'%3e%3cpath%20d='M8%200C12.4183%200%2016%203.58172%2016%208C16%2012.4183%2012.4183%2016%208%2016C3.58172%2016%200%2012.4183%200%208C0%203.58172%203.58172%200%208%200ZM11.6162%204.38379C11.2257%203.99337%2010.5927%203.99338%2010.2021%204.38379L8%206.58594L5.79785%204.38379C5.40732%203.99334%204.77429%203.99329%204.38379%204.38379C3.99331%204.77429%203.99335%205.40733%204.38379%205.79785L6.58594%208L4.38379%2010.2021C3.99348%2010.5927%203.99341%2011.2257%204.38379%2011.6162C4.77426%2012.0066%205.40734%2012.0065%205.79785%2011.6162L8%209.41406L10.2021%2011.6162C10.5927%2012.0066%2011.2257%2012.0067%2011.6162%2011.6162C12.0067%2011.2257%2012.0066%2010.5927%2011.6162%2010.2021L9.41406%208L11.6162%205.79785C12.0066%205.40735%2012.0066%204.77429%2011.6162%204.38379Z'%20fill='%23080E17'%20fill-opacity='0.46'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cclipPath%20id='clip0_3761_713'%3e%3crect%20width='16'%20height='16'%20fill='white'/%3e%3c/clipPath%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e)
How to Restore Monthly Photo Folders in OneDrive Camera Upload
Question details
The user wants to restore the automatic sorting of uploaded photos into monthly and yearly folders in OneDrive after changing to a new phone.
- Product
- Microsoft OneDrive
- Device & OS
- Samsung S24 (Android)
- Scenario
- Setting up photo backups on a new smartphone and attempting to maintain the previous folder organization structure.
- Observed behavior
- Photos are not organized into monthly or yearly folders. Instead, they are uploaded into multiple separate folders (like Camera Uploads and Samsung Pictures), causing duplicates, and the app settings differ from online tutorials due to language and device variations.
Ensure your OneDrive app is updated to the latest version. If your app is localized in a different language (such as Latvian) and you are following English tutorials, consider temporarily switching your phone's system language to English to easily locate the correct settings.
Disable Samsung Gallery Sync and Re-enable Camera Upload
Samsung devices often default to 'Gallery Sync', which mirrors your device albums instead of using OneDrive's native 'Camera Upload' feature that organizes photos by date.
When switching to a new Samsung device, OneDrive frequently integrates directly with Samsung Gallery. This integration disables the standard date-based folder organization and simply duplicates your phone's album structure (like 'Samsung Pictures'). To restore monthly and yearly folders, you must unlink this specific integration and use the native backup feature.
Go to your Microsoft Account online via a web browser, navigate to the 'Privacy' section, and look for 'Apps and services that can access your data'.
Locate 'Samsung Cloud' or 'Samsung Gallery' in the list of connected apps and select 'Remove these permissions' to disconnect the automatic album mirroring.
On your Samsung S24, go to Settings > Apps > OneDrive > Storage, and tap 'Clear Data' to reset the app's sync preferences.
Open the OneDrive app, sign back in, and navigate to the 'Me' tab > Settings > Camera Upload. Enable the feature and ensure 'Organize by month and year' is toggled on.
Temporarily Change App Language for Troubleshooting
Use this method if you cannot find the necessary settings because the translated menu options in your localized app do not match online English tutorials.
Switch to WPS Office for Seamless Document Management
While resolving your cloud storage sync issues, consider using WPS Office for your document needs. It is a lightweight, fully compatible alternative to Microsoft Office that makes managing your files across devices completely effortless.
- 1. Download and Install: Get WPS Office for free from the Google Play Store or the official WPS website.
- 2. Sign In for Cloud Access: Create a free account to automatically sync your important documents across all your devices.
- 3. Manage Files Easily: Open, edit, and save your Microsoft Office formats directly within the application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did OneDrive stop sorting photos by month on my new Samsung phone?
When you switch to a new Samsung device, OneDrive often defaults to using 'Samsung Gallery Sync'. This specific feature mirrors your device's album structure instead of using OneDrive's native Camera Upload feature, which is the tool responsible for automatically organizing photos by month and year.
How do I stop OneDrive from duplicating photos in 'Samsung Pictures' and 'Camera Uploads'?
Duplicates occur when both the native Camera Upload and the Samsung Gallery Sync are enabled, or when permissions overlap during setup. To fix this, you need to choose one sync method. Disconnecting the Samsung Gallery Sync via your Microsoft Account privacy settings and relying solely on OneDrive's native Camera Upload will prevent these duplicates.
Why don't my OneDrive settings match the tutorials online?
OneDrive's interface and available backup options can vary significantly based on your app version, your specific device model (like the S24), and the display language. Menu names often translate differently in localized versions (such as Latvian). Temporarily changing your device language to English can help you match the menus with standard online guides.
