How to set up and use Google Photos on your Pixel phone

Google Photos is one of the easiest ways to back up, organize, and share the pictures and videos on your Pixel phone. It’s especially helpful if you take lots of photos or want to move them to a new device without losing anything. Not sure where to start? Our experts can walk you through it.

At Asurion, we help millions of people get the most out of their tech. From learning how to transfer data from Android to Android to backing up your phone, we’ve got you covered. Here’s how to set up and use Google Photos on your Pixel.

What is Google Photos?

Google Photos is a free photo and video storage app that comes pre-installed on Pixel phones. It automatically backs up your images to the cloud, keeping them safe and easy to access—even if you lose or break your phone.

How to set up Google Photos on your Pixel

If you just got your Pixel phone, you may have already signed into your Google account during setup. But if you’re not sure whether your photos are backing up, here’s how to check.

1. Open the Google Photos app.
2. Tap your profile picture or initial in the top-right corner.
3. If you see Backup is on, your photos and videos are being backed up to your Google account.
4. If not, tap Turn on backup, then choose the account you want to use and follow the prompts.

Tip: You get 15GB of free Google storage across Gmail, Drive, and Photos. You can upgrade to Google One for more space.

How to use Google Photos on your Pixel

Once Google Photos is set up, it runs in the background to back up and organize your content. Here are a few things you can do in the app:

View and search your photos

• Open the Photos tab to see your most recent pictures.
• Tap Search to find people, places, or things in your images.

Edit photos and videos

1. Open a photo or video.
2. Tap Edit to crop, adjust lighting, apply filters, or enhance the image.

Create albums and memories

1. Go to the Library tab.
2. Tap New album to group photos manually, or view automatically generated memories.

Free up space on your Pixel

1. Tap your profile icon > Free up space.
2. The app will remove backed-up photos from your device storage to save space.

How to access your photos on other devices

All your backed-up photos and videos are stored in the cloud. To view them:

• Visit photos.google.com on a web browser.
• Or open the Google Photos app on another phone or tablet using the same Google account.

Need help backing up your phone?

Whether you’re setting up your Pixel or trying to move photos to a new device, our experts can help. Schedule a repair or walk-in service at your nearest uBreakiFix® by Asurion store. We’ll get your tech working the way it should.

FAQ

How do I know if my photos are backed up to Google Photos?

Open the app and tap your profile icon. If it says “Backup is on,” your photos are saved to your Google account.

Does Google Photos use up storage space?

Yes. Google Photos uses your Google account storage. You get 15GB for free, but photos count toward that limit unless you upgrade to a paid plan.

Can I delete photos from my Pixel after backing them up?

Yes. Use the Free up space option in the app to safely remove copies from your device while keeping them in the cloud.

Can I share albums with friends and family?

Yes. You can create shared albums and send links via text, email, or other apps.