Samsung sd card not backing up.

Question

Samsung sd card not backing up.

A C 0

Hi,
I've just realised that the SD card (where my photos are stored) on my Samsung A53, android version 16, has not backed up since 31 March 2026.
I've tried the 'Back up now' option, the option goes grey for a while, then blue again, but nothing changes. They're not in onedrive from my phone or PC. They are visible in Samsung gallery.
User's image

WhatsApp Image 2026-05-25 at 17.45.25

The folders to backup do not match the folder names from Samsung files, but I've tried selecting them all, no progress. The photos are in /SD card/DCIM/Camera
User's image

Thanks in hope.

Sian 0 Reputation points

2026-06-03T19:09:31+00:00

I'm having the exact same issue on a Samsung Galaxy A52 5G. Onedrive stopped backing up my SD card from 28/03/26. Never had an issue prior to then.

Answer recommended by moderator

A C 0

Hi All,

The eventual fix, for now anyway, was very simple, should have thought to try it.

In Onedrive Profile > Settings > Gallery Sync > toggle the sync off, leave for a few minutes, then on again. Everything just started coming through.

Thanks go to [Moderator Note: Personal Info Removed] S in the OneDrive Team.

PS, Microsoft now also allow you to change the primary email on your account!

Sian 0 Reputation points

2026-06-07T16:53:04.1933333+00:00

Thanks for taking the time to help. This worked in the fact that it did allow all my sd card pics to sync through to Onedrive. However, I have just taken a new photo (saved to my sd card folder in Gallery) now to test and the new pic has again not auto synced through to Onedrive. So unfortunately the issue has not resolved.
A C 0 Reputation points

2026-06-09T05:53:47.31+00:00

Further update😝 The fix doesn't stay fixed🙄 I.e. it does a one off sync and then stops again. But it's better than a manual upload.

2 additional answers

Your answer

Sian 0 Reputation points

2026-06-03T19:09:31+00:00

I'm having the exact same issue on a Samsung Galaxy A52 5G. Onedrive stopped backing up my SD card from 28/03/26. Never had an issue prior to then.
Sian 0 Reputation points

2026-06-07T16:53:04.1933333+00:00

Thanks for taking the time to help. This worked in the fact that it did allow all my sd card pics to sync through to Onedrive. However, I have just taken a new photo (saved to my sd card folder in Gallery) now to test and the new pic has again not auto synced through to Onedrive. So unfortunately the issue has not resolved.
A C 0 Reputation points

2026-06-09T05:53:47.31+00:00

Further update😝 The fix doesn't stay fixed🙄 I.e. it does a one off sync and then stops again. But it's better than a manual upload.

Answer 1

Xavier-D 13,385 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Hello A C

I can see that you are having trouble with backing up your sd card in OneDrive

Based on what you described, this usually means the OneDrive Android app is not completing the photo backup, even though Back up now briefly starts.

Camera backup on Android depends on the correct backup account, app permissions, available storage, and the app being allowed to keep running.

Here are what you can try on OneDrive app to see if it can fix the issue:

Go to Profile > Settings > Camera backup and confirm the Camera backup account is the correct Microsoft account, since camera backup only works to one account at a time.
In the same menu, check that Back up over Wi‑Fi and mobile network is enabled if needed, and that Backup only when charging is turned off unless you want uploads to run only while plugged in
Keep the OneDrive app open for a while and avoid swiping it away from recent apps, because backup may not continue if the app is closed
Check that OneDrive still has permission to access all photos and videos and that your OneDrive storage is not full, because either of these can prevent new uploads.
Under Camera backup > Back up device folders, make sure the Camera folder is still selected for backup.

As a workaround, you can manually upload the missing photos from the SD card in the OneDrive Android app by using Add > Upload.

I hope this information can get the missing photos backed up again soon

Feel free reply back to this post and update me on your situation, I'll be happy to help.

Xavier-D 13,385 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-05-27T00:01:04.9466667+00:00

Hi A C

I’m following up to check on the status of this issue.

Have you had an opportunity to review the answer shared earlier?

