fix Google Drive not syncing photos Android 2026.
Intent: people who see missing uploads, stalled backups, or “Waiting for backup” messages and need a fast, practical fix.
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2] Quick checks (do these first)
1. Open Google Drive or Google Photos → Settings → Backup & sync (or “Back up & sync”) — is it turned ON?
2. Confirm you’re signed into the correct Google account (top-right avatar).
3. Check storage: drive.google.com/storage — do you have enough free space?
4. Toggle Airplane Mode ON → wait 5 seconds → OFF (this refreshes network stack).
Note: Many problems are just account or network mismatches — don’t skip these.
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3] Ensure required permissions (exact steps)
- Android 11+ path: Settings → Apps → Google Photos (or Google Drive) → Permissions → Ensure Files and media / Storage is allowed.
- If permission shows “Only while using the app” try granting full access where available.
- For Android 13+ you may need Photos and Videos permission specifically; set it to “Allow” or “All photos”.
Real note: I’ve seen phones with restricted app storage cause weekly backups to fail — permission is the usual culprit.
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4] Force stop, clear cache, restart app (fast)
1. Settings → Apps → Google Photos (or Google Drive) → Force stop.
2. Tap Storage & cache → Clear cache (do NOT clear storage/data unless you have backups).
3. Reopen the app and check backup status.
4. If still stuck: Force stop → Clear data → sign in again (this resets local settings).
Tip: Clearing cache is low-risk and often fixes stuck upload queues.
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5] Check network settings and battery optimizations
- Use a stable Wi‑Fi (avoid mobile hotspots with captive portals).
- Settings → Network & internet → Data Saver: turn OFF if on.
- Settings → Battery → Battery optimization → Exclude Google Photos (select “Don’t optimize”).
- If on mobile data, allow backup over mobile: Photos → Settings → Backup & sync → Back up over cellular data → toggle on if you want.
Why: Doze mode and data saver can pause background uploads — disabling optimization for Photos/Drive keeps uploads alive.
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6] Inspect file types and sizes
- Google Photos backs up standard image/video formats: .jpg, .png, .mp4, .mov; very large RAW files or proprietary formats can stall syncing.
- If you have huge files (>2–4 GB), try uploading one manually in Drive web first to confirm account can accept it.
- Move problematic files out of the Camera folder and retry.
Quick hack: create a test photo (take a new picture) — if it uploads immediately, the problem is with specific files, not the service.
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7] Reset backup folder and account (safe sequence)
1. Photos → Settings → Backup & sync → Back up device folders → turn off all folders.
2. Wait 10–20 seconds.
3. Turn Back up & sync OFF, then ON again.
4. Re-enable the device folders you want backed up.
5. Sign out of Google account in the app and sign back in if still stuck.
This forces a fresh scan of folders and requeues files for upload.
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8] Manual workaround — upload via Drive app or web
- Use the Drive app: Open Drive → + (Add) → Upload → navigate to /DCIM/Camera/ or relevant folder → select files.
- Or connect phone to PC and upload via drive.google.com (drag & drop).
- If uploads succeed from PC, the issue is app/phone specific — keep using manual upload until root cause fixed.
Note: Manual uploads are slower but useful when you need specific photos restored quickly.
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9] Advanced: check MediaStore and file paths
- Photos rely on Android MediaStore indexes. If indexing broke, new files aren’t visible to Photos.
- Reboot phone to force MediaStore rescan.
- If you use a file manager and moved photos, ensure path is standard: /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/Camera/ or /Pictures/. Nonstandard folders may be skipped unless added in Back up device folders.
Pro tip: If you moved files with a PC, Android may not reindex immediately — a reboot or connecting to PC and disconnecting often triggers reindex.
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10] When Google Drive shows “Waiting for backup” or “Preparing backup”
- Check queue: Photos app → Settings → Backup & sync → Device folders → see status per folder.
- If “Preparing backup” stalls, sign out and back in, then restart phone.
- If persistent, clear app cache and reboot router (sometimes slow DNS to Google causes backlog).
Personal: I once waited hours for “Preparing backup” — a router reboot cleared a weird ISP DNS cache and uploads resumed.
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11] If backups fail after switching phones or numbers
- Backups link to Google account and phone number for device listing. On a new device: open Photos → sign in → allow backup.
- If old device still listed and causing conflicts, go to photos.google.com/settings on desktop → Manage devices → remove old device or pause its backups.
This is common when migrating phones — the new device needs explicit permission to start fresh.
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12] Use the Google Photos Backup Diagnostics (where available)
- In Photos, go to Settings → Help & feedback → Diagnostic logs or “Troubleshoot backup” (varies by build).
- Run the diagnostic; note any errors (quota, permission, network). Follow suggested fixes.
If the diagnostic suggests “quota full”, go to Google One → Manage storage and free up space or upgrade.
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13] Comparison — common causes (no table)
- Permissions denied → app can’t read files.
- Battery optimization/Data Saver → background uploads paused.
- Corrupt files or unsupported formats → single file blocks queue.
- Account/storage quota full → uploads fail silently.
- MediaStore index broken → new files invisible to the app.
Knowing which category a problem fits speeds the fix.
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14] FAQ — short practical answers
Q: Will clearing app data delete my cloud photos?
A: No — clearing local app data resets the app. Cloud photos remain in your account. You’ll re‑sync after signing back in.
Q: My photos uploaded but don’t show on drive.google.com — why?
A: Google Photos and Drive are separate UIs now. Use photos.google.com for Photos uploads; Drive shows files uploaded directly to Drive.
Q: How do I force reindexing?
A: Reboot the phone; if needed, connect to PC and use MTP to touch the folder, then disconnect.
Q: Is Google One required?
A: No — but if you run out of storage, backups stop; a Google One plan increases quota.
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15] What you can take away 📝
- Check account, permissions, and storage first.
- Clear cache, exclude apps from battery optimization, and reboot.
- Test with a new photo to isolate file-specific problems.
- Use Drive web or PC upload as a fallback.
- Keep manual monthly exports for critical photos — backups fail, humans don’t have to.
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16] Sources and further reading
- Google Photos Help — Back up and sync photos and videos: https://support.google.com/photos/answer/6193313.
- Google Drive storage and shared storage guide: https://support.google.com/drive/answer/2375123.
- Troubleshooting Android app permissions and battery optimizations: https://developer.android.com/training/permissions/requesting.
Sources: .
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