Samsung's long-running alliance with Microsoft appears to be fraying at the edges: recent app code and multiple news reports indicate Samsung is preparing to remove OneDrive integration from the Galaxy Gallery app and shift photo backup duties back to Samsung Cloud, a move that would reverse a six-year arrangement and reshape how millions of Galaxy owners manage photo backups.
Samsung and Microsoft launched a public, device-level partnership in 2019 that placed a suite of Microsoft apps — OneDrive, Office, Outlook, Phone Link and others — directly on Galaxy devices worldwide. That tie-in went beyond simple preloads: Samsung replaced parts of its earlier cloud strategy with OneDrive, making OneDrive the default cloud backup target for photos stored in the Gallery app on compatible Galaxy phones. The arrangement simplified migration for users leaving Samsung Cloud and created an ecosystem advantage by letting Microsoft own a primary data lane for photos on Galaxy hardware.
In recent days, reports based on an APK teardown and user-facing strings discovered in the One UI 8.5 Gallery app build show phrases such as "Sync with OneDrive ending soon" and migration prompts referencing Samsung Cloud as the new destination for photos. Those strings suggest Samsung is preparing to remove OneDrive gallery sync and replace it with a Samsung Cloud–driven photo backup flow. Because the discovery comes from an APK teardown, it should be treated as credible evidence of engineering work in progress — but not definitive confirmation of a final, global rollout.
For consumers, the change may be benign if handled with transparent migration tools and ample notice. For Microsoft, losing Gallery as a default sync path reduces OneDrive’s organic reach on Galaxy devices — though OneDrive will remain available as a standalone app and as a robust cross-platform file-sync solution. For administrators and privacy-conscious users, the change underscores the importance of maintaining multiple backups and understanding where personal and corporate data lives.
Because the primary evidence today comes from pre-release app code, the prudent stance is to treat these reports as credible but provisional: Samsung appears to be preparing the switch, but the company has not yet issued full public guidance or firm deadlines. Users should review backup settings now, plan for redundancy, and watch for official migration announcements when One UI 8.5 reaches their devices.
Samsung’s partnership with Microsoft produced years of visible integration; whether this latest change represents a strategic rebalancing or a temporary experiment, it will matter to the everyday workflows of Galaxy owners — and it will serve as the next test of how device makers and cloud providers negotiate the thin line between partnership and platform control.
Source: Windows Central Samsung and Microsoft partnership woes as Galaxy phones move to drop OneDrive as backup service
Samsung and Microsoft launched a public, device-level partnership in 2019 that placed a suite of Microsoft apps — OneDrive, Office, Outlook, Phone Link and others — directly on Galaxy devices worldwide. That tie-in went beyond simple preloads: Samsung replaced parts of its earlier cloud strategy with OneDrive, making OneDrive the default cloud backup target for photos stored in the Gallery app on compatible Galaxy phones. The arrangement simplified migration for users leaving Samsung Cloud and created an ecosystem advantage by letting Microsoft own a primary data lane for photos on Galaxy hardware. In recent days, reports based on an APK teardown and user-facing strings discovered in the One UI 8.5 Gallery app build show phrases such as "Sync with OneDrive ending soon" and migration prompts referencing Samsung Cloud as the new destination for photos. Those strings suggest Samsung is preparing to remove OneDrive gallery sync and replace it with a Samsung Cloud–driven photo backup flow. Because the discovery comes from an APK teardown, it should be treated as credible evidence of engineering work in progress — but not definitive confirmation of a final, global rollout.
What’s changing, in practical terms
The shift explained
- Samsung appears to be removing direct OneDrive sync from the Gallery app user interface and replacing it with a Samsung Cloud backup option for photos and videos. This would mean:
- The Gallery app will no longer offer OneDrive as its built-in photo-sync backend.
- Users who already use OneDrive can still back up photos using the standalone OneDrive app, but the seamless Gallery-to-OneDrive link would be disabled.
