Google Drive has stopped Google Photos desktop backups: 4 best alternatives to save your pictures, videos and precious memories safely in the cloud

Google Drive, the search engine giant, has ended Google photos backup from computers to the cloud storage last month. Google Drive has stopped backing up photos from computers, and now PC users are looking for another way to keep their pictures safely stored online. The change took effect in August 2026, when Drive for desktop stopped supporting photo and video backups to Google Photos.

For people who relied on Google Drive to automatically back up folders of photos from a Windows PC or Mac, there are several alternatives, including Google's newer Google Photos folder-backup option, as well as other cloud-storage services.

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1. Google Photos' new computer backup

The easiest option for people already invested in Google's ecosystem is to continue using Google Photos rather than switching services. Google now allows users to back up photos and videos from selected folders on a computer directly to Google Photos.

Why consider it?

• You can continue using your existing Google account.
• Photos can be backed up from selected computer folders.
• Your pictures remain accessible through Google Photos.
• Google Photos provides tools to organize, search and manage photos.
• It avoids having to move your entire photo library to another cloud provider.

Google also provides 15GB of storage with each Google Account, although that storage is shared across Google services. For someone who simply wants a replacement for the old Google Drive photo-backup workflow, this is probably the most straightforward option.

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2. Microsoft OneDrive

If you use a Windows PC, OneDrive is another option for backing up important folders and photos to the cloud. OneDrive is integrated into Windows, which can make it convenient for people who already use Microsoft's ecosystem.

Why consider OneDrive?

• Works closely with Windows PCs.
• Files can be accessed across devices.
• Photos and other important files can be stored together.
• Automatic syncing can reduce the need to manually upload pictures.
• It can be useful if your photo collection is mixed with documents and other files.

For users who want general computer backup rather than a dedicated photo-management service, OneDrive can be worth considering.

3. Dropbox

Dropbox is another established cloud-storage option for people who want to keep copies of their photos online. Rather than relying on Google Photos' photo-management features, users can use Dropbox to store folders containing pictures and other files.

Why consider Dropbox?

• Simple folder-based cloud storage.
• Works across computers and mobile devices.
• Useful for photos, videos and other files.
• Files can be accessed from multiple devices.
• Automatic syncing can make keeping folders updated easier.

This may appeal to users who prefer seeing their cloud storage as a familiar collection of folders rather than as a dedicated photo library.

4. Amazon Photos

For people already using Amazon's ecosystem, Amazon Photos can also be considered as a cloud photo-backup alternative.

It is designed specifically around storing and managing photographs, making it more directly comparable with Google Photos than general-purpose cloud-storage services.

Why consider Amazon Photos?

• Designed specifically for photo storage.
• Can provide another way to keep a cloud copy of important pictures.
• Useful for people already paying for eligible Amazon services.
• Photos can be accessed across supported devices.

The biggest advantage of choosing a dedicated photo service is that it is designed around photographs and videos rather than simply treating them as ordinary files.

FAQs

Did Google Drive stop backing up PC photos?

Google Drive for desktop stopped supporting the old method of backing up photos and videos to Google Photos in August 2026.

Can I still back up photos from my computer to Google Photos?

Yes. Google provides a separate computer folder-backup option in Google Photos for automatically backing up photos and videos.

What are the alternatives to Google Drive for photo backup?

Google Photos, OneDrive, Dropbox and Amazon Photos are among the options users can consider, depending on whether they want dedicated photo storage or broader cloud-file backup.