Android
Turn Smart Storage On or Off auf Android
Smart storage is a cleanup function built into the Storage settings on Android. Once enabled, it automatically deletes photos and videos from local storage after they have been backed up to Google Photos and are older than 60 days.
The files are not gone. They remain fully accessible in the Google Photos app, just no longer stored directly on the device.
To check or change the setting, go to Tap on Settings ➔ Tap on Storage ➔ Tap on Free up space ➔ Open the Menu ➔ Tap on Settings. From there you can toggle Enable or disable Smart Storage and confirm with Tap on OK.
Turning the feature off keeps every photo and video stored locally regardless of age or backup status. That is useful if you rely on offline access without an internet connection, or if you do not trust automatic deletion routines.
Leaving it on is the better choice if storage space is tight and you already treat Google Photos as your main archive. Either way, the toggle only affects local copies, never the backed-up originals.