google-drive
I'm considering using Google Drive as my primary backup solution. However, I was not able to figure out exactly When Google Drive deletes old versions of a file.
When looking at my files, files seem to get deleted only once both conditions are fulfilled. Is that true? (I only have very few files right now in my Google Drive so it is hard to figure it out myself.)
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.
As a workaround for periodic backups to Photos, you can try the following:
For "Removing item", select "Don't remove items everywhere".
Select only the folder(s) you want to back up to Photos
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:
The assistant should change the owner to you before they leave. Otherwise, you're stuck with the process you've found.
Obviously, in G Suite the administrator would be able to take care of all of this.
Best Answer
You're correct, for non-native versions of files - Google keeps the revisions for either up to 100 revisions or till 30 days (whichever is shorter). However there is a way to keep a revision of a file forever.
One screenshot I took will help for sure: