Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between IDrive Online Backup app and IDrive Photo Backup app?

IDrive Online Backup app is a cross-platform compatible backup and restore app for recovering your critical phone data in case of a disaster. Backup your contacts, calendar events, photos, videos on iOS, and even SMS and call logs, music and other files on Android. Mobile backup is available with all IDrive plans.

IDrive Photo Backup is a photo manager app for your mobile device. Store pictures and videos from your mobile device in original resolution. The app provides a simple user interface to view your Photos and Videos. It is a good alternative to Google Photos and iCloud; as a simpler, more cost-effective photo storage solution. You may also use the storage to backup files from your PCs and Macs!

Note: The IDrive Online Backup and IDrive Photo Backup apps include backup of pictures in full resolution by default.

How do I get started with IDrive^® Photos?

1. Download and install the IDrive Photo Backup app from Google Play Store on your device.
2. Allow IDrive Photos to access all the photos and videos in your device gallery.
3. Sign in with your account credentials.

All the photos and videos stored in your device will show up in your IDrive Photos gallery and the app will automatically backup all items to the cloud. The following icons indicate the backup status:

Note: If you sign in denying the permission, you will again be prompted to the permission page as the device cannot be accessed without permission.

Does battery optimization impact the app’s performance?

If battery restrictions are on, the apps you use less often will run less while you're not using them. Remove any background restrictions and battery optimization for IDrive Photos in the device settings, to ensure optimum performance.

To remove battery optimization for the app,

1. Tap to go to 'Settings'.
2. Under 'More', tap on 'Unrestricted Battery Usage'. This will redirect you to the app settings of your device.
3. Search for the IDrive Photos app and remove it from the battery optimized list.
   

   Note: The 'Unrestricted Battery Usage' option is available only on Android 12 and above.

   

How do I know the backup is complete?

Once all the photos and videos are backed up to the cloud, the status is indicated by a .

See how to get started >

Can I use the IDrive^® Photos app without giving access to the required permissions?

IDrive Photos needs access permissions to your device media for successful use of the app.

The permission screen will appear when you sign in for the first time.

To allow access permissions,

1. Tap 'Allow' the permission screen to use the app.
2. Sign in to your IDrive Photos account.

How do I automatically upload new photos and videos from my device gallery?

The 'Auto upload' option is enabled by default in the IDrive Photo Backup app. This ensures all the new photos and videos are automatically uploaded from your device to your account. If 'Auto-upload' is disabled, enable the option in the app settings.

To enable 'Auto-upload',

1. Sign in to your IDrive Photos account.
2. Tap on the top left corner of the gallery, to go to 'Settings'.
3. Tap 'Auto upload'.

All the new photos and videos clicked or saved on your phone will be automatically backed up to your account.

How do I upload photos and videos manually?

In case you have disabled the 'Auto upload' option, you can upload photos and videos manually.

To upload a photo or video,

1. Tap the photo or video that you want to backup.
2. Tap .

To upload multiple photos or videos at a time,

1. Long-press on a photo or video that you want to backup.
2. Tap and select all the photos or videos that you want to upload.
3. Tap .

How do I exclude specific photos and videos from automatically uploading to my account?

The first time you sign up/sign in to the IDrive Photos app on your mobile, all media folders are selected by default for auto upload. However, you can exclude the folders that you do not want to backup from the backup set.

You can manage the folders selected for auto upload at a later time via 'Settings'.

To manage your backup set for auto upload,

1. Tap on the top left corner of the gallery.
2. Under 'Auto Upload', click 'Manage folders for auto upload'.
   
3. On the 'Select Backup Items' screen, manually select or exclude the folders for backup.
4. Alternatively, tap to select all folders.
   
5. Click 'Done'.

Note: 'Manage folders for auto upload' option is not available when a backup is in progress. You can either wait for the backup to complete or cancel the backup and then make changes to the backup set.

How to add a photo or video as favorite?

To add a photo or video as favorite,

1. Long-press on the photo or video that you want to mark as favorite. You can also tap and select multiple items.

2. Tab on the bottom bar.
   Alternatively, you can open the photo or video and tap on the bottom bar.

To view favorites, click select 'Favorites' from the menu.

Can I search specifically for photos, videos, files, folders and locations?

You can search for photos, videos, files, folders or locations.

To search for photos, videos, files, folders or locations,

1. Tap on the toolbar displayed in the timeline.
2. Type the name of the file, folder or location that you want to search.
3. You can also tap on the Photos, Videos, Favourites, Backed Up and Not Backed Up categories that are displayed to view media files within them.

Note: When searching for a specific folder, the search result will only include media files that have not been backed up.

How do I restore a photo or video from my account?

To restore a backed up item,

1. Tap the photo or video that you want to restore.
2. Tap .

To restore multiple photos at a time,

1. Long-press on a photo or video that you want to download.
2. Tap and select all the photos or videos that you want to restore.
3. Tap .

The selected item will be downloaded and stored in the 'Internal Storage' > 'IDrive_Photo_Download/username' folder of your device.

How do I restore the entire photo gallery from my IDrive^® Photos account?

To restore entire photo gallery,

1. Tap to go to 'Settings'.
2. Go to 'Restore All' and tap to start downloading all the photos and videos.

Tap to cancel the restore process.

Alternatively, you can also cancel the restore operation from the notification panel by tapping on the 'Cancel' button.

Where does IDrive^® Photos store the restored photos and videos on my device?

The photos and videos restored from IDrive Photos are stored in the 'Internal Storage' > 'IDrive_Photo_Download/username' folder on your device.

