Autosync for Google Drive can replace the outgoing Photos sync functionality

Google recently announced that the link between Drive and photos will be discontinued in July, saying many users find it confusing. Thus, the company leaves us without a simple solution to see our backup images directly on Drive. Fortunately, as is often the case, there is a third party application that can do a similar job for us. Automatic synchronization for Google Drive could fill the gap for some advanced users, although it comes with its own limitations.

First of all, the application is not intended as a perfect replacement for the old integration itself. Its stated goal is to offer two-way synchronization between your phone and your Drive, essentially repeating its experience. Google Backup & Sync for desktops.

The integration experience with Autosync is enjoyable and removes the fear that you will lose all your data during the installation process. After you sign in to your Google Account of your choice, it actively encourages you to create a trial folder to test all the features it offers. Once you have created these new directories with a single click, the app explains that it has created two folders, one on your phone and one in your Drive that it will synchronize bidirectionally (which you can change later). After the successful setup, you enter the main menu of the application for the first time.

Here, you are presented with a wealth of information and options. You can keep track of your sync status so you always know when your files were backed up. Scroll down to see an overview of recent changes and which Google Account is linked to the app. Scanning the Sync Folders tab lets you take a look at which folders are in balance. Click on them and you can choose different routes for each one. There are also options for one-way synchronization, excluding or deleting subfolders, and selecting files to back up with patterned names.

Returning to the main menu, pressing FAB or the sync symbol in the menu bar forces out-of-program synchronization. And yes, unlike Google Photos and Drive, there is a predefined program. When navigating through the three-dot overflow menu, you have the option to change the default synchronization interval to multiple values ​​between five minutes and 24 hours. Additionally, you can only sync it when your device is connected. Google Photos feature lost early.

Among these options, there are even more complex settings. You can change the upload and download limits, exclude name patterns, switch to a dark theme, use another language, and add a password or fingerprint to protect Autosync.

Now, a developer also has to live, so the extra functionality is locked behind the unique IAPs. The basic version of Autosync comes with ads and lets you sync just one folder of your choice (not the entire Drive), which should be enough if you just want to upload your photos to Google Storage. Paid options are available in three levels, with the $ 1.99 version removing ads, the $ 4.99 option allowing you to sync multiple folders and larger files as well as your entire Drive and an “Ultimate” tier for 9 , $ 99 which adds the ability to sync with various Drive and Group Drive.

Please note that uploaded images will be counted in your Drive storage, even if you are a Pixel user, as there is no way to tell Drive that uploaded images are duplicate of those in Google Photos. If you continue to use the service, your device will also use double the power and data to back up the images. This may not be the perfect solution for everyone, but it can help some people who are addicted to having their photos on Drive. Overall, it’s as simple as a third-party application.

Now, you may be afraid that Google will kill this app along with many others based on Drive’s most extensive APIs. We asked the developer and he told us that its application must be OK, as it represents one of the permitted uses.

Autosync for Google Drive belongs to one of the allowed types of applications: “Native and web applications that provide local synchronization or automatic backup of users’ Drive files”. It should be approved, but of course no one can be sure of the G these days

(source: https://t.co/VFoDkTzZQr)

– MetaCtrl (@MetaCtrl) June 12, 2019

You can download the app from the Play Store widget below or you can download it from APK Mirror, uploaded by the developer himself.