Any update you can provide would be greatly appreciated.
A C 0 Reputation points

2026-05-27T09:17:50.98+00:00

Hi,
None of your suggestions have helped.
I only have one Microsoft account, and it's set correctly, things not on the sdcard, like whatsapp photos are being backed up.
I added mobile backup as part of my initial tests, no difference, and only while charging has always been off.
I've left the app open after pressing, back up now, no difference.
One drive has permission to all photo and document folders and I can still see the earlier sdcard images there, my 1TB storage is 4% used.
As I commented on the recent advice 'Changes to Samsung Gallery sync and OneDrive Last updated: May 14, 2026' there is no option for 'Camera backup' under profile, there is SD card backup which has a green tick and backup complete. Under Settings there Samsung photos with Gallery Sync and SD card back up - you have screen shot above.
While a manual update gets me a workaround, it is not a solution, I want something automatic.

Thanks & regards
AMC
A C 0 Reputation points

2026-05-28T10:54:39.0333333+00:00

Have you any more suggestions?
Xavier-D 13,385 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-05-29T00:18:45.9533333+00:00
Hi A C

Thank you for the detailed update

Since you’ve already confirmed the account, permissions, storage space, charging/network settings, and that other folders are still backing up normally, it sounds like the usual checks have already been ruled out. The remaining issue appears to be specific to the SD card backup process rather than OneDrive backup overall.

Because manual upload works, your photos can still be protected as a temporary workaround, but I understand that is not the automatic solution you want.

At this stage, the best next step would be to contact Microsoft Support for further assistance about this issue:

Please note that this is a user-to-user support forum. Moderators and contributors, including external Microsoft employees, are not allowed to directly interfere with Microsoft product features or access back-end systems. Our role is limited solely to providing technical guidance on reported incidents, requests, or ideas.

Open a website link - Contact - Microsoft Support

In the box below "We're here to help", type Microsoft 365, click "Get Help", and then click "Contact Support" below.

In this section, you will need to sign in to your Microsoft account.

Select "Microsoft 365 and Office" under Products & Services, select "Technical Support" as the category, and click to confirm

You can select " Chat with a support agent in your web browser " to access the chat window.

In the meantime, to avoid missing any new photos, please continue using manual upload for the SD card folder until the automatic backup issue is resolved.

I hope you can get the support you need, have a nice day.
Chris B shefg 0 Reputation points

2026-05-30T21:42:26.9+00:00

I am wondering if the version is key here.

I am having very similar problems. I too don't have the Camera Backup option - version 8.55 - and cannot get things to backup.

That said, camera backup of photos I take works fine at the time. It's other folders that do not. I need this given Samsung removing sync...
NeilH 0 Reputation points

2026-05-31T10:12:09.8833333+00:00

I have the same issue, starting on the same date. On a Samsung S20. Photos taken before 31st March showing in my OneDrive online (i.e. they were backed up ok), but nothing since. Again Photos are stored on an SD card fitted in the S20. Running OneDrive Version 7.55. Plenty of storage in OneDrive available, permissions seem ok, nothing was changed from when it worked to when it stopped.
A C 0 Reputation points

2026-05-31T11:24:38.7666667+00:00

Thanks NeilH,

Confirm I'm also on Onedrive v 7.55 with auto updates on.

I will open a Tech support incident...
A C 0 Reputation points

2026-06-03T20:01:25.5566667+00:00

For your info, Xavier-D, The Microsoft office 365 Tech Support team will not accept OneDrive Sync queries/issues and there is no interactive support for One Drive. They may reply by email, but will default replies to a defunct email address which I have tried repeatedly to get Microsoft to stop using!

Answer 2

We finally solved this on out Samsung Galaxy S20 yesterday. After trying clearing cache and deleting data for OneDrive, then "uninstalling" (you can't actually uninstall, but disable and uninstall updates). Then reinstalled. This didn't solve the problem directly. After a bit more searching, Google AI reported that sometimes there have been issues with the Microsoft Account and the link with Samsung (something to do with the service that is being withdrawn). So the actual solution was to go to "Manage Accounts" in Settings. Find all the Microsoft or Microsoft 365 or OneDrive accounts and "Remove Account".

After this go back to OneDrive, sign in again and within a minute, the Photo Backup started working again!

I'm not sure if the cache clear and data delete etc was needed, but I've included as this was the complete chain of actions. I suspect it was only the account remove and sign in that was needed, but I've no way to test again now.

Hope this helps!