up. I travel a lot and I am tethering the data on my phone to my tablet.

Giangi

Oct 14, 2019

Thank you for clarifying this... I was going nuts for not being able to find such settings...

I'm having the problem on an Android tv box that actually even Dropbox is not uploading "waiting for WiFi"... But the box (Android v8.1) is ethernet connected!

What a mess... 🤪

Nick Micilica

Oct 20, 2019

Here is the screenshot with that setting

Karen Watling 3909

Nov 22, 2019

Backup sync and photos and data

Angelo E. De Zoysa

Jan 16, 2020

At least one person explained the process correctly above, I didn't read all of it. But to clarify again.

Top left hamburger icon > settings > Back up & sync > towards the bottom. There is a section where the heading is not easily visible. It says "CELLULAR DATA BACKUP", just turn off the 2 options for photo and video that's there. That's it. All uploads will only work on wifi

auldrin anil

Feb 7, 2020

There is no Such Option and my app is Updated too

Ami Chheda

Feb 12, 2020

No such option is there in the settings tried to search many a times