Google Photos has introduced a new feature called “Undo Device Backup,” aimed at giving users greater control over their cloud storage. This tool allows users to undo previously backed-up photos and videos from their devices, removing them from the cloud while keeping them stored locally. Designed to help manage storage space more effectively, the feature caters to users dealing with limited cloud storage or looking to streamline their photo library. Accessible through the app’s settings, this feature ensures that users can selectively manage their backups without losing important files. As cloud storage becomes increasingly essential, Google Photos continues to evolve, offering tools like this to enhance user convenience and flexibility in managing digital memories.
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Google has rolled out the "Undo Device Backup" feature, as announced on its support page, resolving a persistent challenge in Google Photos. Until now, users couldn’t delete content from their cloud backup without also erasing it from local storage. While a workaround required disabling backup on a mobile device and using a desktop to remove media, this approach was inconvenient and time-consuming.
With this new feature, users can delete photos and videos from the cloud backup without impacting their local copies. This is particularly helpful for those limited to the free 15GB storage shared across Gmail and Google Photos. Once activated, the feature removes media from albums, shared albums, search results, memories, and locked folders, while also automatically disabling future backups for the device.
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- Open the Google Photos app.
- Go to your profile icon, select Google Photos settings, and then go to Backup.
- Click on "Undo backup for this device"
- Tick the box confirming, “I understand my photos and videos from this device will be deleted from Google Photos.”
- Tap on "Delete Google Photos backup" to complete the process.
This functionality is currently accessible on iOS devices via Google Photos and is expected to launch for Android users shortly.
