Samsung's Gallery application has officially transitioned its cloud backup capabilities to Google's storage infrastructure, a move that follows the conclusion of its previous partnership with Microsoft OneDrive. This integration enables users to effortlessly synchronize their photos and videos with their Google accounts, ensuring easy access to their media across all Galaxy devices.
This significant update allows Samsung users to back up their visual content directly from the Gallery app. By simply activating the sync feature, which leverages existing Samsung and Google account logins on the device, media files are securely stored in the cloud. Furthermore, Samsung is introducing a 'Free up space' function within the Gallery, designed to optimize local device storage. Once media is backed up to the cloud, original files can be removed from the device, while thumbnails remain visible. Tapping on a thumbnail will prompt the device to download the original file as needed, offering a balance between accessibility and storage management.
The newly implemented Gallery sync mirrors the functionality of the Google Photos application for backing up images. However, its direct integration into Samsung's native Gallery app eliminates the necessity for users to install Google Photos separately, streamlining the user experience. It is important to note that the Samsung Gallery will only display content that has been synced through its new service; any existing photos already backed up via Google Photos will not automatically appear within the Samsung Gallery interface.
The phased rollout of this enhanced sync feature has commenced with a selection of Galaxy devices running One UI 9, with plans for wider distribution in the near future. Users can initiate the synchronization process by tapping the cloud icon within the Gallery app or by navigating to the Gallery Settings and enabling the 'Sync photos and videos' option, thereby leveraging Google's robust cloud services for their media management needs.
