How to automatically delete backed up photos on Android

The Files by Google app has a Smart Storage feature that frees up storage on your phone by automatically deleting files backed up on Google Photos after a certain period of time. Then the storage space on your phone will be freed up a lot for you to save other content. Below are instructions for automatically deleting backed up photos on Android.

What is the Smart Memory feature on Android?

The Smart Storage feature on Google's Files app will permanently delete images and videos backed up to Google Photos from your phone. When you turn on the Smart Storage feature, the app deletes all photos and videos backed up to Google Photos, with the setting:

1. When files have exceeded 60 days since they were backed up
2. Or, the phone memory is less than 25% of the total memory capacity.

Once we have deleted the multimedia file, we will open the image in the Google Photos application or on the web. Currently this feature only applies to the latest version of the Files by Google app installed on Pixel phones, running Android 11 or later,

How to automatically delete backed up photos on Android

Step 1:

Open the Files app on your phone, then click on the 3 dashes icon in the top left corner.

How to automatically delete backed up photos on Android Picture 1

Step 2:

Displaying new options, we click Settings to switch to the settings interface for the application.

How to automatically delete backed up photos on Android Picture 2

Step 3:

Switching to the new interface, you will need to enable the Smart Storage feature below.

How to automatically delete backed up photos on Android Picture 3

As such, the Files by Google app will automatically delete your backed up media when your photos and videos are at least 60 days old or more, or if your phone's free storage is less than 25% of the total capacity.

Micah Soto

Update 06 February 2024