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Google just rolled out the Android backup feature we’ve been waiting for all year
Google’s November Play Services release lists automatic photo and video backup from Android to Windows
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Joe Maring / Android Authority
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TL;DR
- Google’s latest system release notes list automatic photo and video backup from Android phones to Windows PCs via Quick Share.
- The feature arrives with Google Play services v26.43, but these updates roll out gradually, so you may not see it right away.
- Our earlier teardowns suggested Samsung phones and PCs won’t be supported, at least at first.
Google has been quietly building a way to automatically back up your phone’s photos and videos to your PC without touching the cloud, and it looks like that tool is finally ready for prime time.
In its System Services release notes for November 2026, Google lists automatic backup of photos and videos from Android to Windows using Quick Share as part of Google Play services v26.43.
The entry sits under the Device Connectivity section and is tagged for both phones and PCs. It’s a short line with no further details, but it’s the first time Google has officially acknowledged a feature we’ve been following for months.
We first spotted the “Automatic backup” option hiding in Quick Share settings back in April, where it promised to copy photos, videos, and audio from your phone to a PC on your home network. In July, we found evidence that Google planned to exclude Samsung phones from the feature, and our most recent teardown in October showed that restriction expanding to Samsung PCs as well.
That October teardown also gave us a good idea of how setup should work. Based on strings in Google Play services, you’ll start the process from the Quick Share for Windows app, keeping your phone nearby and both devices signed in to the same Google Account. After that, Quick Share should automatically save your photos and videos to your PC, without needing any cables or cloud subscription.
Google’s release notes don’t mention any Samsung restrictions, so we’ll have to wait and see whether those exclusions carry over to the final release.
If you’re eager to try out the new feature, keep in mind that Google Play services updates roll out gradually, so it could take some time before the feature reaches your phone, even after the update lands. You’ll also want to make sure the Quick Share app on your Windows PC is up to date.
