“Since last week Google Photos hasn’t been working properly. I haven’t been able to upload any photos from my Galaxy S10. Initially, I thought this to be an internet-related issue but upload also fails over Wi-Fi and cellular network. How do I fix this?”
If you feel like your photos are taking far too long to upload to Google Photos, there’s no need to panic. In this guide, you’ll learn simple actionable tips that will help you fix this problem.
So, without wasting any time, let’s jump right into fixing the “Google Photos not uploading” issue.
Why Are Google Photos Not Uploading
If you’ve faced issues before with Google Drive stuck uploading files, then you may have an idea of what could be the reasons behind Google Photos not uploading.
There are a number of reasons Google Photos may not be able to upload your photos. It’s maybe because of an internet connection issue, or the file might be too big. An outdated Google Photos app and too much cache and data could also be the culprit.
Fortunately, most are relatively easy to fix. So in this guide, we’ll show you how to fix the problem when Google Photos won’t upload your photos.
7 Tips for Fixing “Google Photos Not Uploading” Problem
Go through these troubleshooting tips in order until you find the solution that works for you.
- Google Photos Backup Status
- Turn On Goole Photos Backup and Sync
- Check Google Photos Storage
- Restart Google Photos app
- Clear Google Photos cache and data
- Reinstall Google Photos app
- Manually upload photos to Google Photos
1. Check Google Photos Backup Status
Sign in to your Google Account, Open the Google Photos app, tap on your profile icon at the top-right corner of the screen.
There will be a pop-up card with different menu options where you can see the Google Photos backup status. Here’s what each of them means:
- “Waiting for connection“ or “Waiting for Wi-Fi“: It means that you are not connected to the internet. So, you need to connect to a strong and stable Wi-Fi connection or the mobile network.
- Backup & Sync is off: The Sync feature is turned off. You need to visit Google Photos settings and tap on Turn on Backup.
- A Photo or Video was Skipped: It means that one or more photos or videos you’re trying to upload doesn’t meet Google Photos requirements. Speaking or requirements, you can’t upload photos that exceed 75 MB or 100 megapixels and videos can’t exceed the 10 GB limit.
- Backing Up Photos or Backup Complete: All your photos in your gallery have been either uploaded successfully or are backing up to Google Photos.
- Preparing Backup or Getting ready to Back-Up: Google Photos is preparing to back up your photos.
2. Turn On Backup and Sync in Google Photos
Next, you’re going to make sure Backup & Sync is turned on. Here’s how to do it.
- Open the Google Photos app on your Android mobile and sign into your Google account if you’re not already signed in.
- Tap on your profile icon and then Photos Settings.
- Select the Back up & sync option. If backup & sync is off, turn the slide next to it to the blue position to turn it on.
If it is already turned on, you’ll see the following options.
- Upload Size: By tapping on this button, you will be able to change the storage size.
- Back-Up Photos or photos Back-Up using Cellular Data: Tap on this button and you will be able to choose between uploading photos via Wi-Fi and mobile data.
- Active Account: Tap on this button and make sure that your Google account is listed on Google Photos as the viewer.
3. Check Google Photos Storage
After the upload status, you also need to check the storage status of Google Photos. Google only provides 15 GB of free storage split across Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos.
If the files you’re uploading exceed the available limit, the upload will not be successful. So, check the available storage space.
If you’re running low on storage you can purchase more Google storage. You can also pick a plan from the best cloud storage services to keep your photos and videos safe and secure.
If there is enough storage available, then lack of storage is not the culprit here. Move on to the next step.
4. Restart Google Photos App
If the files you’re trying to upload meet Google Photos’ requirements, then restart the Google Photos app and try to reupload the files again. You can do that in a few different ways:
You can restart the Google Photos app by restarting your Android device altogether. Press and hold the side button of your phone until a pop-up menu appears on the screen. Then, tap on the Restart button to reboot your device. (This step might be different depending on your Android phone)
This will stop the Google Photos upload process. After the device reboots, initiate the upload again.
You can also choose to remove your Google account from Google Photos, restart your Android mobile and then add it back again.
Lastly, you can Force Stop the app from your phone’s settings. Just follow the steps below.
- Go to the Settings of your Android mobile. Scroll down and locate Apps.
- Find the Google Photos app and tap on Force Stop.
Google Photos will stop working immediately. Now, launch the app again and start the upload.
Still having issues uploading your photos to Google Photos? Don’t worry, we’ve got a few more tips to try.
5. Clear Google Photos Cache
It’s good practice to clear your app’s cache once in a while. If cache files start to pile up to an excessive amount, it may affect your app’s performance.
It might be a good time to clear the Google Photos cache files if you haven’t done so in a long time.
- Navigate to the Settings of your Android phone.
- Scroll down and tap on Apps.
- Then, go to Photos and tap on Storage & cache.
- Under the storage option, tap on the Clear cache button to empty the cache and data.
This will remove all the temporary files associated with Google Photos. After that, initiate upload again, you may be successful.
If you still got no luck with uploading your files, you may need to reinstall the Google Photos app.
6. Reinstall Google Photos App
If you’re still unable to upload, remove the app from your Android mobile and install it again from the Google Play Store.
- Head over to your phone’s Settings.
- Scroll down and locate Apps. Under the Apps section, locate Photos and tap on it.
- Tap the Uninstall button to uninstall the app.
Now, open the Google Play Store and install the Google Photos app again.
After reinstalling the Google Photos app, try to upload the photos again. You shouldn’t have any issues.
7. Manually Upload Photos to Google Photos
If nothing works, try to manually upload the photos to Google drive.
- Open the Google Photos app and select the photo you want to upload.
- Next, tap on the Cloud icon at the top right corner of the screen. At the bottom, you will see Uploading.
- If you’re unable to find the cloud icon, then look for the Three Lines icon. Tap it and select the Back Up Now option.
This is how to manually upload the photos to Google Photos. Manually uploading photos can be a bit tedious but if you’re in a hurry and the Google Photos app isn’t properly working, this is the best way to overcome the problem.
Wrapping It Up
Now Google Photos should be up and running nicely again, syncing with your photos and videos.
Let us know if these tips worked to get your photos and videos uploading to Google Photos again. If you tried something else that worked, please let us know.
We hope you found this article helpful, and in case you have any questions, feel free to reach out in the comment section below.
