Samsung recently announced that their cloud storage service, Samsung Cloud, will be discontinued starting October 31, 2022. This has led many Samsung device users to worry about what will happen to their photos and other files stored in Samsung Cloud once the service shuts down. The good news is that Samsung is providing users with options to transfer their content so they do not lose access to it.
Will my photos be deleted when Samsung Cloud goes away?
No, your photos will not be automatically deleted when Samsung Cloud shuts down on October 31, 2022. However, you will lose access to any photos or files you currently have stored in Samsung Cloud if you do not transfer them before the service ends.
How can I save my photos before Samsung Cloud goes away?
Samsung is providing a few options for users to transfer their Samsung Cloud content before the service discontinuation date:
- Transfer files to another cloud storage provider like Google Photos or Dropbox
- Download photos and files directly to your device storage
- Transfer files to a computer for backup
To start the transfer process, open the Samsung Cloud app on your device, go to the Recents tab, select the content you want to transfer, and choose one of the available transfer options.
How do I transfer my Samsung Cloud photos to Google Photos?
Here are the steps to transfer your Samsung Cloud photos to Google Photos:
- Open the Samsung Cloud app on your device.
- Go to the Recents tab and select the photos you want to transfer.
- Tap the three-dot menu in the top right corner.
- Select “Transfer to Google Photos.”
- Follow the on-screen instructions to choose a Google account and begin the transfer.
The transfer speed will depend on the amount of content you are moving. You can continue using your device as normal during the transfer process.
How do I download my photos from Samsung Cloud to my device?
Here are the steps to download your Samsung Cloud photos to your device’s storage:
- Open the Samsung Cloud app.
- Go to the Recents tab.
- Tap and hold on a photo to select it.
- Tap any other photos you want to download.
- Tap the download icon at the bottom of the screen.
- Select “Device storage” when prompted.
- The photos will download to your device’s Gallery app.
You can also tap “Select all” to download everything stored in Samsung Cloud at once. The files will download to your device automatically in the background.
How do I transfer Samsung Cloud photos to my computer?
To save your Samsung Cloud photos to your Windows PC or Mac, follow these steps:
- On your computer, visit the Samsung Cloud website – link.samsungcloud.com.
- Sign in using your Samsung account credentials.
- On the left menu, click “Gallery.”
- Select the photos you want to download by clicking the checkbox.
- Click the download icon at the top of the page.
- Choose whether to download as a ZIP file or individual JPEG images.
- Select a download location on your computer.
The photos will download to the chosen destination on your computer so you have a backup copy. You can then upload them to another cloud storage service if desired.
What are my options for cloud storage when Samsung Cloud shuts down?
Some popular alternative cloud storage options to consider when Samsung Cloud discontinues include:
| Service | Storage Space | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Google Photos | 15GB free | Unlimited photo storage (compressed) |
| Dropbox | 2GB free | File syncing and sharing |
| Microsoft OneDrive | 5GB free | Integration with Windows |
| Amazon Photos | Unlimited photo storage with Prime | Allows RAW photo uploads |
When evaluating a new cloud storage provider, consider how much free space you get, the pricing for upgrading storage, and any special features like photo management tools.
What should I do if I missed the Samsung Cloud shutdown deadline?
If you missed the October 31 deadline to transfer your Samsung Cloud data, unfortunately your photos and other files stored in Samsung Cloud will no longer be accessible. However, there are a few things you can try to salvage your data:
- Contact Samsung support to see if they can recover your data. There is a small chance they may be able to assist even after the shutdown date.
- Check your device’s local storage and any external SD cards to see if any Samsung Cloud content was saved there automatically.
- Try logging into Samsung Cloud via the website just in case it is still accessible. But chances are you will encounter an error.
- If you previously synced your Samsung photos with another device or storage solution like Google Photos, the content may still be accessible in those other places.
But unfortunately if you didn’t proactively transfer your Samsung Cloud data before the deadline, your chances of retrieving that content are very slim.
If I delete the Samsung Cloud app, will I lose my photos?
Deleting the Samsung Cloud app itself from your device will not cause you to lose any photos or files stored in your Samsung Cloud account. As long as you reinstall and log back into the app before the shutdown date, you will still be able to access your Samsung Cloud content.
However, once Samsung Cloud is discontinued on October 31, 2022, simply reinstalling the app will no longer give you access to your photos and files stored in the cloud. At that point, the only way to retain your content is to go through the transfer process before the shutdown date.
Can I transfer my photos from Samsung Cloud to iCloud?
Unfortunately there is no direct transfer option from Samsung Cloud to iCloud. However, you have a couple options to move your photos to Apple’s cloud storage service:
- Download the photos to your device first, then upload them manually to iCloud via the Photos app.
- Use a computer as an intermediary – download the photos from Samsung Cloud to your PC or Mac, then upload them to iCloud on the computer.
While not as seamless as a direct cloud-to-cloud transfer, these options will allow you to get your photos over to iCloud for safekeeping before Samsung Cloud goes away.
Will I lose any other data, not just my photos?
In addition to photos and images, any other files you have stored in Samsung Cloud will also become inaccessible once the service shuts down. This includes videos, documents, contacts, notes, Android app data synced to the cloud, and any other data stored in your Samsung account.
To avoid losing anything, be sure to transfer or download all content you have stored in Samsung Cloud that you want to keep, not just your photos. This includes:
- Videos
- Documents and other files
- Contacts and calendar data
- Notes and memos
- Android app data
- Any other data in your Samsung Cloud account
As long as you manually save everything locally or transfer it to another cloud service, you can rest assured you won’t lose any data when Samsung Cloud discontinues.
