OneDrive File Issues

How to Stop Samsung Gallery from Removing Local OneDrive Videos

Maira Mehtab Oct 9, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user wants to prevent Samsung Gallery from deleting local video files after they are backed up to OneDrive, ensuring videos remain accessible for offline playback.

How to Stop Samsung Gallery from Removing Local OneDrive Videos

Product: Samsung Gallery and Microsoft OneDrive
Device & OS: Android
Scenario: Backing up media to cloud storage while retaining local copies for uninterrupted offline access.
Observed behavior: Videos backed up to OneDrive are automatically removed from the device's local storage and require a Wi-Fi connection to download before they can be played.

Before you start

Ensure your device has sufficient internal storage space, as retaining high-resolution local videos permanently will consume a significant amount of memory.

Solution 1Recommended

Restore Local Copies and Decline Storage Prompts

Manually download the affected videos back to your device and prevent future automatic deletions by dismissing Samsung's space-saving prompts.

The Samsung Gallery app does not typically free up space entirely on its own without user interaction. It periodically prompts users to free up storage by removing files that have already been safely backed up to OneDrive. Declining these prompts is the primary way to keep your offline copies.

Select affected videos

Open the Samsung Gallery app and locate the videos that currently display a cloud icon or require a Wi-Fi connection to play.

Download to device

Select the videos, tap the 'More' menu (three dots), and choose 'Download' to restore the local copies to your internal storage.

Cancel space-saving prompts

When the Gallery app periodically prompts you with a notification to 'Free up space', ensure you select 'Cancel' to prevent it from deleting your local files.

Restore Local Copies and Decline Storage Prompts

Offline Playback Restored: Once downloaded, your videos will be available for instant playback without needing an active internet connection.

Solution 2

Disable 'Free Up Space' in OneDrive Settings

Check your Microsoft OneDrive app settings to ensure it isn't configured to automatically clear local files.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my Samsung Gallery videos suddenly require Wi-Fi to play?

This happens when the videos have been successfully backed up to OneDrive and the local copies were removed from your phone's storage to free up space. The app must download them again via Wi-Fi to play them.

Does OneDrive automatically delete my local files after backup?

OneDrive and Samsung Gallery do not usually delete local files automatically without a prompt. However, if you accept a 'Free up space' notification, it will delete the local versions of files that are already safely stored in the cloud.

How can I play my OneDrive videos offline?

You need to select the affected videos in your Samsung Gallery or OneDrive app and tap 'Download' or 'Keep on device'. This restores the full file to your local storage for offline playback.

Document & File Issues