We do not recommend that you backup all of your photos to your Hoe Valley Account. The Google Photos mobile app supports multiple accounts and allows you to switch between the two.


Important: It can take a while to complete a backup, depending on your internet connection, size of your uploads, and other conditions. Keep the Photos app open and your phone plugged in for best results.

  1. Open the Google Photos app Photos.
  2. Sign in to your Google Account.
  3. At the top right, tap your Profile picture or Initial.
  4. Tap the Google Photos settings Settingsand thenBackup.
  5. Turn Backup on or off.

If you get a message asking to allow the app to access your photos:

  1. Open the iOS settings app and tap Privacyand then Photos.
  2. Turn on Google Photos.

Tip: Learn more about the benefits of backup.

Check if backup is complete


  1. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Google Photos app Photos.
  2. Sign in to your Google Account.
  3. At the top right, tap your Profilepicture or Initial.
  4. The progress of your backup is measured by how many items remain to upload.
    • When your items finish backing up, your status reads "Backup complete."
    • If your backup status is off, your status reads "Backup is off."

Tip: Learn how to fix backup issues.

Manually back up photos & videos


  1. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Google Photos app Photos.
  2. Sign in to your Google Account.
  3. Select with a long press the photos or videos you want to back up. 
  4. At the bottom, select Back up .

Tip: Learn more about the benefits of backup.

Check a photo or video's backup status


  1. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Google Photos app Photos.
  2. Select a photo or video.
  3. Select More More.
  4. Scroll to “Details.”
  5. If the photo is backed up, the backup status and size displays beneath Backed up Cloud done.
Tip: You can change the backup quality at any time. Learn how to choose the backup quality of your photos and videos.

Learn what happens when you back up your photos


If you have backup turned on:

  • Never lose a memory: Any photos you take from a device with backup turned on are saved to your Google Account.

If you’ve backed up your content manually or automatically:

  • Automatic sync: You can access any photos you take and any edits you make to them on any device you sign in to. If you edit and save a photo on your phone, the photo looks the same on Google Photos.
  • Fast and powerful search: You can search your photos by the people in them when you turn on face groups. You can also search by places and things in the photos. No tagging is required.
  • Automatic creations: Bring photos to life with automatically created movies, collages, animations, and panoramas.