WORLDTECHSamsung Gallery gains Google Photos backup, limited to One UI 9 devices for now
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Samsung has officially launched Google Photos integration in its Gallery app with backup services, according to 9to5Google. The feature is not yet open to every Galaxy device, because it requires One UI 9.
Gallery Sync takes over from OneDrive
Samsung's Gallery app now offers a "Gallery Sync" option, which replaces the Microsoft OneDrive integration that previously handled cloud backup. Users sign in with the Google account they choose and store photos and videos using the free 15GB allowance or a paid Google One plan.
Setup is reached through the Gallery app's menu under Settings, where a "Sync photos and videos" option is available. Synced media can then be viewed across Galaxy devices.
Access limited to One UI 9 devices
Samsung says the feature needs One UI 9, which is built on Android 17. The company states that support will be expanding to additional Galaxy devices in phases, but no schedule or device list has been given.
Samsung began rolling out Google Photos backup in September, when it was not yet widely available. The company is now announcing the feature as broadly available to Galaxy users.
Filling a gap left by OneDrive
The change follows the end of Samsung's partnership with Microsoft OneDrive in late September, which left a notable gap in the Gallery app's cloud backup options. For users on supported devices, the Google Photos integration fills that gap.
According to the report, the integration does not bring in a user's full Google Photos library. It allows the Gallery app to show media backed up from another Galaxy device.
Open questions
- Which Galaxy devices will receive the feature next?
- When will support extend beyond devices running One UI 9?