Google Photos will no longer backup images and videos saved from folders created and managed by social media apps by default. Beforehand, Google’s photo backup platform would mechanically add all photographs saved to your Android or iOS machine, together with this information saved in folders created by apps like Fb, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Now, Google says that function is turned off, and also you’ll toggle it on for particular apps or run guide backups on particular folders.

Google is citing the surge in picture sharing occurring for the reason that onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Individuals are sharing extra photographs and movies on account of COVID-19. To save lots of web assets, backup & sync has been turned off for machine folders created by messaging apps like WhatsApp, Messages, and Kik. You may change this anytime in settings,” reads a support page detailing the change.

Google is stressing that any photographs already backed up and arranged by way of social media apps are unaffected by the change and that you would be able to nonetheless go to particular person folders throughout the Photos app and activate the “again up & sync” function. Google has a guide here for locating your current social media-related photographs and movies on Google Photographs, for working guide batch backups, and for turning on the automated backup function. A number of the affected platforms embrace Fb’s household of apps, the default Messages shopper on Android, Snapchat, and Twitter, amongst others.