The social network Facebook It is one of the ones that generates the highest traffic and, therefore, its use on mobile devices is very common. Android is no exception and, despite the fact that the quality of its application for this operating system is not the best possible (it has already been announced that it is being completely reprogrammed), its use is really wide as evidenced by the more than 100 million installations of your application.
Well, it has just been known that a new functionality has been integrated into the social network that directly affects mobile devices: the option to sync photos that are made with a phone or tablet with those that are in the web account on Facebook. That is, now when you take a shot, and if you have it configured, it is possible to upload it to the album of your account. Therefore, it is improves interoperability and, in addition, the steps to follow to manage the photos are reduced. In short, everything is much simpler.
Question of functionality
This arrival on Facebook was expected, since since August this possibility has been speculated in the not too distant future (there were even those who indicated that it was already included in the application, but had not been activated yet). Also, do not forget that this option has been available on Google+ for a while, so considering that the Mountain View-based social network is increasingly used, it's no surprise that Facebook doesn't want to be left behind in any area.
The options offered by the new possibility of synchronizing photos (Photo Sync) are the usual ones: you can set it to be performed only via WiFi connection, the maximum size of the shot must not exceed 2 GB and you can choose both the photos and the album to which they will be sent if you wish. In addition, if you prefer automatic upload alternatives in other manufacturers, examples such as the way in which it is now upload on certain mobile phones show similar options.
If you do not have the Facebook application for Android you can download it from this link from Google Play. It is one of the most compatible that exist, and its minimum requirements depend on the version of the operating system you have. Of course, do not forget that the app is updated frequently And with each native Android-optimized release, its performance and features often improve significantly.
How to turn automatic photo syncing on or off on Android
Facebook photo syncing is managed from the app itself. Depending on your region and version, it may look like photo sync, Copies of your photos or a private album called Synchronized from the phone. Be sure to check these routes, and if they don't appear, update the app.
- Open the Facebook app and tap the menu three lines at the top or bottom.
- Sign in Configuration > Application settings > Photos o Sync photos.
- Turn on or off the automatic synchronization. You can limit it to WiFi only to save data.
- Check the quality/size upload. On mobile networks Facebook can compress the photo to around 100 KB to reduce consumption.
- Check your private album (Synchronized from the phone) to select what publish o send by message.
Key aspects of Photo Sync and privacy that you should know
- Manual activation: The feature is not usually enabled by default; the user decides whether to use it.
- Private album: When activated, the latest and new photos are uploaded to a private album that only you see until you choose to share.
- Data control: allows to restrict to WiFiOn 3G/4G networks, the app may reduce its size to save data.
- Battery saving: If the battery level is low, the app may pause the synchronization.
- All photos are uploaded: even the least opportune ones. Check your private album frequently before posting.
- Third-party photos: If someone takes a picture of you and has syncing on, that image could be uploaded to their private album.
- Metadata and location: Photos may include EXIF and location. This can be used for content and ad personalization.
- Control level: You give up some control by uploading everything automatically; visibility remains private until you decide.
- Deactivation: You can disable the function from the app settings whenever you want.
Alternative methods to save Facebook photos to Android Gallery
If you prefer not to use automatic sync, there are easy ways to back up to your Gallery manually or semi-automatically. For complete backup guides on Android devices, see the specific guide for make a backup.
Method 1: Use your phone's browser
- Open the navigator from the mobile and enters facebook.com.
- Log in and search for the photo that you want to download.
- Long press on the image until you see the context menu and choose Save Picture.
- Open the app Gallery and access Downloads (the path may vary depending on the manufacturer) to view saved photos.
Method 2: Save from the app with the help of a manager
On some devices, tapping a photo's menu in the Facebook app lets you use Share and choose a tool like "Send to SD card" or another file managerThe typical flow is Share > SD Card > Copy Here so that the image is stored on your phone.
Tip: Back up your computer.
To protect your photos, you can use an Android wizard on your computer that allows you to export images, videos, music, contacts, SMS and apps. The usual procedure is to install the software on your PC, activate the USB debugging, connect the mobile, enter the section Photos and press Export. Similarly, it usually offers Add to import images from your computer and Delete to clean up the ones you don't need. If you're looking to sync and manage from Windows, check out how sync Android with Windows.
Frequently Asked Questions and Issue Management
When I take photos on my phone, they appear on Facebook without my permission. And this is causing me several problems with some personal contacts. I'd really like it if someone could tell me how to fix this. Thank you.
You probably have the option enabled Sync photos activated. This option allows you to save the photos from your phone to Facebook privately and then choose who you want to share them with.
Initially, only you should be able to see the synchronized photos. Then, if you want to make them public or send them in a private message, you have to go to the Synchronized tab from your photos section and from there select the photos you want to publish on your timeline or send in a private message.
With this option activated, the photos are automatically synchronized at the time you take them, although aspects such as battery level or the Options that you have marked, for example if you have chosen to synchronize only when there is a WiFi connection.
If you want to manage this Photo Sync option, you have to open the app on your mobile phone, and go to the menu at the top represented in Android by the three horizontal lines.
Clicking on this icon will open a menu. Look for the App Settings option in the Settings section. There you'll see the Sync Photos option. If you have it enabled, the option will appear. Do not sync photos. And vice versa.
Please note that upload speed depends on your connection type and the battery levelIf you use mobile data and are concerned about usage, activate WiFi only. Facebook allows you to sync up to of photos and can compress images when using mobile data to save megabytes.
As a good practice, periodically review your private album, disables the location from the camera if you don't want it to be attached to the photos and consider keeping the sync paused if you often take sensitive photos that you don't want to upload automatically.
Managing these options well allows you to take advantage of the convenience of having your photos ready to publish without giving up privacy, control of data consumption and a more agile organization from your albums on Android.
