Google is working on a Quick Share automatic backup that copies your phone’s photos and videos to your Windows PC every day, with no cloud and no fee. It isn’t live for everyone yet. The first hints appeared in Google Play services code in July 2026, and the feature is still unannounced.
Here’s what we know, what we don’t, and what you can do about phone storage today.
- What it does: auto-copies selected photos and videos from Android to a Windows PC
- Cost: free, and files stay on your own PC
- Status: spotted in code, not officially launched or dated
- Catch: a report says Samsung Galaxy phones may be excluded
Treat everything below as early information. Google can change or cancel features that show up in app code.
How the Quick Share automatic backup is meant to work
According to XenoSpectrum, which followed an Android Authority find, screens inside Google Play services v26.26.33 describe a daily backup to your PC. You pick which photos and videos to include, and you can also start a backup by hand at any time.
Think of it as a quiet nightly sync for your camera roll. Nothing goes through Google’s servers. The files move straight from phone to computer over your home network, so there’s no storage plan to buy.
Earlier traces, reported by Mezha, also mention audio files and a note that deleting something on your phone won’t remove it from the PC. That would make it a true safety copy, but those details haven’t been confirmed.
What you need before it works
| Requirement | What it means |
|---|---|
| Same Google account | Phone and PC both need to be signed in to it |
| Same Wi-Fi network | Both devices on, nearby, and connected |
| Phone | Android 6 or higher with Google Mobile Services |
| PC | 64-bit Windows 10 or later (Windows on ARM is excluded) |
| Distance | Roughly 5 meters, with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on |
Most recent phones and Windows laptops already meet this list, so the bar is low. The one real snag is the ARM rule, which affects some newer Copilot+ laptops.
These come from the current Quick Share for Windows requirements. Your phone and PC both have to be awake and close together, so a PC that’s switched off overnight won’t get its daily copy.
Why Samsung owners should pay attention
The same report says an eligibility check appears to leave out Samsung Galaxy phones. Neither Google nor Samsung has explained why, so this could be a bug, a rollout quirk, or a choice.
That matters because Galaxy phones are the biggest slice of the Android market in many countries. A feature that skips them would reach far fewer people than Google’s usual launches.
If you own a Galaxy, you have options right now. Samsung’s Smart Switch can back up to a Windows PC or Mac, and Samsung Cloud backs up about once every 24 hours on Wi-Fi while charging.
What else shipped in the November Google updates
The backup is separate from what Google actually released this week. The November 2026 Google System Updates list does include a Quick Share line: Play services v26.43 mentions automatic backup of photos and videos from Android to Windows through Quick Share. Google also notes that a changelog entry doesn’t mean everyone has it yet.
The same update lets you choose which credentials to keep when importing conflicting passwords and passkeys into Google Password Manager. Play Store v53.9 adds a reminder if Play Protect stays off for a long time.
If you already use your phone with a PC, our guide to opening Android apps from Windows 11 search shows another way the two are growing closer.
What to do while you wait
Don’t rely on a feature that isn’t out. Back up the photos you’d hate to lose to at least two places today.
Install Quick Share for Windows now, because it’s a free download and the backup will almost certainly depend on it. Sign in with the same Google account on both devices.
Also clear some space by hand if your phone is nearly full. Move old videos to the PC over a cable or Quick Share, then delete them from the phone once you’ve checked they opened fine.
Check your phone for the newest Play services update too. Features like this usually arrive quietly in Settings, often inside the Quick Share menu. Our look at Find Hub left-behind reminders shows how Google tends to roll such features out in stages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Quick Share automatic backup available now?
Not officially. It was found in Play services code and a November changelog line, but Google hasn’t announced a launch date or regions.
Does it use cloud storage?
No. Files are copied straight to your PC, so there’s no cloud upload and no extra cost.
Will it work on Samsung Galaxy phones?
Unclear. One report says Galaxy phones appear to be excluded, but Google and Samsung haven’t confirmed that.
Will it work on a Windows on ARM PC?
Probably not at first. Quick Share for Windows currently excludes Windows on ARM, and the backup is expected to rely on it.
Should you count on it?
It’s a sensible idea that fixes a real annoyance, and a local backup is easy to trust. But it’s still unconfirmed, and the Samsung question could leave a lot of people out. Set up Quick Share for Windows now and keep your normal backups running until Google says more.
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