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Why OneDrive Deletes Photos Removed from Samsung Gallery and How to Stop It
Question details
The user needs to understand why deleting local photos from a Samsung phone also deletes them from OneDrive, and how to configure an independent cloud backup instead.
- Product
- OneDrive and Samsung Gallery
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Trying to free up local phone storage by deleting photos from the gallery without losing the cloud backup in OneDrive.
- Observed behavior
- Deleting a photo from the local Samsung Gallery app automatically triggers the deletion of the same photo in the OneDrive cloud storage due to bidirectional synchronization.
Before making changes to your synchronization settings, ensure you have temporarily backed up your most important photos to a computer or external hard drive to prevent accidental permanent deletion during the transition.
Disconnect Samsung Gallery Sync and Enable OneDrive Camera Upload
Use this solution to stop bidirectional synchronization and switch to a one-way independent backup, allowing you to delete local photos without affecting the cloud.
Samsung Gallery's integration with OneDrive functions as a bidirectional synchronization feature rather than a traditional one-way backup. This means any action taken on your phone, such as deleting a photo, is immediately mirrored in OneDrive. By unlinking Samsung Gallery and relying on OneDrive's native Camera Upload feature, your photos will be securely backed up independently.
Open the Samsung Gallery app on your phone, tap the Menu (three horizontal lines) icon, and select Settings. Tap on 'Sync with OneDrive', select 'Connected accounts', and choose the option to unlink or disconnect your Microsoft account.
Launch the OneDrive app on your device. Tap on your profile icon or the 'Me' tab at the bottom right corner of the screen, then tap on 'Settings'.
In the Settings menu, navigate to 'Camera Upload'. Toggle the switch to turn it on. This establishes a one-way backup, meaning photos are copied to the cloud but won't be deleted if you remove them locally.
Manage Cloud Files Seamlessly with WPS Office
If you rely on OneDrive for cloud storage, managing your documents securely is just as important as managing your photos. WPS Office is a completely free, lightweight suite that integrates perfectly with OneDrive, allowing you to edit and save your documents directly to the cloud without heavy subscriptions.
- 1. Download and Install: Download WPS Office for free from the official website or your device's app store and install it.
- 2. Connect Your Cloud Storage: Open WPS Office, navigate to the 'Cloud' or 'Open' tab, and select 'Add Cloud Drive' to log into your OneDrive account.
- 3. Edit Files Directly: Browse your OneDrive folders within WPS Office to open, edit, and automatically save changes to your cloud documents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I recover the photos that OneDrive already deleted from my Samsung Gallery?
Yes, you can usually recover recently deleted photos. Check the Recycle Bin in your OneDrive app or web interface, as files are typically kept there for 30 days. You should also check the Trash folder within the Samsung Gallery app on your phone.
Why did Samsung change the backup method to bidirectional sync?
Samsung partnered with Microsoft to deeply integrate Samsung Gallery with OneDrive. The goal was to provide a seamless cross-device gallery experience where changes, edits, and deletions reflect consistently across all devices linked to the same account, rather than acting strictly as a one-way data dump.
Does OneDrive Camera Upload sync screenshots and custom folders?
Yes. When you use the standalone OneDrive Camera Upload feature on Android, you can go into the Camera Upload settings and select 'Organize by source' or 'Additional folders' to specify exactly which device folders (like Screenshots, WhatsApp Images, or Downloads) you want to include in the one-way backup.
