How to get unlimited Google Photo backups for any device via a Pixel 1

[Still working on: Oct 10 2024]
A quick video demoing how to upload photos through a Pixel 1 to get unlimited Google Photo backups at full resolution.

0:00 Intro
0:30 Current state of Google Photo backups
0:38 OG Pixel 1 still unlimited
0:59 Any photo can be backed up for free
2:35 Setup Resilio folder sync
6:10 Backup the synced folder
6:56 Sync your entire camera folder and then back it up
7:25 Works for iOS as well
7:33 Outro

[hondaland_]

I read into this when the disclaimer came out. I quickly rushed to buy one and slept on it. I've returned to eBay and found a cracked one for 50 bucks from new York but it's fully functional for what I wanted to do and now someone has made a video so I'm not alone in this.

[SeanPaulPhoto]

Wow that app looks way nicer than my method, have a my Pixel setup as a dedicated FTP server and use FolderSync to keep things backed up, but I do tend to have problems either keeping the FTP server running 24/7 or with FolderSync randomly taking forever to complete a sync. Also have run into issues with TLS encryption/SSL with the server, so will def be giving this a go. Thanks!

[NM-vwxq]

"Or until Google Photos no longer runs on Android 10" is really the main catch here. Google is well aware of this loop hole and will just close it simply by not allowing their apps to be installed on older versions of Android (i.e. they will require a min. version of Android, same thing Apple does with many apps). Don't be baited into thinking anything is "free and unlimited". Same goes for the Pixel 5 and below devices being allowed to upload "unlimited" photos/videos with the storage saver option. Enjoy it while it lasts but definitely think of other options.

[gparyani]

Google will not intentionally remove the loophole; at the time they sold the device, they advertised the feature as lifetime, so if they do remove it, it will open them up to being sued. Considering the legal precedent that was set through the Sony PS3 OtherOS case, they don't want that. They fixed this for the Pixel 2 and Pixel 3 by incorporating time-limit clauses (Jan. 2021 for Pixel 2, Jan. 2022 for the Pixel 3), but they didn't include this for the OG Pixel.

Of course, it can get removed unintentionally, such as due to a lack of software updates for newer security protocols, etc.

[kobe]

It works for my iphone camera backup! Thank you!

[nitebluesky]

Still works for me thankfully. I've uploaded upwards of 50 gig of photos on my account. Removed my account added wife's and uploaded over 100 gig of photos.

[beekarinsaan]

Was hoping people would stay hush hush about it, yet we have full tutorials about it on YouTube. 😂🤣😂🤣

[Imanpcmonkey]

Works of feb 20 23 while trying to upload 17k photos

[minorchord]

I love you, thanks! I tried a different app before and it didn't work properly. I was so annoyed after using my pixel 3a with unlimited storage life was so easy. I recently got a 6a and just in a couple of weeks I didn't even have enough memory on my Gmail inbox! I had to delete old emails

[delanduijne]

Got any idea on how to get this working for live photo's taken on an iPhone? Unfortunately, photos appear to be split into a separate jpeg and mov file.

[allthenamesaretaken]

But then what if you want to keep the originals on your daily? Sync thing would always try to sync everything from the camera folder since the pixel would be wiping itself clean once the photos are on google photos.

[tristan_talks_tech]

The Sync on the iPhone doesn’t update in the background, you have to go to both devices and open the app to get them to send files. Do you know if there’s anyway to do so in the background?

[ডাঃউচ্ছ্বাস]

The one thing I needed from this video is how do you create a one way sync. The pixel doesn't have that much storage and 4k videos can fill up quickly with resilio sync.
How do you make it automatic such that after x period of time, the files will get deleted from your phone where you are uploading from as well as free up the space in pixel XL

[michaelminer]

This is the best. You're great!
Quick question: Resilio Sync is great at syncing immediately...but, I basically have to open Google Photos on the pixel to force the sync. Any thoughts?

[mahajansb]

Hey! Thanks for the Video. I just want to know, the software that you used, is that changing the real captured location, date-time or other metadata? I want to whether it changing those metadata or not. Because people like me are more curious about those kinds of data when reviewing past uploaded data in the future.

[adfjasjhf]

Are you wiping your phone internal memory after x amount of days or how do you keep track of what can be deleted from the phone once it is uploaded? I find that quite annoying currently.

[Shekz-yk]

Can this be back-up in the background app? Or need to open the app on the both phones to back-up? Thank you

[静姝俞]

Yeah I've use this lifetime original-quality uploading feature for years, even when I upgraded phones several times. It seems Google found out this loophole now. I am looking at the the footnote of pixel 5a page, it says "Pixel and Pixel XL: Unlimited original quality storage of photos/videos taken with your Pixel, high quality for all other photos/videos. Requires Google Account. Data rates may apply."

[bhushangadiya]

How can we set this up. I wish to sync my photos from all my other android devices to my Pixel which will back it up to the cloud for free. But then I want it to delete all the backup photo and then sync only the previously un synced photo. I am stuck at this point

[Skans-Gustav]

Can you prepare a video where you upload from iPhone? Not sure that really works.