Google Photos not backing up? 9 fixes for Android and iPhone
Full Google storage and battery saving settings stop most backups. The status at the top of the Photos app tells you which.
The fix
9 fixes, in order
- 1
Read the backup status.
Tap your profile picture. It says why backup is paused, if it is.
- 2
Check your Google storage.
See one.google.com/storage. Free space or add more if it is full.
- 3
Connect to Wi-Fi, or allow backup on mobile data.
- 4
Turn off battery saver or Low Power Mode.
- 5
Make sure Backup is turned on.
Profile picture › Photos settings › Backup.
- 6
Turn on other device folders.
Backup › Back up device folders.
- 7
On iPhone, allow full access.
Settings › Apps › Google Photos › Photos › Full Access, and turn on Background App Refresh.
- 8
Update Google Photos and restart the phone.
- 9
Clear the app cache on Android.
Settings › Apps › Photos › Storage › Clear cache.
Frequently asked questions
Why does Google Photos say waiting for Wi-Fi?
Backup is set to Wi-Fi only. Connect to Wi-Fi, or allow mobile data in Photos settings › Backup › Mobile data usage.
Why are photos from WhatsApp or screenshots not backed up?
Only the camera folder backs up by default. In Photos settings › Backup › Back up device folders, turn on the folders you want.
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