How can I sync my photos on my Windows PC with Google Photos now that Google Drive is no longer synced automatically with Google Photos?

Question

I used to just drop them in the Google Drive/Google Photos folder and they would be uploaded automatically, but now that Google Drive is no longer synced with Google Photos, I don't know what to do... I want to put the photos in Google Photos, not in Google Drive. And I wonder when it would be safe to delete my Google Drive/Google Photos folder...

Solution

Google has published for that purpose Backup and Sync.

This app for Windows or Mac will back up photos from your computer, camera or SD card to Google Drive and Photos, and the app will upload a copy to both Google services for you:

• Download and install, that start the app
• Click on Get Started and sign-in to your Google account
• Choose whether you want to just back up photos and videos, or other files as well, then click on Next
• You can select from which folders you want to save your photos, and whether the photos are to be saved in "High quality" or "Original quality".
• Click on Advanced settings to choose whether you want to sync with Google Drive.
• Click on Start to backup.

Comments

[ekolis]

Oh, I have that app installed - how do I point it at a folder that contains my photos? And how do I avoid wasting storage space by uploading photos to both services?

[harrymc]

The process is basically described in my answer. For more details see for example this article.

[wisbucky]

Is this only a 1-way sync though? If you delete a photo from Google Photos, will it get deleted from Google Drive and your computer?

[Peter]

Yes, this is 1-way sync, only from your computer to Google Photos. If you delete or edit a photo on Google Photos, nothing changes on your computer. If you add a photo to Google Photos through another channel (for example upload from phone) it will not be added to your computer.