Back Up iPhone Photos to Google Drive

Before you start

• Use the Google account whose Drive should hold the backup.
• Make sure that account has enough Google Drive storage.
• Create the required iOS OAuth client ID first: Create a Google Cloud project and OAuth client ID.
• Watermelon Backup does not need an API key, service account, client secret, downloaded credentials file, Firebase project, or manually created Drive folder.
• Keep the same Google Cloud project, iOS Client ID, and Google account if you later connect from another device or restored database.

Add the Google Drive Node

• In Watermelon Backup, choose Add Google Drive.
• Paste the full OAuth client ID. It must end with .apps.googleusercontent.com.
• Tap Sign in with Google and use an account allowed by the Google Auth Platform Audience settings.
• Approve the requested access. Do not deselect either Drive permission.
• Wait while Watermelon Backup creates or reconciles its Watermelon Backup repository in My Drive and verifies write access.
• Save the Node and select it on Home.

Run the backup

• Wait for the Node to connect and for the remote index to finish syncing.
• Grant Photos access if needed.
• Check the local-side months you want to back up.
• Tap Execute and confirm the Backup count.
• Keep the network stable while large videos or many items upload.

Account and limits

Watermelon Backup stores the Google Drive refresh token in iOS Keychain, keeps short-lived access tokens in memory, and uses the saved Google account identifier to make sure the Node reconnects to the same account.

Google Drive access depends on your Google Cloud OAuth setup, Drive API status, OAuth publishing status, quota, rate limits, account state, and network connectivity. If an External project stays in Testing, Google refresh tokens normally expire after seven days; publish the OAuth app to Production or use an Internal project, then sign in again.