Stop Google Photos Backup Unsync: Full Guide

This guide shows you how to stop Google Photos from automatically backing up your device photos and videos, and how to properly unsync your account from the app. Whether you want to save mobile data, free up storage, or switch to a different cloud service, these steps will give you full control over what gets uploaded and when.

What You’ll Need

Your Google account credentials (email and password)
Access to the device where Google Photos is installed (phone, tablet, or computer)
A stable internet connection (optional but recommended)

Step-by-Step

Open the Google Photos app on your Android or iOS device. If you’re using a computer, go to photos.google.com in your web browser.
Tap your profile picture (top-right corner on mobile, top-right on the web). This opens the account menu.
Select “Photos settings” from the dropdown menu. On some versions, it may be labeled “Settings” or “Backup & sync.”
Tap “Backup & sync” to open the backup settings page. Here you’ll see a toggle switch at the top.
Turn off the “Backup & sync” toggle. This immediately stops any new photos or videos from being uploaded. Existing backups remain in your Google Photos library but are no longer synced from this device.
To fully unsync the account (remove the account from the app entirely), go back to the main settings menu and scroll to the bottom. Tap “Disconnect account” or “Sign out.” On Android, you may need to go to your device’s system settings > Accounts > Google > select your account > Remove account.
On a computer, after turning off backup, you can also sign out by clicking your profile picture > “Sign out of all accounts” or “Sign out” at the bottom of the menu.
Verify that backup is off: Return to the main Photos screen and check that the cloud icon at the top no longer shows an upward arrow or a progress indicator. You can also take a test photo and see that it doesn’t appear in your library with a “Backing up” label.

Common Mistakes

Only pausing backup on one device: If you have multiple devices (phone, tablet, computer) signed into the same Google account, you must turn off backup on each one individually. Turning it off on your phone does not affect your tablet.
Deleting the app instead of turning off backup: Uninstalling Google Photos does not stop backups that have already been uploaded, and it may not remove the account from your device’s sync settings. Always turn off backup first, then delete if desired.
Confusing “Free up space” with backup off: The “Free up space” feature deletes local copies of already-backed-up photos. Using it does not stop future backups; it only removes files from your device.
Forgetting to check the web version: If you use Google Photos on a computer, the backup setting is separate from the mobile app. You must disable it in the web interface as well.
Not clearing the backup queue: If you turn off backup while a large upload is in progress, some items may still finish uploading. To prevent this, pause the upload first by toggling off, then wait a few seconds before disconnecting.

Tips

Use “Backup & sync” per device: You can keep backup on for your phone but turn it off for your tablet, or vice versa. This gives you granular control over which device uploads what.
Set upload size to “Storage saver”: If you want to keep backup on but reduce data usage, change the upload quality to “Storage saver” (formerly “High quality”). This compresses photos and uses less data.
Schedule backups: On Android, you can set backup to only happen when charging and on Wi-Fi. This prevents data overage and battery drain.
Download your existing library first: If you plan to stop using Google Photos entirely, use Google Takeout to download all your photos and videos before disconnecting. This ensures you don’t lose access to your memories.
Check your Google Account storage: Even with backup off, your existing photos still count toward your 15GB Google storage limit. You can delete individual items from the Photos app or use the “Free up space” feature to remove local copies.

Troubleshooting

Backup toggle won’t turn off: If the toggle is grayed out or unresponsive, force-stop the app (Android: Settings > Apps > Google Photos > Force stop; iOS: swipe up from app switcher), then reopen and try again. If that fails, restart your device.
Photos still appear in Google Photos after turning off backup: This usually means the photos were already backed up before you turned it off. To remove them from the cloud, you must delete them from the Photos library (this also deletes them from your device if “Free up space” is on, so be careful).
Account won’t disconnect: On Android, if the “Disconnect account” option is missing, go to your device’s Settings > Accounts > Google, select your account, and tap “Remove account.” This will remove the account from all Google apps on the device.
Backup resumes automatically after an update: Some app updates may reset settings. After updating Google Photos, check the backup toggle again and turn it off if needed.
Web version still shows “Backing up”: If you’re using a browser, make sure you’ve turned off the toggle in photos.google.com/settings. Also clear your browser cache and reload the page.
Cannot sign out on iOS: On iOS, Google Photos does not have a direct sign-out button. You must remove the Google account from your device’s Settings > Mail > Accounts (or Settings > Google) to fully unsync.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will turning off backup delete my existing photos in Google Photos?

No. Turning off backup only stops future uploads. Your existing photos and videos remain in your Google Photos library until you manually delete them.

Does turning off backup on my phone also stop backup on my computer?

No. Backup settings are per device. You must turn off backup on each device separately.

Can I still access my photos on Google Photos if backup is off?

Yes. You can still view, search, and download all photos that were previously backed up. You just won’t get new ones from that device.

What happens to my storage quota after I stop backup?

Your existing photos still count toward your Google Account storage limit. To free up space, you need to delete items from the Photos library or use Google Takeout to download and then remove them.

Is there a way to pause backup temporarily instead of turning it off?

Yes. You can turn off the “Backup & sync” toggle and turn it back on later. There’s no built-in “pause for 24 hours” option, but you can also use Airplane mode or turn off Wi-Fi to prevent uploads.

How do I stop backup on a shared or family device?

If you share a device with someone else, make sure you’re signed into your own account. Turn off backup while signed into your account, then sign out. The other person can then sign in and manage their own backup settings.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

More in this bed

The whole Tech How-To bed →