How do I share photos or videos from the IDrive^® Photos app?

To share a photo or video,

1. Tap to open the photo or video that you want to share.
2. Tap in the bottom bar.
3. From the apps list that appears, choose the app to share the link with.

To share multiple photos and videos,

1. Long-press on a photo or video that you want to share.
2. Tap and select the photos or videos that you want to share.
3. Tap on the bottom bar.
4. From the apps list that appears, choose the app to share the link with.

Note: Sharing option is only available for accounts with default encryption.

Where are my shared links located?

IDrive Photos provides a centralized location for all your shared links. To manage the shared links,

On the IDrive Photo Backup app home screen, tap > 'Shared Files'. You can view the list of shared links.

Can I edit my photos?

Yes, you can resize, rotate, add filters, text, and emoticons, to the photos stored in your account.

To edit the photos,

1. Log in to the IDrive Photos application.
2. Tap on the photo that you want to edit.
3. Tap and you will find the following edit options:
   
   
   • Shape : Add different shapes like lines, ovals, rectangles etc. You can decide brush size, color, and opacity.
   • Text : Add text to the photos and select the color of the texts.
   • Eraser : Erase the shapes added to the photos before saving.
   • Crop : Resize, rotate, or flip the photo to the dimensions you like.
   • Filter : Choose a filter to elevate the mood depicted in the photo.
   • Emoji : Add emojis to give a quirky or witty look to the photo.
   • Sticker : Add stickers to the photos from the sticker collection.
4. Tap 'Save copy' to save the edited copy or tap 'Cancel' if you wish to discard the changes.

Note: Backed up images will be downloaded before editing.

How do I delete a photo or video from my account?

To delete a photo or video,

1. Sign in to your IDrive Photos account.
2. Tap to open the photo or video that you want to delete.
3. Tap in the bottom bar.

To delete multiple items,

1. Long-press on a photo or video that you want to delete.
2. Tap and select all the photos or videos that you want to delete.
3. Tap on the bottom bar.
4. Tap 'OK'.

Note: Deleting will remove selected items permanently from your device and account.

How do I upgrade my subscribed plan?

To upgrade your free trial to a paid subscription,

1. Tap 'Upgrade' in the top banner. Alternatively, you can go to 'Settings' and tap 'Upgrade'.
2. You will be redirected to the web. Select the storage and provide billing information.
3. Tap 'Upgrade Now'.

You will receive a confirmation email once the subscription is upgraded.

Can I access and share my photos and videos via web?

You can sign in to your IDrive Photos account from the web to access, share and restore your backed up photos and videos. All the backed up media files are displayed in the 'Timeline' view, sorted according to date.

To share photos and videos,

1. Sign in to your IDrive Photos account from the web.
2. In the 'Photos' tab, select the required items and click .
3. In the 'Share' pop up, click 'Advanced Settings' to define the following parameters:
   
   
   • Set a password - You can set a password for accessing the link.
   • No. of Downloads - You can specify a limit for the number of downloads. The maximum limit is 25.
   • No. of Days - You can specify the duration for which the link remains active. The maximum duration is 30 days.
4. Click 'Create share link'. A share link will be created and you can access it from the 'Shared' tab.

5. Click 'Copy link' to copy the link to clipboard. Share the link with the intended recipients.

To restore photos and videos,

1. Sign in to your IDrive Photos account from the web.
2. In the 'Photos' tab, select the required items and click .

Can I backup live motion images with IDrive^® Photos?

Live motion images (photos with motion) will be backed up as still images in IDrive Photos. The movement portion of such images will not be available in the backed up images.

What is two-factor authentication?

The two-factor authentication provides additional security to your account and helps in preventing unauthorized access. Once two-factor authentication is enabled via web, in addition to your password, you will need to enter a verification code sent to your email address or phone number or Time-based OTP authenticator app, while signing in to your IDrive Photos account. Read more on how to enable two-factor authentication for your account.

How do I sign in to my IDrive^® Photos account once two-factor authentication is enabled?

To sign in to your account after two-factor authentication is enabled,

1. On the IDrive Photo Backup application sign in screen, enter your username and password and tap 'Sign in'.
2. If you have selected Email address or Phone number as the preferred method of receiving one-time verification code, enter the same and tap 'Verify'.
3. If you have selected Time-based OTP Authentication as the preferred method of receiving one-time verification code, enter the one-time code generated by the Time-based OTP Authenticator app in your mobile device and tap 'Verify'.

Can I change the encryption settings for my IDrive^® Photos account?

Your IDrive^® Photos account is created with Default Encryption, which means a pre-defined key is used to encrypt your photos and videos.

In order to change your encryption from Default to Private Encryption, you must reset your account by signing in to web.

To set Private Encryption,

1. Sign in to your IDrive^® Photos account from the web.
2. Navigate to 'My Account'.
3. Click 'Reset my account' under 'Account Summary'.
   
4. Enter your account password for authentication.
   
   Note:
   • Resetting your account allows you to choose a new encryption method, and permanently deletes all your backed up files and folders.
   • If you have opted for local backup, you will lose access to the locally backed up files, so delete them before resetting your account.
5. Click 'I want to reset my account'. All your backed up data will be deleted and the account will be reset.
   
6. Click 'Re-configure Now!' to set up encryption.
   
7. Select 'Private encryption key'.
   
8. Enter your encryption key and confirm.
   Note: IDrive does not store your private encryption key on its servers. It is recommended that you archive it safely to backup and restore your data.
9. Click 'Continue' to set private key encryption for your account.