I have Google Backup and Sync set to upload all files in a folder to Google Drive. The default behavior seems to sync 3 files simultaneously. Is there any way to set it to sync only one file at a time?
Google-drive – Get Google Backup and Sync to only sync one file at a time instead of three
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There is no right combination of settings.
The Google Photos upload checkbox (in the Backup and Sync preferences) is a blanket toggle: it affects all the selected local backup/sync folders. So if you want to backup Drive-only files, you need to leave it unchecked and continue manually uploading your images to the Photos app.
As of yet, the B&S client does not allow fine-grained control of what gets uploaded into Photos. Also for backups, be reminded that Photos has limitations on file types and min/max sizes.
Workaround
As a workaround for periodic backups to Photos, you can try the following:
- (Make sure you don't have Drive and Photos synced with any of the 2 separate settings you mentioned)
- Open Backup & Sync Preferences → [your device]
For "Removing item", select "Don't remove items everywhere".
Select only the folder(s) you want to back up to Photos
- Select the "Upload newly added photos [...]" checkbox under the Google Photos Heading. Wait for everything to back up.
- Uncheck the checkbox under Google Photos again.
- Uncheck your images folder and re-check your Drive-only folders.
As a side-effect to using B&S, you also retain the images in your Google Drive. But they are linked invisibly to Photos, so:
- they don't eat drive quota (if HQ setting was chosen), and
- deleting them will also remove them from your Photos library.
They're only counted once. If you choose to upload original files, they will use your drive quota, while "High Quality" (re compressed by Google) photos don't use quota. Both could appear in Drive and Photos.
Related Topic
- Google-drive – Is File Stream really supposed to replace Google Drive (Backup and Sync Google)
- Google-drive – Deleting photo from a desktop folder synced with Drive Backup and Sync deletes from Google Photos
- Google-drive – Google Backup and Sync – Only One Direction
- Google Photos – How to Manage Storage Usage
Best Answer
I am having this exact issue. The files are 360 video files, about 4 GB each, and an hours recording can produce 6-10 of them. Backing up the videos can take DAYS...even if leaving the computer on overnight!
I suspect that if only a percentage of the file is backed up before I need to shut down, that is lost and the process starts over from scratch when the computer is turned on again.
I just hit on a potential workaround this morning. Copy (or move) one file at a time into the synced folder, which forces Backup and Sync to work on only one file at a time.
Tedious? YES! But the files do eventually get completely saved in a reasonable amount of time as opposed to three files that only ever get to 15-20% because I needed to shut down and go to work.