Summary
Samsung has introduced Gallery sync with Google storage on select Galaxy devices running One UI 9. It lets users browse previews across supported devices, download originals when needed and free device space while keeping synced files in the cloud.
Samsung says its Gallery app can now sync photos and videos with Google storage, making them accessible across supported Galaxy devices. The service, announced on November 10, 2026, has started rolling out to select devices running One UI 9, with support set to expand in phases.
How Gallery sync works
Users enable sync in Samsung Gallery and sign in with the same Samsung and Google accounts on each supported device. No separate cloud account or app is required. On a new Galaxy device, enabling sync brings up previews of synced photos and videos without first downloading the full library. An original file can be downloaded when needed.
The service does not automatically pull every item already stored in a Google account into Samsung Gallery. At launch, Gallery displays photos and videos synced through Gallery after Google storage sync is enabled; files already in Google storage remain there but do not appear automatically in the app.
Samsung has also added a “Free up space” option. After items have synced to Google storage, users can remove their original files from the device while retaining thumbnails in Gallery. This can free local storage without removing those synced originals from Google storage. Deleting a synced item in Gallery, however, also deletes it from the linked Google storage and other connected Galaxy devices using the same accounts.
Storage and availability
Gallery sync uses the storage available in the user’s Google account; it does not add a separate storage allowance. Google accounts include up to 15 GB at no cost, shared across Gallery sync, Gmail, Google Drive and Google Photos. How much is available for Gallery depends on space already in use. Samsung says Google One paid plans provide additional storage.
The service is limited to select Galaxy phones and tablets running One UI 9, and availability varies by device and market as rollout proceeds. Samsung says photos and videos previously synced from Gallery to OneDrive remain accessible through the OneDrive app or website. Direct sync between Samsung Gallery and OneDrive ended on September 30, 2026.
The change offers a way to browse a synced library across supported Galaxy devices without keeping every original file downloaded on each one. Account storage limits and the effect of deleting a synced item are important to consider when using the service.