

To use Google Photos as a photo-storage service, you have to enable a setting called Back up & sync in the Google Photos app. You can still access the cloud copy via the Photos app. Using either will remove the device copy but keep the photos and videos safe in the Google Photos cloud. To save space on your phone, you can either delete the device copy manually using the Delete from device option or use the Free up storage space option.

There are two copies now - device and cloud copy. When the service is enabled, pictures from your phone are backed up to the cloud. But you must be aware that it acts as a photo-storage service as well.

The Google Photos app on Android and iOS functions as a typical gallery app showing you the photos on your phone. But before we dive into that, it’s important to understand how Google Photos functions.
