What this page is about
If you own a Samsung Galaxy phone, Samsung Gallery probably already syncs your photos to OneDrive. SyncGallery is a separate Android app that also syncs photos to OneDrive — but it works differently, and some users add it to their setup for the things it does that a folder-level sync tool doesn't.
This page describes what SyncGallery does with OneDrive on Samsung devices. It doesn't try to compare features against Samsung Gallery — they're different tools, and we'd rather describe ours clearly than claim things about theirs we can't verify.
When users add SyncGallery alongside OneDrive
These are the scenarios SyncGallery is designed for. Whether you already use Samsung Gallery's OneDrive backup or not, these capabilities may be useful:
Review your first sync before it runs
When you already have photos on both your phone and your OneDrive account, the initial sync is where things can go wrong — you don't know whether the app will upload everything from device to cloud, or pull everything from cloud to device, or overwrite something you wanted to keep.
SyncGallery shows you exactly what it will do before anything moves. After the initial setup, sync runs automatically — but you can set thresholds, so if a subsequent sync would delete or modify a lot of files at once (say, 20 unexpected deletions), the app pauses and asks. The goal is to catch anomalies, not confirm every single file.
Promote specific photos to sync from the gallery preview
SyncGallery is both a gallery app and a sync app. You can configure folder-level sync like any backup app — set it and forget it. The extra thing: from the gallery preview screen, you can tap one button to promote a specific photo to a cloud destination.
No need to move it into a dedicated sync folder. Different photos can sync to different destinations, or be shared with different people, all from the same view.
Sync non-media files with configurable filters
File-type filters let you sync any files alongside your photos — XMP sidecars from Lightroom or darktable, PDFs, TXTs, or anything else you set a filter for. It's not a special integration with specific tools; it's a general file-type filter mechanism.
Skip photos you already have when pulling from OneDrive
When downloading from OneDrive, SyncGallery scans your existing device folders and skips files you already have, so you don't re-download the same album onto a second phone.
Schedule syncs with battery and network awareness
Each sync rule can run based on battery state and network condition — for example, only on Wi-Fi, or only when the phone is not in low-battery mode.
Our scope — what SyncGallery is not
This matters, and we'd rather be clear up front than have you frustrated later.
SyncGallery is not a Samsung Gallery migration tool. How Samsung Gallery has stored your existing OneDrive photos varies by Galaxy device model and One UI version. We can't guarantee we'll correctly pick up that existing folder structure as-is. If Samsung's OneDrive sync is working for you, keep it running and use SyncGallery in parallel for the specific things it does — don't expect it to absorb or replace the existing Samsung-managed backup.
SyncGallery doesn't modify Samsung Gallery's configuration. It has its own sync rules, its own authentication with OneDrive, and writes to folders you choose. It doesn't change anything about how Samsung Gallery works or where Samsung Gallery stores files.
SyncGallery doesn't need to replace Samsung Gallery. You can keep using Samsung Gallery as your day-to-day photo viewer and keep its OneDrive backup running. Add SyncGallery for the specific capabilities above.
Getting started
- Install SyncGallery from Google Play.
- On first launch, grant the permissions it requests and sign in to OneDrive (standard Microsoft OAuth sign-in).
- Create your first sync rule. The setup wizard walks through it.
- Review the proposed operations on the preview screen, and run the rule.
The app is free with ads. Premium (ad-free + unlimited sync rules + advanced sync controls) is $3.99/month or $49.99 one-time lifetime. The free tier is not a trial — it stays free.
Ready to try it?
Install from Google Play and start your first sync in minutes.
Get it on Google PlayPrivacy and data handling
Your photos and videos go directly from your Android device to your OneDrive account using Microsoft's official API. SyncGallery does not route them through any of our servers, and we do not process, store, or analyze your media. Full details are in the privacy policy.
Frequently asked questions
Will SyncGallery duplicate the photos Samsung Gallery already uploaded to OneDrive?
Only if you configure it to. If you point SyncGallery at the same OneDrive folder Samsung Gallery is using, SyncGallery's duplicate detection will skip files that are already there. If you point it at a different folder, both apps will maintain separate copies. We recommend using a different folder for SyncGallery unless you specifically want to co-manage the same folder.
Does SyncGallery work alongside Samsung Gallery, or does one have to be disabled?
Alongside. They're independent apps with independent sync configurations. You can run both at the same time.
What happens if Samsung changes or removes OneDrive integration from Samsung Gallery?
SyncGallery is unaffected. It uses Microsoft's Graph API directly, not Samsung's integration layer. Your SyncGallery rules continue working with no changes needed.
Does SyncGallery support Samsung Cloud?
Not currently. SyncGallery supports Google Drive and OneDrive. Samsung Cloud is a Samsung-only ecosystem and doesn't publish a general-purpose API.
Can I use SyncGallery on a non-Samsung Android device?
Yes — SyncGallery works on Android phones and tablets from any manufacturer.
Is there an iOS version?
Not yet. Android only for now.
SyncGallery is developed independently and is not affiliated with Samsung or Microsoft. Samsung Gallery and OneDrive are trademarks of their respective owners.