To upload photos to Google, use Google Photos. On a phone, install the Google Photos app, sign in, tap your profile picture, and turn on Backup so photos upload automatically; or open a photo and tap Back up to upload just that one. On a computer, go to photos.google.com, click Upload > Computer, and select your photos, or drag them into the browser window. Uploaded photos count toward your Google account storage (15 GB free, shared with Gmail and Drive).
This guide covers uploading from Android, iPhone, and computers, backing up whole folders automatically, choosing upload quality, adding photos to albums, and fixing uploads that stall.
Upload from an Android phone
- Open the Google Photos app (it’s preinstalled on most Android phones) and sign in.
- Tap your profile picture > Photos settings > Backup and turn on Backup.
- Choose Backup quality: Original quality or Storage saver (slightly compressed).
- To back up other folders like screenshots or messaging apps, tap Back up device folders and turn them on.
To upload a single photo without turning on backup, open it and tap Back up (the cloud icon).
Upload from an iPhone or iPad
- Install Google Photos from the App Store and sign in with your Google account.
- Allow access to your photos (choose Full Access for automatic backup).
- Tap your profile picture > Photos settings > Backup and turn it on.
- Keep the app open or allow Background App Refresh for uploads to continue. iOS limits background activity, so opening the app now and then helps.
Upload from a computer
- Go to photos.google.com and sign in.
- Click Upload at the top, then Computer.
- Select photos and videos and click Open. Or drag files or folders from your computer directly into the browser window.
- When the upload finishes, you can add the photos to an album from the notification at the bottom of the screen.
Back up computer folders automatically
Install Google Drive for desktop on Windows or Mac, sign in, open its settings, and add folders under My Computer. Choose Back up to Google Photos for photo folders. New photos you add to those folders upload automatically.
Upload to a shared album
- Open the shared album in the app or on the web.
- Tap or click Add photos (the photo-plus icon).
- Choose photos from your library or your device.
Storage and quality
- Every Google account includes 15 GB of free storage shared across Photos, Gmail, and Drive.
- Storage saver reduces photos over 16 MP and videos over 1080p to save space. Original quality keeps full resolution.
- Check storage in the app under your profile picture, or at one.google.com/storage. Google One plans add more space.
Troubleshooting
- Backup is paused or stuck – check Wi-Fi, turn off Low Power Mode or battery saver, keep the app open, and make sure you have storage left.
- Backup only on Wi-Fi – to use mobile data, turn on Mobile data usage options in Backup settings.
- Upload fails for certain files – Google Photos accepts common photo and video formats up to size limits (for example, 200 MB per photo and 10 GB per video, per Google). Some RAW formats may not be supported.
- Duplicates – Google Photos skips exact duplicates automatically.
- Photos appear in the wrong account – check which account is signed in at the top of the app.
Related: move photos from Google Drive to Google Photos.
Frequently asked questions
Does deleting photos from my phone delete them from Google Photos?
If you delete them in the Google Photos app, yes. Use Free up space in Google Photos to remove device copies that are already backed up.
Can I upload photos without the app?
Yes. Use photos.google.com in any browser, including on a phone.
Are my uploaded photos public?
No. They’re private unless you share them.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.