How to Turn Off Google Photos Backup on iPhone (and What Next)

Google Photos backup is handy until you realise it's quietly copying every screenshot, receipt and blurry test shot from your phone. Maybe you've switched to iCloud Photos, maybe your Google account is filling up, or maybe you simply want some photos to stay on the phone. Whatever the reason, switching it off takes less than a minute.

The steps below follow Google's own Photos Help pages for iPhone and iPad. Where the help pages are silent, I've said so instead of guessing, because it matters here: backup settings and deleting photos interact in ways that catch people out.

Switching off Google Photos backup on an iPhone or iPad

1. Open the Google Photos app and make sure you're signed in to the right Google Account.
2. Tap your profile picture or initial at the top right.
3. Tap Google Photos settings.
4. Tap Backup.
5. Turn Backup off.

Google says the app then shows "Backup is off" as your backup status. That message is your quick confirmation that it has worked. Menu names can change between app versions, so if you can't see Google Photos settings, look for a settings option in the same profile menu.

What Google Photos backup off looks like in the app

When backup is off, Google says items that haven't been backed up show an empty thumbnail. That's normal and it doesn't mean the photo has vanished from your phone. It just means Google Photos has no copy of it in your account.

If backup was on before, the labels you'd normally see are Preparing backup, Backing up photos, Backup complete and Backup paused. Google measures progress by how many items are left to upload. After you turn backup off, you'll see the off status instead.

Are photos already in Google Photos removed when you turn backup off?

Google's help page doesn't say directly what turning backup off does to items already stored in your account, so I won't claim either way. What it does explain is how to remove backed-up items on purpose: turn off backup on your iPhone first, then delete the items on a computer or a mobile browser at the Google Photos website.

That order is the important bit. Google says that if you delete a photo while backup is still on, it can be removed from your devices too. Items you delete from Google Photos are also removed from phones and tablets with the Google Photos app installed and backup turned on, and from albums and shared albums they were in.

Deleting a Google Photos copy without losing the photo on your iPhone

If your aim is to free up space in your Google account while keeping the originals on your phone, Google's order of steps is:

1. Turn backup off in the Google Photos app on every device where you want the photos to stay.
2. Go to photos.google.com on a computer, or use a mobile browser, and sign in.
3. Choose the photos or videos you want to remove and move them to the trash.

Google adds that deleted photos might still appear in your Photos view afterwards, because those are local copies on your phone. Keeping backup off also stops the deleted photo being backed up again and stops your local copy from being deleted.

Deleted items go to the Google Photos trash for 30 days before they're permanently deleted. Permanently deleted items can't be restored. If you change your mind about a deletion, restore it within that window.

Why you might turn off Google Photos backup

• Your Google Account is running short of space, which is shared across products such as Google Photos, Drive and Gmail, according to Google.
• You prefer to keep your photos only in Apple's Photos app and iCloud Photos.
• A phone is shared and you don't want everything copied to one account.
• You run a small business and want product shots and receipts kept somewhere other than your personal Google account.

Google also says you can back up photos and videos to only one Google Account at a time, so switching off on one account is often part of moving to another.

Backing up single photos after Google Photos backup is off

Turning backup off doesn't stop you from saving something you care about. Google says you can open a photo or video in the app and tap Back up now. To save several, touch and hold the items you want, then tap Back up.

That's useful if you want to keep a handful of important shots, such as a product photo or a family picture, in Google Photos without sending your whole camera roll.

Turning Google Photos backup back on

Follow the same route: profile picture, Google Photos settings, Backup, then switch it on. Google says backup runs from the most recent photos to the oldest, and it can take a while depending on your connection and how much you're uploading. Keeping the app open and the phone plugged in helps.

If the app asks for access to your photos, Google says to open the iPhone Settings app, tap Privacy, tap Photos, and make sure Google Photos is allowed. And if you want to find old pictures from a different angle, my guide to seeing your memories on Facebook shows how Facebook resurfaces them, while my page on recovering deleted files from Google Drive covers the other Google place where deleted things can hide.

If Google Photos backup won't turn off

1. Check you're in the right Google Account by tapping your profile picture and reading the email shown.
2. Check the Google Photos app has any available update waiting.
3. Close the app fully and open it again, then repeat the steps.
4. Look at the backup status at the top of your library. If it says Backup is off, the change has worked.
5. If it still behaves oddly, visit Google's Photos Help centre or contact Google support.

Frequently asked questions

How do I turn off Google Photos backup on iPhone?

Open Google Photos, tap your profile picture or initial, tap Google Photos settings, tap Backup and turn Backup off.

Does turning off Google Photos backup delete my photos?

Google's help page doesn't say that turning backup off deletes anything. It does explain that to remove backed-up items you turn off backup first and then delete them on the Google Photos website.

How do I know Google Photos backup is off?

Google says your backup status reads Backup is off, and items that aren't backed up show an empty thumbnail.

Can I still back up some photos with backup off?

Yes. Open a photo and tap Back up now, or touch and hold several items and tap Back up.

How long do deleted Google Photos stay in the trash?

Google says deleted photos and videos stay in the trash for 30 days before they're permanently deleted.

Can I back up to more than one Google Account?

Google says you can back up photos and videos to only one Google Account at a time.