Google Photos backup hack after major change

Google Drive's desktop application recently halted support for Google Photos backups, effective August 10, 2026. This means users can no longer rely on the Google Drive for Desktop feature to safeguard their cherished photos and videos. However, there is a workaround to ensure your memories are still preserved.

If you depend on your computer for photo backup, the Google Photos Backup for Desktop process is altering, which may require an additional step when uploading new pictures. Google advises utilizing Google Photos for backing up specific photo folders moving forward. The challenge lies in the fact that Google Photos lacks a desktop backup application like Google Drive, leaving desktop users to handle the process through the Google Photos website.

To set up Google Photos Backup for Desktop, users must open Google Photos on their computer and choose "Create" > "Add photos" > "Back up folders." They can then select the folders containing the photos they wish to secure and confirm that the backup status indicates successful uploads. Once the folders are chosen, users can continue using Google Photos Backup for Desktop to protect photos stored on their computer.

However, the Google Photos website must remain open for the backup process to continue. For those with extensive photo collections, it's advisable to confirm that the upload has finished before closing the browser.

To safeguard your memories, consider these practical steps: utilize Google Photos with a separate local backup, explore other reputable cloud storage services as additional destinations for crucial photos, or store another copy on a separate device before backing up to the cloud. The objective is to avoid having the sole copy of irreplaceable memories in one location.