Samsung Gallery rolling out Google Photos sync, here are the details you need to know

Ben Schoon | Sep 18 2026 - 6:40 am PT

As teased, Samsung Gallery is now rolling out support for Google Photos sync, though there are a few details worth noting.

Through app updates earlier this week, Samsung confirmed it was replacing the Microsoft OneDrive backup integration in its Gallery app with Google Photos sync. The change wasn’t live at the time, but works similarly to integrations found in the pre-installed Gallery apps on other phones from other Android brands such as OnePlus and Xiaomi.

Now, it’s actually starting to roll out.

Following updates to the Gallery Sync and Samsung Cloud apps, a Samsung Gallery update is also now rolling out to some users, which enables Google Photos integration – we’re not yet seeing the update on our end. Ice Universe shared screenshots of the settings.

Advertisement - scroll for more content

Samsung Gallery v15.9.01.7 seems to be the trigger for activating sync, despite other apps actually facilitating the sync.

On a support page, Google offers more details on how Samsung Gallery > Google Photos sync works. It requires your Samsung device to be running Android 13 or newer, doesn’t support Workspace accounts, and there are some restrictions on what media you can see and what features work.

Google says that images and videos synced from Samsung Gallery won’t work with Memories and highlights, Live albums, or Search in Google Photos. Samsung Gallery also won’t show content backed up directly through Photos – only content synced from Samsung Gallery via a Samsung device shows up in the app.

Samsung has access to the media items that were originally backed up from Gallery Cloud Sync, but not to other items in Google Photos that were not backed up from a synced Samsung device.

If your device has all of the needed updates, you’ll find the option to enable Google Photos sync in Samsung Gallery via Menu > Settings > Sync > Sync photos and videos.

Samsung Gallery’s integration with OneDrive ends on September 30 for those still using it.