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Samsung Gallery Cloud Sync can back up selected photos and videos from a compatible Samsung device to a personal Google Account, making those synced items viewable in Google Photos. The files use Google Account storage and are backed up in original quality. The important trade-off is that deletion syncs both ways: deleting a synced item in either app also removes it from the other app and cloud storage.
What Samsung Gallery Cloud Sync does
The feature links Samsung’s Gallery app with a Google Account. It backs up eligible device photos and videos that you choose to sync, and makes those items available in Google Photos and on linked Samsung devices. Samsung can access media originally backed up through this sync, but not other Google Photos items that did not come from a synced Samsung device. It is therefore not a way to browse an entire Google Photos library in Samsung Gallery. Google Photos Help
Who can use it
Google’s current help page lists a compatible Samsung device, Android 17, and a personal Google Account as requirements. Supervised Google Accounts and Google Workspace accounts are excluded. Availability can also vary by account type, device model, and region. Google Photos Help
Samsung India’s support article, updated October 1, 2026, says the feature is available on devices running One UI 9.0 or later. The two official pages describe requirements differently, so neither version statement should be treated as a universal rule. Check whether the sync setting appears on your device and consult Samsung support for your region. Samsung India Support
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How to turn on Gallery sync
- Open the Samsung Gallery app.
- Tap Menu > Settings.
- Select Sync photos and videos.
- Follow the prompts to choose a Google Account and authorize media syncing.
A network connection is required. Samsung says pending changes sync automatically when the connection returns. Menu names and availability can vary with rollout, region, and device software. Google Photos Help Samsung India Support
Choose which photos, videos, and folders sync
You can sync device photos and videos, select albums, and local folders such as Downloads or Screenshots. This lets you leave some folders out while syncing others; for example, you can stop syncing the main camera roll but keep a selected folder enabled. Google lists album information, timestamps, location, and favorite status among the data that can sync. Google Photos Help
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- Please note, this device does not support E-SIM; This 4G model is compatible with all GSM networks worldwide outside of the U.S. In the US, ONLY compatible with T-Mobile and their MVNO's (Metro and Standup). It will NOT work with other CDMA carriers, and it is also not compatible with their MVNO (Visible, Xfinity Mobile, US Mobile, Cricket Wireless, etc).
- Compatibility with certain third-party devices and accessibility accessories, including some hearing aids, may vary depending on manufacturer support, Bluetooth protocols, software compatibility, and regional firmware limitations. For additional hearing aid compatibility information, please refer to Samsung’s official support documentation.
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Storage and Google Photos features
Gallery-synced media uses Google Account storage and is backed up in original quality. Samsung Japan’s 2026 support guidance describes a standard free allowance of 15 GB and identifies Google One as an option for more capacity. That storage figure is regional guidance, not a universal plan promise; check the current terms for your region. Google Photos Help Samsung Japan Support
Synced items support basic actions such as viewing and sharing in Google Photos, but Gallery Cloud Sync media is excluded from some Google Photos features, including Memories and highlights, live albums, and Search, unless the items are also backed up through Google Photos. Google Photos Help
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What happens when you delete, free up space, or edit
Deleting a synced item
Deletion is a synced action: deleting a photo or video in Samsung Gallery or Google Photos removes it from both apps and from cloud storage. Do not delete a synced item in either app if you intend to keep its cloud copy. Google Photos Help
Using Google Photos Free up space
Free up space removes local copies that Google Photos considers safely backed up, freeing device storage while leaving the cloud copies in Google Photos. Those files may no longer appear as local items in Samsung Gallery. Cloud-synced media can still be viewable through Gallery folders that remain enabled. Google Photos Help
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- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
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- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
Editing a synced photo
Edits to synced photos are backed up, and you may see both the original and edited version. Google describes special handling for edits made in Google Photos or on the web, so do not assume every edit replaces the original stored on the Samsung device. Google Photos Help
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Turn sync off or unlink Gallery
Turning off Sync photos and videos in Samsung Gallery stops future uploads; media already backed up remains in the Google Account and accessible in Google Photos. The toggle alone does not remove the account link or end data sharing with Samsung. To end the link, unlink Gallery Cloud Sync separately in your Google Account’s linked-app settings. Google Photos Help
Quick Recap
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- TYPE IT IN. TRANSFORM IT FAST: Enhance any shot in seconds on your smartphone by using Photo Assist¹ with Galaxy AI.² Add objects, restore details, or apply new styles by simply typing or tapping
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Troubleshoot missing photos
- In Samsung Gallery, confirm the Google Account selected for sync and check that Sync photos and videos is on.
- Check whether the album or local folder containing the missing media is selected for syncing.
- Make sure the device has network access so pending changes can upload.
- In Google Photos, open Photos settings > Back up and confirm the backup account and folder settings.
- Check Google Photos’ backup status. Seeing a photo in the app does not necessarily mean it has been backed up to the account currently selected. Google Photos Help: Check your backup
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