Samsung will stop supporting the OneDrive cloud sync feature in the Samsung Gallery app on Galaxy phones starting September 30, 2026, according to a Microsoft support document.
After that date, Samsung Gallery will no longer sync photos to OneDrive and OneDrive will no longer be the default cloud service for photo backups on Galaxy devices.
This change marks the end of part of the collaboration between microsoft and Samsung which began in 2019. The collaboration included making OneDrive an integrated cloud option for Samsung phones and integrating deeper Phone Link features. Samsung is now switching to its own cloud service for photo backup.
What happens on September 30 and what Samsung users should do
After September 30, 2026, Samsung Gallery will no longer sync photos to OneDrive and photos that were previously synced to OneDrive will disappear from the Samsung Gallery app.
However, existing photo backups will still be stored on OneDrive and can be accessed through the app or website. Photos taken with the Samsung camera will no longer be automatically backed up to OneDrive via Gallery.
Microsoft has clarified that the photos will not be deleted. They remain in users’ OneDrive accounts and remain accessible. The change only affects the integration in the application that allowed these photos to be viewed and managed from Samsung Gallery. Users who want to continue backing up photos to OneDrive must update their settings by September 30, 2026.
The steps are simple:
- Install the OneDrive app from the Google Play Store if it is not already installed
- Sign in with the same Microsoft account used for Samsung Gallery sync
- Then open OneDrive settings and enable Camera Upload or Camera Backup.
- Users can also configure backup preferences, including selecting which folders to include and whether to use mobile data.
Once camera upload is enabled in the app, photos and videos will automatically be backed up to OneDrive as they are taken. This process is similar to how backups work on any Android device without Samsung integration.
Those who prefer to continue using Samsung Gallery as their main photos app will need to switch to Samsung Cloud for backups. Samsung’s cloud service will become the default option in the future.
What photos to check before September 30?
Anyone relying on Samsung Gallery’s OneDrive integration should check two things before September 30. First, verify that all previously backed up photos are now available directly in OneDrive.
Open the OneDrive app or website and make sure the Pictures folder contains the expected files.
Second, make sure Camera Upload is enabled in the OneDrive app so that new photos are automatically backed up through that service before the Gallery integration is suspended.
After September 30, any photos taken without an active OneDrive Camera Upload setup or Samsung Cloud backup It will no longer automatically save to any cloud services.
Why Samsung is removing OneDrive sync from Galaxy Gallery
Samsung now hosts its own cloud services for photo backups instead of relying on OneDrive. This move is part of Samsung’s broader effort to unify its ecosystem services under its own brand, similar to how Samsung Internet, Messages and Pay serve as Samsung-controlled alternatives to Google’s offerings on Galaxy devices.
The partnership with Microsoft continues for other services, including promotional features related to Microsoft 365 on Samsung devices and continued access to OneDrive through the standard Android app. The Phone Link integration with Windows also continues to work.
Microsoft has not announced any changes to OneDrive on other Android devices or its standalone functionality on Samsung devices beyond the removal of Gallery sync.
