Google Photos users who rely on a desktop workflow are facing a major change. Google is ending the Google Photos integration inside the Google Drive desktop app, removing a long-standing way to keep PC folders backed up to the cloud automatically.
The shift matters most for people who manage large photo and video libraries on a computer before sending them to Google Photos. Many power users import DSLR or camera files to a PC first, then depend on desktop sync to keep the cloud archive complete without moving every file manually.
What is changing
Google has told users by email that the ability to add new folders to Google Photos through the Drive desktop app will be removed starting 15 June 2026. On the same day, affected users will also receive an in-app notice directing them to Google Photos.
The existing folders are not cut off immediately. Google says folders already set up for sync will continue backing up to Google Photos until 10 August 2026.
After that date, the Drive desktop app will no longer back up media to Google Photos. That ends the automatic PC-folder-to-cloud path that many users have depended on for years.
Why the change hits advanced users hardest
For casual users, the impact may be limited. Most Google Photos users already back up directly from their phones, so they are less dependent on desktop-based syncing.
The bigger disruption lands on users who treat a PC as the central hub for their photo archive. That workflow usually involves moving camera files to the computer first, then letting desktop sync maintain the same library in Google Photos.
Once the integration disappears, that process loses one of its most convenient steps. Users who regularly move large batches of media will need to adjust how they keep everything in sync.
Google’s replacement options
Google is pointing affected users to the “Back up folders” feature on the Google Photos website. That is the official path the company wants users to adopt after the desktop integration goes away.
There is a catch, though. For background syncing to keep running, the Google Photos site has to stay open.
Google also offers the Google Photos web app as another option. It supports background sync and comes closer to the behavior of a desktop app than a normal browser tab.
Even so, that setup is not identical to the old desktop integration. Its reliability still depends on the browser and how the system handles background activity, including power-saving behavior.
Why this feels like a step back
The previous setup gave users a direct, familiar way to watch selected folders on a PC and send new media to Google Photos automatically. It worked quietly in the background and reduced the need for manual file handling.
The new approach shifts that burden to browser-based tools. The basic backup function remains available, but the experience is less straightforward than the full desktop workflow many power users preferred.
That difference matters most for people with complex media libraries and frequent imports. For them, even a small change in the backup chain can affect the whole workflow.
For users who want a different route outside Google’s ecosystem, Syncthing is mentioned as one option for building a more dependable backup and sync setup. With the desktop path on a countdown, users who still rely on Google Drive desktop for Google Photos backups will need to rethink their approach before the transition is complete.
