Google ends the integration between Google Photos and Drive: the synchronization between the services has been removed

Google has provided a synchronization system between photo and drive facilities from the earliest moments but, in the name of simplicity, it eliminates features: "We have received feedback that the link between the two services is confusing, so next month we will take modifications to simplify the user experience," said two business managers in a latest article released on the official websites.

The firm also published a post for G Suite customers in relation to the public note, as the change will involve all kinds of customers. The pictures and videos added to Google Drive will not be visible on Google Photos with the modification implemented and, vice versa, the pictures released on Photos will not be manageable with Google Drive. Even the deleted files are not synchronized between the two to avoid unintentional deletion of files in this case.

The present scheme provides the go-ahead to any file management mistakes, which is rather confusing: if you delete a picture on Google Photos today, for instance, the cancelation will also be efficient on Drive. However, the modifications will not appear on Drive if you modify an picture on Photo. On the other side, if you delete a picture on Drive, it will also be removed on Photos, but if the picture is on an album, it will stay in it even if it is deleted on Drive. If you also remove some folders on Drive and not the pictures straight, the pictures inside will stay on Photo.

In short, a system that is in itself logical but definitely confusing and that users probably haven't been able to master to the fullest. Google will offer a method for transferring photos from Drive to Photo with a new "Upload from Google Drive" option that will arrive in the near future on Google Photos, but in this way you will have two identical files in two different locations without any connection between the two services, consuming twice as much space if the photo is saved in "original" quality (not required in high quality).

Google points out that when the modifications are lastly implemented, no documents will be automatically deleted in July. What modifications is that the modifications taking place on one service are not automatically synchronized on the other.