Play store
Samsung Galaxy users will soon lose the ability to sync photos and videos directly between the Samsung Gallery app and Microsoft OneDrive, as the two companies end their long-standing cloud storage integration from October 1.
The move will affect millions of Galaxy users who rely on OneDrive as an alternative to Google Photos for automatically backing up images and videos while seamlessly accessing them across Samsung devices and Windows PCs.
Microsoft announced that Samsung Gallery will no longer sync directly with OneDrive after September 30, meaning users will no longer be able to link the two services or continue automatic cloud synchronisation through the Gallery app, reports Engodget.
Once the change takes effect, photos stored in OneDrive will no longer appear in Samsung Gallery. Users will also lose access to sync-dependent features, including viewing OneDrive-backed images through compatible Samsung smart TVs and other connected devices.
However, files already stored in OneDrive will remain safe and accessible through Microsoft’s cloud service. Users can also download their original photos and videos back to their devices before the deadline using the Download Originals option in Samsung Gallery.
Samsung has already begun phasing out the feature. According to technology publication Android Authority, newer versions of the Gallery app no longer offer the OneDrive setup option on devices that have never enabled the service. The change has also been observed on several Galaxy smartphones ahead of the official deadline.
Despite ending Gallery integration, Microsoft will continue to support photo and video backups through the standalone OneDrive app. Users can simply install or update the app from the Google Play Store, sign in with their Microsoft account and enable the Camera Backup feature to continue automatically uploading media to OneDrive.
The change means users can still use Microsoft’s cloud storage, but without Samsung’s native Gallery integration.
For those considering alternatives, Google Photos remains the most widely used option, offering automatic backups, cross-device syncing and AI-powered search features. Other cloud storage services, including Dropbox and Amazon Photos, also support automatic photo backups.
Users seeking greater control over their data can opt for self-hosted solutions such as Immich or Nextcloud, which allow them to manage personal cloud storage using a home server or network-attached storage (NAS) device. While these platforms offer enhanced privacy and flexibility, they require additional hardware and technical expertise to set up and maintain.
The discontinuation marks the end of one of Samsung’s longest-running software partnerships with Microsoft, leaving Galaxy users to choose new ways to safeguard their growing collections of photos and videos.