Summary
Google Photos documents a Gallery Cloud Sync feature that lets compatible Samsung devices save photos and videos to a Google Account and access them across Samsung devices and Google Photos. The sync uses Google storage, mirrors deletions and gives Samsung access to media uploaded through the feature.
Google Photos documents a Gallery Cloud Sync feature that connects Samsung Gallery with a personal Google Account. On compatible Samsung phones and tablets, the feature can automatically save photos and videos to Google Photos, making the synced media accessible across Samsung devices and within the Google Photos app or website.
The feature requires Android 13 or later, a compatible Samsung device and a personal Google Account. Supervised accounts and Google Workspace accounts cannot use it. Google says availability may vary by account type, device model and region.
What Samsung Gallery syncs
Gallery Cloud Sync can back up a device's camera roll and other local folders, including folders such as Downloads or Screenshots. Users can choose specific albums and folders, and can stop syncing the main camera roll while continuing to sync selected folders.
The service also syncs some photo and video metadata, including timestamps, location information and favourite status. Backed-up media is stored in the user's Google Account in its original quality, so it uses the account's available Google storage quota.
A key part of the integration is that deletions remain synchronised. Deleting a synced photo or video in Samsung Gallery or Google Photos removes it from the other app and from cloud storage. Edits are also backed up, although the result depends on where the edit was made.
An edit made in Samsung Gallery updates the item in Samsung Gallery and syncs across other Samsung devices. In Google Photos, the edited version is saved as a new photo, so both the original and edited versions can appear in the library. The original version is retained on the Samsung device where the edit was made rather than being stored separately in the cloud.
Requirements, privacy and controls
To enable the feature, users open Samsung Gallery, select Menu, choose Settings, tap Sync Photos and videos, and follow the instructions to select a Google Account and grant permission.
Using the service gives Samsung access to the media uploaded through Gallery Cloud Sync, the albums and device folders selected for syncing, and some associated metadata. Samsung does not receive other Google Photos items that were not backed up from a synced Samsung device. Google also shares necessary account information with Samsung to provide the feature, including Google One storage status such as available quota.
The integration has limits within Google Photos. Media stored through Samsung Gallery Cloud Sync is available for basic actions such as viewing and sharing, but it is not included in features such as Memories and highlights, Live albums or Search unless the items are also backed up through Google Photos.
Turning off the sync switch stops new photos from the Samsung device being backed up, while previously backed-up media remains in the Google Account and accessible in Google Photos. Turning off the switch also removes cloud-media access from Samsung apps, but it does not by itself remove the account link or stop data sharing with Samsung Gallery.
To end that connection, the linked Gallery Cloud Sync app can be removed from Google Account settings. This ends the links and connections to the service without deleting media already backed up to the Google Account. Setting up the feature again requires fresh authorisation on the Samsung device.
The treatment of private or protected folders requires particular care. Moving a backed-up item to a Samsung Private Album permanently deletes its Google Photos cloud copy after confirmation. Moving it to Secure Folder moves the local item but leaves the cloud copy in place unless it is manually deleted from Google Photos.