--- title: "How to Back Up Photos to Google Drive on iPhone" description: "Back up iPhone photos to Google Drive step by step. Auto-upload with the Google Drive app, bulk transfer, and tips for large libraries." url: https://dblabsapps.com/how-to/back-up-photos-to-google-drive-iphone/ date: 2026-04-07 --- Updated April 7, 2026 By [Jack Smith](https://dblabsapps.com/about/jack-smith/), iOS Developer at DB Labs # How to Back Up Photos to Google Drive on iPhone Google Drive is a solid alternative to iCloud — 15 GB free to start, cheap upgrades, and it works on any device. Here is how to use it to back up iPhone photos. April 7, 2026  ·  6 min read ## Quick Answer Install the **Google Drive** app from the App Store and sign in with your Google account. Tap the **plus (+)** button, choose **Upload**, then **Photos and Videos**. Select the photos you want and tap **Upload**. For automatic continuous backup, install the **Google Photos** app instead and turn on **Back up & sync** — it uploads new photos whenever you are on Wi-Fi. ## What You Need - **A Google account** (free — any Gmail address works) - **Google Drive or Google Photos app** from the App Store - **Wi-Fi connection** recommended for large libraries - **Enough free Google storage** — 15 GB free, upgradeable via Google One ## Method 1: Manual Upload with Google Drive ### 1 Install Google Drive Open the **App Store** and search for **Google Drive**. Install it and open. Sign in with your Google account (or create one). ### 2 Create a Folder for Photos Optional but recommended: tap the **plus (+)** button and choose **Folder**. Name it something like "iPhone Backup April 2026" to keep uploads organized. ### 3 Tap the Plus Button Inside the folder (or anywhere in Drive), tap the **plus (+)** button in the bottom right corner. Choose **Upload**. ### 4 Select Photos and Videos Tap **Photos and Videos**. The first time, iOS will ask if Google Drive can access your photos — tap **Allow Access to All Photos**. Then select the photos you want to upload. You can select hundreds at once. ### 5 Tap Upload Tap **Upload** in the top right. The upload begins immediately. A progress bar appears at the bottom of the screen. Keep the app open until it finishes. ## Method 2: Automatic Backup with Google Photos ### 1 Install Google Photos Open the **App Store** and install **Google Photos** (separate from Google Drive). Sign in with the same Google account. ### 2 Enable Back Up & Sync On first launch, you will be asked to enable **Back up & sync**. Tap **Turn on backup**. Choose **Original quality** (counts against Google storage) — Google no longer offers the old free "High quality" option. ### 3 Choose Backup Settings Go to **Profile > Photos settings > Backup**. Choose whether to back up on cellular data or Wi-Fi only (Wi-Fi saves mobile data). Confirm your backup account and upload size. ### 4 Let It Run Google Photos will upload your entire camera roll in the background. For a 20,000-photo library on Wi-Fi, expect several hours. Keep the app open and iPhone plugged in. ## Storage Tips - **Free tier:** 15 GB shared across Gmail, Drive, and Photos. Not enough for most libraries. - **Google One 100 GB:** $1.99/month — about 30,000-40,000 HEIC photos. - **Google One 200 GB:** $2.99/month — matches iCloud 200 GB pricing. - **Google One 2 TB:** $9.99/month — same price as iCloud 2 TB, includes VPN and other perks. For more, see our [Google Photos migration guide](https://dblabsapps.com/blog/google-photos-to-iphone-migration/), [backup without iCloud](https://dblabsapps.com/how-to/backup-iphone-photos-without-icloud/), [Swype vs Google Photos compare](https://dblabsapps.com/compare/swype-vs-google-photos/), and [back up to an external SSD](https://dblabsapps.com/how-to/backup-photos-to-external-ssd-iphone/). ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Can I back up iPhone photos to Google Drive? Yes. Use the Google Drive app for manual upload or Google Photos for automatic continuous backup. ### Is Google Drive free for iPhone photos? 15 GB free. Google One plans start at $1.99/mo for 100 GB and scale up to $9.99/mo for 2 TB. ### Does Google Drive upload full-resolution photos? Yes. Photos are stored at original resolution and count against your Google storage quota. The old free "High quality" tier ended in 2021.