Android phones are getting automatic photo backup to Windows PCs
Google's November release notes list automatic photo and video backup from Android to Windows via Quick Share. It's rolling out gradually.
The skim
- Google's November system release notes list automatic backup of photos and videos from Android phones to Windows PCs using Quick Share.
- Based on earlier teardowns, Android Authority expects setup to start in the Quick Share for Windows app, with both devices signed in to the same Google Account, and backups to go over your home network rather than the cloud.
- It arrives with Google Play services v26.43, which rolls out gradually, so it may not show up on your phone yet. Samsung devices may be left out at first.
What's new
Google's System Services release notes for November include a one-line entry under Device Connectivity for Google Play services v26.43, tagged for PC and phone: "Automatic backing up photos/videos from an Android to Windows using Quick Share feature." 9to5Google spotted it in the Nov. 2 changelog.
That's all Google has said officially. Android Authority, which has tracked the feature in app teardowns since April, says the "Automatic backup" option it found in Quick Share settings promised to copy photos, videos and audio from your phone to a PC on your home network. Its October teardown suggested you'll start setup from the Quick Share for Windows app, keep your phone nearby, and sign both devices in to the same Google Account. After that, photos and videos should save to the PC automatically, with no cable and no cloud subscription.
Why it matters
Most Android owners back up photos to Google Photos, which counts against the 15GB of free Google storage shared with Gmail and Drive. A local copy on your own PC, kept off the cloud, is a second backup that doesn't need a subscription, and it's the kind of thing people usually do by plugging in a cable once a year, if ever.
It also fits Google's push to make Quick Share the default way to move files between Android and other devices. Quick Share for Windows already lets you send files from your phone to your PC by hand.
The catches
- Rollout is slow. 9to5Google notes that a feature appearing in the changelog "does not mean it's widely available," and some take months to fully launch.
- Samsung may be excluded. Android Authority's teardowns in July and October found signs that Samsung phones, and later Samsung PCs, wouldn't be supported at first. Google's notes don't mention any restriction, so that's unconfirmed.
- Keep the Windows app updated. Android Authority recommends updating Quick Share on your PC so you're ready when the option appears.
What you can do today
You don't have to wait to get photos onto your PC. A USB cable, Quick Share for Windows and Windows 11's File Explorer phone integration all work now. Our guide, how to transfer photos from an Android phone to a Windows PC, walks through each method step by step.
Sources: Google System Services release notes, 9to5Google and Android Authority.