Will Samsung Cloud work on existing Samsung phones after the shutdown?
No, Samsung Cloud will cease functioning on all Samsung phones and devices after the service shutdown date. When you open the Samsung Cloud app on your Samsung phone after October 31, 2022, you will likely see errors or a non-functional app.
Phones that currently integrate Samsung Cloud functionality into system apps like Gallery and Contacts will also lose that tight cloud integration. You will no longer see things like cloud sync statuses or options to upload files to the cloud.
Essentially, all Samsung Cloud integration and functionality will stop working on existing Samsung phones once the service discontinuation takes effect. Be sure to transfer any important data out ahead of the shutdown date.
Will I be able to transfer my data after the shutdown date?
Unfortunately no, you will not be able to transfer any Samsung Cloud data after the service officially shuts down on October 31, 2022. The download and transfer options in the Samsung Cloud app will cease working once the shutdown goes into effect.
This is why it is critically important to complete the transfer process through the Samsung Cloud app before the shutdown date. Samsung has warned users multiple times in recent months via notifications and alerts to transfer data before it becomes inaccessible.
Anyone who did not heed these warnings and failed to download or transfer their Samsung Cloud data ahead of October 31 is unlikely to be able to retrieve that content after the service ends.
Should I be worried about losing my photos when Samsung Cloud shuts down?
You do not need to worry about losing your photos as long as you take action to transfer or download your Samsung Cloud content before the October 31, 2022 shutdown date. Samsung has provided ample warning and directions for users to save their data.
As long as you follow one of these steps before the deadline, your photos and files will remain accessible:
- Transfer your Samsung Cloud content to another cloud service like Google Photos or Dropbox
- Download your photos and files directly to your device’s storage
- Use the Samsung Cloud website to download your content to a computer
However, if you miss the cutoff date or overlook the warnings from Samsung, you do risk losing access to your photos and files stored in the cloud. Set a reminder to save your data before October 31 to avoid any issues.
Will I still be able to print photos from Samsung Cloud?
Unfortunately no, once Samsung Cloud shuts down on October 31, 2022, you will no longer be able to print photos that were stored in Samsung Cloud. The print functionality in the Samsung Cloud app and website will cease working.
If you want to continue printing your Samsung Cloud photos after the service ends, you will need to transfer those photos to another location first, such as:
- Your device’s local storage
- An SD card
- Another cloud storage service like Google Photos or Dropbox
- Your computer
From those new storage locations, you can then continue printing your photos as you normally would. But direct printing from Samsung Cloud itself will no longer be available after shutdown.
What if I have photos in Samsung Cloud that aren’t on any of my devices?
If you have any photos or files stored in Samsung Cloud that don’t exist on your device’s local storage or external SD card, it is especially important to transfer those files elsewhere before the shutdown.
For photos that are cloud-only, your options include:
- Using the Samsung Cloud website to download the photos to your computer for backup.
- Transferring the cloud-only photos to another service like Google Photos or Dropbox.
If you have a lot of cloud-only photos, the easiest option is likely transferring everything en masse to another cloud storage provider that offers ample free space, such as Google Photos.
Just be aware of any cloud-only files you may have as you prepare for Samsung Cloud’s closure. You don’t want to lose those photos forever when the service goes away.
What is the best way to save all my photos from Samsung Cloud?
The best way to preserve all the photos you have stored in Samsung Cloud will depend on your specific needs and preferences. But here are some good options to consider:
- Transfer to Google Photos – Quick and easy full-resolution transfer, allows unlimited high-quality photo uploads for free.
- Download to external SD card – Saves local copies without counting against device storage limits.
- Download to device – Simple direct download to your phone or tablet’s internal storage.
- Download to computer – Provides a permanent backup copy on your PC or Mac.
Many people will benefit from using a combination approach – for example, transferring to Google Photos for convenience while also downloading copies to a computer or SD card for redundancy.
Think about your specific needs and preferences as you decide the best way to preserve your Samsung Cloud photos before the shutdown.
What happens if Samsung Cloud goes down before I can transfer my photos?
It is extremely unlikely that Samsung Cloud would abruptly shut down before the planned discontinuation date of October 31, 2022. Samsung has stated the service will remain active and accessible up until that final cutoff date.
However, in the unlikely event Samsung Cloud experiences an unexpected outage or goes down early, you have a few options:
- Access Samsung Cloud via the website at link.samsungcloud.com in case the mobile app is affected.
- Contact Samsung Customer Support for assistance accessing your content.
- Check your local device and SD card storage in case some data was synced.
- Hope that service is quickly restored so you can complete your transfers.
Setting reminders to periodically transfer your most important Samsung Cloud data between now and October 31 can help minimize risk as well. But chances are very high that the service will remain available right up until the published shutdown date.
Conclusion
With Samsung Cloud going away on October 31 2022, users need to take action to save their photos, files and other data stored in the cloud. Thankfully Samsung is providing adequate time and transfer options to make this process relatively smooth.
As long as you take steps to either download your content locally or transfer it to another cloud service ahead of the shutdown date, you can rest assured your photos and files will remain accessible even after Samsung Cloud is discontinued.
Just be sure to heed the warnings from Samsung and complete your transfers sometime before October 31. Missing the cutoff date could result in permanent loss of access to any data remaining in Samsung Cloud once the service shuts down.
