Google Photos, the popular cloud-based media storage service, is reportedly developing a long-awaited feature that will give users greater control over when their photos and videos are uploaded. The new functionality, discovered in a recent app teardown, is a 'Backup schedule' option.
What the New Feature Entails
According to a report by Android Authority published on January 10, 2026, the feature was found during an APK teardown of Google Photos version 7.58.0.853810532. The 'Backup schedule' is expected to let users select a specific time for backups or choose from preset intervals like daily, weekly, or monthly. This addresses a notable gap in the service, which, despite offering advanced AI editing tools, has lacked this fundamental scheduling control.
Redesigned Settings Interface
The update also brings a visual refresh to the app's settings screen. The Backup section is receiving the Material 3 Expressive design treatment, aligning with Google's modern design language. Furthermore, the company is reorganizing the backup settings menu into clearer sub-categories.
Options such as Backup Mode, Backup quality, and Backup device folder are being grouped under intuitive headings like 'Backup tools', 'What to back up', and 'How to back up'. This restructuring aims to make the settings more user-friendly and easier to navigate.
Current Status and Recent Upgrades
It is important to note that the backup scheduling feature is not yet active for users. The report indicates the option is non-functional in the current teardown, and there is no official timeline for its release to the stable version of the app. The functionality is speculated to be similar to Android's existing system-level auto-backup for app data and settings.
This potential addition follows a series of recent AI-powered enhancements to Google Photos, including:
- 'Help me edit': A Gemini AI-driven tool that simplifies editing by using natural language commands instead of manual slider adjustments.
- A revamped video editor with automated highlight video creation.
- The ability to undo backups on Android devices.
The introduction of a scheduled backup feature would mark a significant step in providing users with more granular control over their data management and network usage, complementing the service's powerful suite of creative tools.
