OneDrive File Issues

How to Use OneDrive on Two Samsung Phones Without Mixing Camera Uploads

Natalie Taylor Sep 27, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to prevent camera uploads from merging when using the same OneDrive account on two different Samsung smartphones.

How to Use OneDrive on Two Samsung Phones Without Mixing Camera Uploads

Product: Microsoft OneDrive
Device & OS: Samsung Android
Scenario: Setting up a single OneDrive cloud account across two mobile devices while keeping their respective photo libraries separate.
Observed behavior: Automatic camera uploads from both Samsung phones are merged into the same cloud directory and are visible on both devices.

Before you start

Ensure both of your Samsung phones are logged into the correct OneDrive account and have the latest version of the OneDrive app installed.

Solution 1Recommended

Disable Auto-Sync on One Device and Upload Manually

Prevent automatic mixing of photos by disabling the camera upload feature on one phone, allowing you to organize its photos manually into a separate folder.

By design, OneDrive aggregates all automatically synced photos into a single central "Camera Roll" folder. The mobile OneDrive app does not currently provide a way to assign different camera-upload folders for different phones.

To keep photos from two phones separate, you must disable automatic camera upload on one device (e.g., your secondary phone) and create a dedicated folder for its manual uploads. The other phone can continue to use the automatic camera upload feature normally.

Access OneDrive Settings

Open the OneDrive app on your secondary Samsung phone (e.g., the Samsung S23 FE) and tap the "Me" or profile icon at the bottom right corner.

Disable Camera Upload

Navigate to "Settings" and select "Camera upload" or "Gallery Sync". Toggle off the switch to disable automatic syncing for this specific device.

Create a Dedicated Folder

Return to the main files view in OneDrive, tap the "+" (Add) icon, and select "Create folder". Name it something specific, like "S23 FE Photos".

Manually Upload Photos

Whenever you want to back up photos from this secondary device, navigate to your newly created folder, tap the "+" icon, select "Upload", and choose the photos from your gallery.

Visibility of Existing Photos: Photos that have already been backed up to OneDrive will still be visible across both devices. You can move these into separate folders manually if desired, but this must be done file-by-file.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for Seamless Document Management

While managing your cloud storage and photos on OneDrive, you might also need a reliable tool for your documents. WPS Office is a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative to Microsoft Office. It supports connecting directly to OneDrive, allowing you to easily view, edit, and save Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files straight from your cloud storage.

1. Install the App: Download and install WPS Office from the Google Play Store on your Samsung phone.
2. Connect Cloud Storage: Open WPS Office, navigate to the "Open" tab, and select "Add Cloud Storage".
3. Log in to OneDrive: Choose "OneDrive" from the list and log in with your credentials to access and edit your files effortlessly.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formats.Seamlessly connects with cloud drives like OneDrive, Google Drive, and Dropbox.Free and lightweight, saving valuable storage space on your mobile devices.Familiar user interface makes transitioning from other office suites completely effortless.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set up different camera upload folders for each phone on one OneDrive account?

No, the OneDrive mobile app does not currently support directing automatic camera uploads to different folders based on the device. All auto-uploaded photos go to the same central folder by default.

If I delete a photo on one phone, will it delete from OneDrive and the other phone?

If the photo is deleted from the synced OneDrive folder, it will be removed from the cloud and will no longer be visible in the OneDrive app on your second phone. However, it will not delete the local copy on the other device if it was previously downloaded.

How do I disconnect my Samsung Gallery from OneDrive completely?

You can disconnect them by going to your Samsung phone's Settings, tapping on your Samsung Account profile at the top, selecting "Linked accounts," and choosing to unlink your Microsoft/OneDrive account.

Document & File Issues