Samsung Cloud May Return as Gallery Backup Option in One UI 8.5

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Samsung Cloud could be making a comeback as a Gallery backup solution with One UI 8.5, signaling a surprising shift in Samsung’s cloud strategy. A few years ago, the company phased out its own photo and video syncing service in favor of Microsoft’s OneDrive. Now, the latest leak suggests Samsung could be reversing course, though it remains unclear whether Samsung Cloud will coexist with OneDrive or replace it entirely.

One UI 8.5 will let you back up your Gallery photos to Samsung Cloud

For years, Samsung Cloud was the go-to option for Galaxy users to automatically back up and sync photos and videos from the Gallery app across devices. Linked to a Samsung account, it provided a seamless way to keep media safe and accessible. However, starting in 2021, Samsung moved to Microsoft OneDrive for Gallery backups. It’s currently the only cloud storage option in Samsung Gallery.

While Samsung Cloud still exists, its role has been limited to backing up device settings, notes, call logs, messages, contacts, calendars, and other app data. That changes with One UI 8.5, which debuts early next year with the Galaxy S26 series. Spotted by @TheGalox_, Samsung Cloud will once again support Gallery backup and sync. This would mean Galaxy users could return to using Samsung’s in-house service instead of relying solely on Microsoft’s cloud.

It’s not yet clear whether this would completely replace OneDrive, coexist as an alternative, or only be available in certain regions. Samsung has not officially confirmed the move, and details about storage limits, pricing, or migration from OneDrive remain unknown. Hopefully, it won’t remain exclusive to the Galaxy S26 series. More details may surface closer to the official introduction in January. We will keep you posted.

Written by

Sumit Adhikari

Sumit, a life-long Samsung user, is passionate about technology and has been professionally writing on tech since 2017. He’s a mathematics graduate by education and enjoys teaching basic mathematics tricks to school kids in his spare time. Sumit believes in artificial intelligence and dreams of a fully open, intelligent and connected world.

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