photo backup – Samsung Gallery’s OneDrive syncing is ending after September 30, and newer app versions have removed the feature. For anyone who counted on that workflow, there’s now a clear opening to switch to cloud-first photo apps or pair a traditional gallery with OneDri
Samsung Gallery was the comfort food for a lot of people—especially those who kept their photos mostly on-device. but still wanted the safety net of cloud backup. Last month. though. the safety net started to shrink: Samsung Gallery will no longer support OneDrive syncing. with support fully ending by September 30. Even while the syncing feature can still be used on some setups. Samsung removed the syncing feature from newer versions of the app.
For anyone who relied on that combination, the timing matters. The feature is still technically usable right now, but it won’t be for long. So it’s a good moment to map out a new routine—either by moving to a photo app built around cloud storage. or by keeping a traditional gallery app and letting OneDrive handle backups elsewhere.
Google Photos is the most obvious replacement if you want photos always within reach. Samsung Gallery was designed primarily for local media. but Google Photos is built around cloud storage and making sure your photos can be viewed from virtually any device. Its interface isn’t as tailored to a pure “gallery” experience. but it still delivers editing tools. including AI features like the ability to erase objects. You can also adjust basics like brightness and saturation.
There’s a trade-off: Google Photos leans on cloud, so to get the most out of it you’ll likely want a Google One subscription. The free tier caps you at a maximum of 15GB of space across Google services.
If your Amazon membership changes your shopping routine, Amazon Photos might do the same for your photo backup. The app received a major update last month, replacing the older photo grid with a curated carousel of memories. It also added natural-language search—so you can ask to see photos from a specific holiday or family event.
Prime members get unlimited full-resolution photo storage, along with 5GB of video storage, with an option to buy more. On the free tier, you get 5GB total shared across photos and video. You’ll miss Galaxy AI editing tools and some other Samsung-specific features. but one practical approach is to keep Samsung Gallery for viewing and basic editing while Amazon Photos takes over storage.
Piktures is the recommendation for people who want something that doesn’t feel like it’s designed for one big platform. It builds its gallery around a UI of simple cards reminiscent of the Windows Metro design. and it includes features that stand out on this list—like USB drive support and integration with Google Photos. OneDrive. Nextcloud. and a range of other cloud platforms.
Piktures also offers a Secret Space feature that isolates sensitive photos behind encryption. aiming to keep certain images away from whatever might otherwise end up in the cloud. The downside is straightforward: Piktures is ad-supported. and you can remove the ads with a one-time payment if you’d rather keep your gallery experience clean.
If you want built-in cloud syncing but don’t want to abandon Samsung Gallery entirely. Microsoft OneDrive is the workaround worth revisiting. OneDrive includes a basic photo backup system directly within the app. Advanced photo features aren’t the point here. but the payoff is simple: you can keep using Samsung Gallery while OneDrive handles backups instead of everything living under one roof. That matters for anyone who still values Samsung’s viewing and editing workflow but needs cloud protection that doesn’t depend on Samsung’s OneDrive sync feature.
For those who prefer lightweight viewing or more traditional gallery control, there are several non-cloud gallery options that can still pair well with OneDrive or a similar service.
Focus Go is built for minimalists who aren’t chasing robust editing or extra bells and whistles. The layout is clean and simple. and it organizes images by folder to make file management feel less like a scavenger hunt. It still includes a few power-user touches, including fingerprint lock and the ability to render images in HDR.
Aves Gallery takes a more detailed approach. It includes a stats page that breaks down your photography habits, including file type counts, shooting locations, and timestamps. Searching is also designed to be easier, combining user-added tags with existing metadata. For quick access to directories you use often, Aves lets you pin a specific folder as the home screen.
Fossify Gallery comes out of the Simple Gallery story. Simple Gallery was once one of the most popular open-source gallery apps, but it shifted toward a premium model. Fossify Gallery emerged as a fork of the original, carrying over many of its best features. The UI may look straightforward at first glance. but it offers a wide range of customization options suited to just about any level of photographer.
And for people who want the Google ecosystem without Google Photos’ cloud-first approach, Google Gallery is another option. It’s been around in some form since 2019 and provides a minimal, no-frills experience similar in spirit to Focus Go. It may not be the most feature-rich app on this list. but it supports Android 8 and higher—giving it an edge for users on older devices that newer apps may no longer support.
What’s undeniable here is that Samsung’s removal of OneDrive syncing by September 30 forces a real decision: either move your backup thinking into a cloud-first photo app, or deliberately separate viewing from syncing by pairing your gallery choice with OneDrive.
Right now, the feature still works for those on older versions, but newer Samsung Gallery versions have already dropped syncing. The pressure isn’t theoretical—it’s already in the app update history. The good news is that the replacement paths are clear. whether you want cloud storage that behaves like a photo library or a gallery app you can keep while OneDrive takes the backup job.
Samsung Gallery OneDrive syncing end photo backup apps Google Photos Amazon Photos Piktures OneDrive photo backup Focus Go Aves Gallery Fossify Gallery Google Gallery