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How do I back up photos and videos to Google Photos using Google Drive for Desktop? Google Drive for Desktop no longer supports backing up photos and videos to Google Photos. This article explains the change to Google Drive for Desktop and, for the limited cases where backup to Google Photos is still needed, the alternative method using the Google Photos webpage.
DANGER: Never set up an Android phone or any personal device with a UMS account. UMS accounts are not for personal use. Once a UMS account is deprovisioned, any photos, videos, or other data stored in Google Photos will be permanently deleted.
WARNING: Google Photos must not be used for personal purposes or to store personal data. Per the UMS Acceptable Use of Information and Information Systems policy, UMS accounts are provided for University business and are not acceptable for personal use by faculty, staff, or students. See
APL VI-H: Acceptable Use of Information and Information Systems.
INFO: Google Photos is not a service supported by the University of Maine System (UMS) IT. This article is provided for awareness only. UMS IT cannot configure, manage, or troubleshoot Google Photos backups on your behalf.
Instructions
Google Photos backup in Google Drive for Desktop
Google Drive for Desktop previously allowed photos and videos in selected computer folders to be backed up directly to Google Photos. Google has ended support for this functionality in Google Drive for Desktop (support ends August 10, 2026). Photos and videos that were already backed up will remain in Google Photos.
Source: Manage Google Drive for desktop: Advanced guide — Google Drive Help
If backup to Google Photos is still needed
Backing up computer folders to Google Photos is now done through the Google Photos webpage rather than Google Drive for Desktop. Google Photos is not supported by UMS IT and must not be used for personal data; for University purposes where it is still needed:
- On your computer, go to photos.google.com.
- At the top right, click Create and add photos.
- Under "Add photos," click Back up folders.
- Select the folders that you want to back up.
- If prompted, grant Google Photos permission to access the selected folders so backup can begin.
Once set up, Google Photos checks the selected folders for new photos and videos and uploads them automatically. The Google Photos webpage must stay open for the automatic backup to run.
Source: Back up photos & videos - Computer — Google Photos Help
What backs up
Only photos and videos in the selected folders back up to Google Photos; other file types are not included. Supported items have the following size limits:
- Photos: up to 200 MB or 200 MP
- Videos: up to 10 GB
- Items must be larger than 256 x 256 pixels
Source: Back up photos & videos - Computer — Google Photos Help
Environment
- Google Drive for Desktop (Windows and Mac)
- Google Photos (webpage)
- Google Workspace for Education