Samsung is preparing to add Google Photos support to its Gallery Cloud Sync app, giving Galaxy users another way to back up photos and videos as OneDrive support is removed. The new integration is included in version 1.6.09.31 of the app and is scheduled to become available on October 1.

The timing means Google Photos will arrive immediately after Samsung ends OneDrive support on September 30. Samsung’s own cloud service will remain available, although it provides 15GB of free storage. By contrast, Google AI Pro offers 5TB of storage with select Samsung Galaxy device promotions, making the new connection potentially useful for customers with large photo libraries.

How Samsung Gallery Cloud Sync will work

According to Google’s support documentation, the integration will initially sync photos and videos from a device’s camera roll. Users can disable that default behavior and choose specific folders instead, giving them more control over which content is uploaded.

Once synced, files will be available on connected devices and viewable through both the Google Photos app and its website. Deleting a file will remove it from the connected apps and cloud storage as well. Edited images will also sync, although users may see both the original and edited versions.

The Samsung Gallery Cloud Sync app listing identifies the upcoming version that adds the Google Photos connection. Some users have reportedly activated the feature ahead of its broader October 1 rollout, including X user Fahad Ali Javed, whose screenshots show the integration working with Google’s 5TB plan.

Google Photos features will have limitations

Photos uploaded through Samsung’s Gallery Cloud Sync connection will not be fully treated like content synced directly by the Google Photos app. Google says those files will be excluded from features such as Memories and highlights, Live albums, and Search.

Users who want those features can instead enable backup directly within the Google Photos app. That may result in a different workflow, but it avoids the restrictions applied to content arriving through Samsung’s system-level sync tool.

What happens to OneDrive users

The change shifts Samsung’s Gallery Cloud Sync options from Microsoft’s OneDrive toward Samsung Cloud and Google Photos. Samsung Cloud’s 15GB free allowance may be enough for basic synchronization, but users with extensive camera libraries may prefer Google Photos if they already have access to a larger Google storage plan.

The October 1 launch date is the stated target, though reports from users suggest the feature may appear early for some accounts or devices. Availability could therefore vary before the scheduled rollout.

Samsung TVs also gain Google Photos features

Samsung’s 2026 Smart TVs are also adding Google Photos integration. The Memories feature can use a Google Photos library to create curated stories based on people, locations, and meaningful moments. A separate Personalized Results feature creates slideshows around selected topics or memories.