Samsung Gallery now synchronizes photos and videos directly with Google storage on Galaxy devices running One UI 9, following a complete transition away from Microsoft OneDrive.
- Samsung announced the shift on November 10, 2026, building on the direct OneDrive synchronization cutoff that occurred on September 30, 2026.
- The new integration introduces a «Free up space» feature that deletes synced originals from the local device while keeping thumbnails intact in Gallery.
- Photos and videos utilize the user’s existing Google account storage, which is shared across Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos.
Samsung Galaxy devices running One UI 9 can now sync media files directly with Google storage accounts, Infosertec reported. This update follows the conclusion of direct synchronization with Microsoft OneDrive on September 30, 2026. Content that was previously synced to OneDrive remains accessible through the OneDrive application and website.
The feature integrates smoothly without requiring a separate cloud account, provided that both Samsung and Google accounts are already set up on the device. Users can enable the functionality by tapping the cloud icon inside the Gallery app, selecting «Get started» on the tips card, or going directly to Gallery settings and choosing «Sync photos and videos».
The updated Gallery application introduces a «Free up space» tool designed to help users manage local storage constraints. This function deletes the original files from the physical device once they have successfully synced to the cloud, leaving behind lightweight thumbnails inside Gallery. The original files remain available for download on demand.
Storage usage draws from the user’s collective Google account quota, which is shared alongside Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos. Standard accounts include 15 GB of free storage, with additional capacity accessible through Google One subscriptions.
Upon launch, the Gallery app displays only those items synchronized from Gallery after the service is activated. Content that already existed within the user’s Google storage does not appear automatically.
Deleting a synced item inside the Gallery app removes it from both Google storage and any other connected Galaxy devices sharing the same accounts. Samsung has not yet released a definitive list of compatible hardware models or a regional rollout schedule, noting only that availability varies by market and device.
