Google Photos may allow users to do backup scheduling
Google Photos is testing a new Backup schedule option that could allow users to choose when their photos and videos are backed up. The feature was spotted during an APK teardown and comes alongside several recent AI-powered updates to the app.
New Delhi: Google Photos has recently added several new features that use AI. These include editing photos using simple text commands, an updated video editor, and tools that automatically create short highlight videos. These updates make Google Photos more useful for editing, storing, and managing photos and videos.
According to a report by Android Authority, this feature was spotted during an APK teardown of Google Photos version 7.58.0.853810532. An APK teardown means examining the app’s code to find features that are still under development. Screenshots shared in the report show that the Backup section in the app’s settings is also being redesigned using Google’s Material 3 Expressive design style.
How does Backup Schedule help?
However, one basic feature has been missing for a long time. Users still cannot decide exactly when their photos and videos are backed up. At the moment, backups usually happen automatically whenever the app decides, often using mobile data or at inconvenient times. Now, Google appears to be testing a new option called "Backup schedule”. This feature may allow users to choose a specific time for backups or select a fixed schedule such as daily, weekly, or monthly. This would give users more control over how and when their data is uploaded.
Google is also reorganising the backup settings. Options like Backup Mode, Backup Quality, and Backup Device Folder are now being placed into separate sections. These are grouped under new headings such as "Backup tools”, "What to back up”, and "How to back up”. The aim seems to be to make the settings easier to understand and navigate.
What’s new in Google Photos
In recent months, Google Photos has seen several updates. These include "Help me edit”, a Gemini-powered feature that edits photos without manual adjustments, a refreshed user interface, the option to undo backups on Android, and other small but useful improvements. If released, the backup schedule feature could solve a long-standing issue for many users.
The backup schedule option doesn't seem to be working right now. This indicates that users are unable to use it at this time, and Google has not stated when or whether it will be made available to everyone. The report also suggests that this feature could work in a way similar to Android’s auto-backup system. That system regularly backs up data such as apps, call history, contacts, and settings to a Google account without user input.