Overview
- Google's Drive for desktop stopped sending new photos and videos to Google Photos on Monday, August 10, 2026, so folders that relied on the old bridge will no longer upload new media until users take action.
- Google confirmed existing photos and videos already backed up to Google Photos via Drive remain stored and that Drive file syncing for other files still works as before.
- To restore automatic computer-folder backups users must add folders inside the Google Photos app with the '+' → 'Back up folders' option or import images already in Drive into Google Photos.
- The Photos web backup method only runs while the Google Photos site is open in a browser, which reduces convenience compared with the previous background sync that ran continuously from the Drive desktop app.
- For users who offload images from cameras or scanners this change raises the risk of silent gaps in backups, so they should check folder settings now; the move also signals Google will concentrate photo features inside Google Photos rather than across Drive.