Google Plus Photo Backup: How It Worked & What Replaced It
Google Plus (Google+) let you automatically back up photos and videos from your phone to your Google account, but that service shut down in April 2019. If you are looking for the same automatic backup today, the direct replacement is Google Photos, which offers free, unlimited “high quality� backups and paid “original quality� storage. This article explains how the old Google+ backup worked, why it ended, and exactly how to set up automatic backups now.
Background: What Google+ Photo Backup Was
Google+ launched in 2011 as a social network, but its photo backup feature was one of its most popular parts. When you enabled it in the Google+ app, it would automatically upload every photo and video you took on your phone to your Google account, stored in a private album called “Auto Backup.� You could then access them from any device, share them, or edit them with basic tools. The feature was free and unlimited for photos up to 2048 pixels and videos up to 15 minutes long, stored at a compressed “high quality� setting. Original-resolution photos counted against your Google Drive storage limit, which was 15 GB at the time.
In 2015, Google separated photos from Google+ and launched Google Photos as a standalone service. Google+ itself was shut down for consumers in April 2019, and its photo backup feature disappeared with it. If you had used Google+ Auto Backup, your photos were automatically migrated to Google Photos, so you likely did not lose anything.
How the Old Google+ Backup Worked
The backup process was simple and automatic. Once enabled, the Google+ app would:
- Detect new photos and videos on your device.
- Upload them over Wi-Fi or mobile data, depending on your settings.
- Store them in a private album in your Google account.
- Keep them synced across all your devices.
You could choose to back up only over Wi-Fi to avoid data charges, and you could pause backup entirely. The app also had a “Instant Upload� feature that worked similarly. The key difference from today’s Google Photos is that Google+ was primarily a social network, so your photos were private by default but could be shared to circles or publicly if you chose.
Why Google+ Photo Backup Was Discontinued
Google+ as a consumer product failed to compete with Facebook and other social networks. In 2018, Google announced it would shut down the consumer version of Google+ due to low usage and a data exposure bug that affected hundreds of thousands of users. The shutdown was accelerated to April 2019. Google Photos had already become the main photo service, so the backup feature was simply moved there. For users, the practical effect was that automatic backup continued, but under a new app and name.
How to Automatically Back Up Photos and Videos Today
The modern equivalent is Google Photos. To set it up on an Android phone or iPhone:
- Download and install the Google Photos app from the Play Store or App Store.
- Open the app and sign in with your Google account.
- Tap your profile picture or initial in the top right, then go to “Photos settings� (or “Settings� on iOS).
- Select “Back up & sync� and turn it on.
- Choose the upload size: “Original quality� (uses your 15 GB storage) or “Storage saver� (free unlimited, compressed to 16 MP photos and 1080p videos).
- Optionally, set “Upload over Wi-Fi only� to avoid mobile data usage.
Once enabled, new photos and videos will upload automatically in the background. You can also manually back up existing photos by opening the app and tapping the cloud icon with an arrow.
Google Photos vs. Other Automatic Backup Services
Google Photos is not the only option. Apple users have iCloud Photos, which backs up photos and videos to iCloud and syncs across Apple devices. It offers 5 GB free, with paid plans starting at 50 GB. Amazon Photos gives free unlimited photo storage for Prime members, but videos are limited to 5 GB. Dropbox, OneDrive, and other cloud storage services also offer camera upload features, but they typically count against your storage quota. When choosing, consider:
- Storage limits and costs
- Image and video compression
- Ease of sharing and organizing
- Integration with your existing devices and apps
Common Problems and Misconceptions
A frequent misconception is that Google Photos is the same as Google+ and that your photos are public. They are not – your photos are private by default. Another issue people run into is running out of storage. If you choose “Original quality,� your 15 GB free storage fills up quickly, especially with 4K videos. You can check your storage usage in Google Photos settings or at one.google.com. If you run out, you can either buy more storage or switch to “Storage saver,� which compresses new uploads but does not retroactively compress existing ones.
Another common problem is backup not working. Usually, this is because the app is not allowed to run in the background, the device is in battery saver mode, or the upload is waiting for Wi-Fi. Check the app’s backup status and ensure you have a stable internet connection.
Costs and Storage Limits
Google Photos is free, but storage is not unlimited for original quality. As of 2024, every Google account gets 15 GB of free storage shared across Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos. Paid plans via Google One start at $1.99/month for 100 GB and go up to 2 TB for $9.99/month. “Storage saver� uploads are free and unlimited, but images are compressed to 16 megapixels and videos to 1080p. For most phone photos, this compression is visually indistinguishable from the original, but for professional photographers or those with high-resolution cameras, original quality is worth paying for.
Privacy and Safety of Automatic Backup
Automatic backup means your photos are stored on Google’s servers, which raises privacy questions. Google states that your photos are private and are not used for advertising unless you explicitly share them or opt in. You can delete photos from Google Photos at any time, and they will be removed from your account. To protect your account, enable two-factor authentication. If you are concerned about privacy, you can use end-to-end encrypted services like Tresorit or Sync.com, but they cost more and have less convenient sharing. For most users, Google Photos offers a good balance of convenience, features, and cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still use Google+ to back up photos?
No. Google+ for consumers was shut down in April 2019. The photo backup feature was moved to Google Photos, which is the current way to automatically back up your photos and videos.
Will my old Google+ photos be deleted?
No, they were migrated to Google Photos. If you had Auto Backup enabled, your photos and videos were transferred to Google Photos and remain in your account unless you delete them.
How do I know if my photos are backed up?
In Google Photos, open the app and tap your profile picture. You will see a “Backup� status showing “Backup complete� or “Waiting for connection.� You can also go to photos.google.com and check the “Photos� tab – if your photos appear there, they are backed up.
What is the difference between “Original quality� and “Storage saver�?
“Original quality� keeps the full resolution and file size, but counts against your 15 GB free storage. “Storage saver� compresses photos to 16 MP and videos to 1080p, but is free and unlimited. For most phone photos, the difference is barely noticeable.
Does Google Photos use my mobile data?
By default, it uploads over Wi-Fi only. You can change this in settings to allow mobile data, but be aware that this can use a lot of data, especially if you take many videos.
Can I back up photos from my computer automatically?
Yes, you can use the Google Drive desktop app (now called Google Drive for desktop) to sync a folder on your computer to Google Drive, and then set Google Photos to automatically import from Google Drive. Alternatively, you can use the Google Photos web uploader, but it is not automatic.
Related
Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.