Google Photos could soon let you keep your phone awake all night for a good reason
Megan Ellis / Android Authority
TL;DR
- Google Photos is preparing an “Overnight backup” feature to work around background backup delays caused by Android background limits like Doze mode.
- The feature will require keeping the app open in the foreground, plugging the phone into a charger, and leaving the device unlocked, while the app dims your screen to black.
- We’ve also spotted warnings for when the device gets too hot, as well as toggles for Wi-Fi or mobile data usage.
Google Photos is one of the best cloud backup options for photos and videos on Android, especially if you prefer a set-and-forget approach (as long as you have free storage). However, Google doesn’t give you much control over when these cloud backups are actually undertaken, and you’ll also find yourself restricted by Android’s background limits in some instances. Google is now preparing a dedicated workaround: an upcoming “Overnight backup” feature designed to keep uploads running at full speed while you sleep.
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Android’s Doze mode and other limits are designed to minimize battery drain when you’re not using your phone. But as you’d expect, these limitations also affect how apps can work in the background.
Ideally, Google Photos should still continue backing up your media when your phone is charging and not in use, and you are on an unmetered connection, even if you haven’t opened the app in a while. However, users have long complained that this doesn’t always work that way, and that Google Photos stops backing up photos in the background despite being granted exceptions for background use. There are also instances where you’ve clicked a lot of photos and videos and want them uploaded right away, rather than waiting for ideal conditions for Photos to upload them slowly.
Strings within Google Photos v7.89.0.966319819 highlight the upcoming Overnight backup feature, which gives you a more reliable and quicker way to back up media when your phone is not in use:
Code
Overnight backup
Backing up is slower when you’re not using the app. Overnight backup keeps the app open and backing up without any interruptions. The strings also highlight how the feature would work:
Code
Start overnight backup
How it works
Don’t switch to another app
Keep Photos open and don’t lock your device
Keep your device charged
Stay plugged in to keep backup running
Your phone will stay awake
Your display will fade to black so it doesn’t disturb you When the Overnight feature is selected and active, users will need to keep Google Photos open, plug in their device to charge, and not lock it. Google Photos will dim the display to avoid disturbing the user, but keep the app active in the foreground to ensure media backups proceed uninterrupted.
Other strings indicate that users can tap the screen at any time to view their backup status.
Code
Tap the screen at any time to see your backup status
{count, plural, =1{1 photo or video backed up to Google Photos} other{# photos & videos backed up to Google Photos}}
{count, plural, =1{1 item left to back up} other{# items left to back up}}
{count, plural, =1{# item remaining} other{# items remaining}} Users will be able to choose whether the overnight backup uses Wi-Fi or mobile data. Wi-Fi appears to be the default state, with mobile data being an optional fallback.
Code
Waiting for Wi-Fi
Waiting for connection
Use data Since your phone will be awake and running its CPU at nearly full speed, charging, and using Wi-Fi or mobile data for uploads, it will naturally get hot. There are built-in warnings if and when you run into that scenario:
Code
Device is too hot We couldn’t find what the app would do if the phone gets too hot, but it’s reasonable to assume it will either pause the backup temporarily or throttle it for a while until the phone cools down.
There’s always the risk of running out of storage, especially if you are on Google Photos’ free tier, so there are prompts for that and to upgrade to more storage:
Code
You are out of storage
Get storage We couldn’t locate any strings for this, but we presume that once your overnight backup is complete, Google Photos will probably turn off your display and let your phone enter its sleep state, rather than keep it awake with no active backup tasks. Notably, we haven’t spotted any strings that tie the feature to working only during certain hours, so users should be able to trigger it when they need it most, rather than just overnight.
The Overnight backup feature within Google Photos is not yet live. We’ll keep you updated when we learn more.
An APK teardown helps predict features that may arrive on a service in the future based on work-in-progress code. However, it is possible that such predicted features may not make it to a public release.
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