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First identify which app is uploading the unwanted photos or videos: Google Photos, Samsung Gallery syncing with a Google Account, or Samsung Gallery syncing with OneDrive. Each has separate folder or album controls, so changing one setting may not stop uploads through another service.
Identify which app and destination are syncing
Google Photos can back up folders on your Android device. Samsung Gallery can separately sync selected media with a Google Account or with OneDrive. Check the relevant app and destination before changing settings; the controls are not interchangeable.
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| Sync route | Where to change folder selection | What disabling does |
|---|---|---|
| Google Photos device-folder backup | Google Photos settings | Stops backup for the folders you switch off; hiding items from the Photos view is a separate action. Google Photos Help |
| Samsung Gallery Cloud Sync with a Google Account | Samsung Gallery settings | Turning off sync stops new backups through this feature. Removing the linked app from your Google Account is a separate step. Google Photos Help |
| Samsung Gallery sync with OneDrive | Samsung Gallery settings | Use the album selection controls to choose what syncs to OneDrive. Samsung Support |
Stop unwanted folders from backing up in Google Photos
- Open Google Photos and tap your profile photo.
- Go to Photos settings > Backup > Back up device folders.
- Turn off the switches for folders you do not want uploaded. Leave enabled the folders you do want backed up.
- If you do not want newly created device folders added automatically, turn off Back up all device folders.
Google says selected device folders are backed up in addition to the camera folder, and each folder can be enabled or disabled individually. Menu labels may vary by app version or device. See Google Photos Help.
If unwanted items only appear in the Photos view
Google Photos has a separate option to hide content from device folders in the Photos view. Hiding changes what you see; it is not the folder backup control. To stop uploads, change the folder switches under Back up device folders. Google Photos Help
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Choose albums for Samsung Gallery Cloud Sync with Google
- Open Samsung Gallery and tap Menu > Settings.
- Open Sync photos and videos.
- Review the sync toggle and the selected folders or albums. Disable the ones you do not want synced; keep enabled the albums you want to back up.
- To stop new backups through this Gallery integration, turn off the Gallery sync toggle.
Google says this feature requires a compatible Samsung device running Android 13 or higher; availability can vary by device, account, and region. Depending on the available controls, you may be able to select specific albums and local folders such as Downloads or Screenshots, or stop syncing the main camera roll while keeping selected folders enabled. See Google Photos Help.
Turning off sync is not the same as unlinking Gallery
Disabling Gallery sync stops new backups through this feature and removes cloud media access in Samsung apps, but it does not itself remove the Google Account link or stop sharing account data with Samsung Gallery. To end that sharing, remove Gallery Cloud Sync from the Google Account’s linked apps. Google says this does not delete previously backed-up data; Samsung apps may no longer keep a local copy of synced media unless it was downloaded separately. See Google Photos Help.
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- Please note, this device does not support E-SIM; This 4G model is compatible with all GSM networks worldwide outside of the U.S. In the US, ONLY compatible with T-Mobile and their MVNO's (Metro and Standup). It will NOT work with other CDMA carriers, and it is also not compatible with their MVNO (Visible, Xfinity Mobile, US Mobile, Cricket Wireless, etc).
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Choose albums for Samsung Gallery sync with OneDrive
- In Samsung Gallery, open Menu > Settings > Sync with OneDrive.
- Tap Albums to sync.
- Disable the albums you do not want sent to OneDrive and leave selected the albums you want synced.
Samsung also documents options for syncing over Wi-Fi only or mobile data. These settings govern Gallery’s OneDrive sync, not Google Photos device-folder backup. See Samsung Support.
If an album is missing or only partly backed up
Check the folder or album selection in the service that is meant to back it up. Google Photos device-folder backup and Samsung Gallery sync are separate routes, so an album not selected in one will not be made available to that destination just because another route is enabled. A user may describe this as albums not being backed up in Google Photos, but the symptom alone does not establish which service or setting is responsible. For Google Photos, inspect Back up device folders; for Samsung Gallery, inspect its selected albums for the intended destination.
Quick Recap
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- TYPE IT IN. TRANSFORM IT FAST: Enhance any shot in seconds on your smartphone by using Photo Assist¹ with Galaxy AI.² Add objects, restore details, or apply new styles by simply typing or tapping
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- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
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