- Samsung Cloud would regain a role as the primary photo sync/backup target in Gallery settings.
How this differs from the 2020–2021 migration
Samsung previously shifted from Samsung Cloud to OneDrive for Gallery sync during a phased migration (around 2020–2021), offering tools to move existing photos to OneDrive and providing bonus storage to Galaxy users as part of the transition. The current change appears to be the reverse: OneDrive integration being removed in favor of Samsung Cloud. Unlike the earlier migration — which included formal support pages and migration deadlines — the present signals are emerging primarily from app strings and reporting rather than a clear Samsung press release. That distinction matters for timelines and user guidance.Why Samsung might be doing this
Strategic reasons
- Control of user data and experience: Restoring Samsung Cloud as the built-in gallery backup backend gives Samsung more product control and tighter integration for features such as cross-device Gallery sync, album management, or proprietary AI processing. Owning the whole stack can enable feature experiments without third-party coordination.
- Monetization opportunities: Photo backups are a natural point to upsell cloud storage subscriptions. A Samsung Cloud-first approach could let Samsung bundle storage offers with Galaxy services and promotions.
- Platform differentiation: With many Android phones defaulting to Google Photos, returning to Samsung Cloud can be framed as a way to deliver Samsung-specific features and differentiation for heavy Galaxy users.
- Negotiation dynamics with Microsoft: The original OneDrive integration was a high-profile partnership. Product priorities and commercial terms change over time; this move may reflect new contract terms, changing strategic priorities on either side, or a mutual decision to narrow the scope of the integration.
Technical and user-experience reasons
- Feature parity and update cadence: A gallery built to sync with an in-house cloud can evolve in tighter lockstep with One UI feature releases, enabling new capabilities without relying on a third-party roadmap.
- Performance, privacy, or API changes: Back-end API or policy changes from Microsoft or platform-level considerations could make maintaining the deep, bundled integration harder than shipping a Samsung-managed flow.
What this means for users
Immediate user-impact (likely)
- Existing users who relied on the Gallery app’s OneDrive integration for automatic photo sync may see the Gallery setting replaced with a Samsung Cloud option in a future One UI update. The ability to back up to OneDrive won't vanish entirely — the OneDrive app will still function for manual or app-level backups — but the default, one-tap Gallery-to-cloud sync will change.
- Migration paths may be offered in the UI to move Gallery-stored photos between OneDrive and Samsung Cloud. The APK strings include wording referencing migration and telling users that Gallery will no longer support OneDrive after a certain date, though no exact date is embedded in the discovered strings. Because the code is pre-release, migration tools and timings may be adjusted before rollout.
Questions users should ask and actions to consider
- Do I rely on OneDrive for my primary photo backup?
- If yes, verify whether your photos are stored only in OneDrive or are duplicated elsewhere.
- Do you want to move to Samsung Cloud or keep OneDrive as primary?
- If you prefer OneDrive, install and configure the OneDrive app to continue automatic uploads independent of Gallery settings.
- Do you want a redundant backup strategy?
- Consider keeping at least two backups (e.g., Samsung Cloud + OneDrive, or Google Photos + OneDrive) to protect against migration errors or accidental deletions.
- Check migration tools once the option appears in One UI:
- Watch for migration prompts in Gallery settings and follow Samsung’s instructions carefully if you choose to move photos.
Strengths and opportunities in Samsung’s move
- Tighter integration and feature agility: An in-house backup can accelerate feature rollouts and allow Samsung to add Galaxy-specific photo features that rely on cloud processing or unified account settings.
- Potentially improved user flows: If Samsung has rebuilt Samsung Cloud with modern UX and reliability, reintegrating it into Gallery could reduce friction compared to a third-party link.
- Promotions for Galaxy users: Samsung can offer storage bundles or promotional storage directly tied to Galaxy purchases, increasing perceived device value.
- Brand consistency: Samsung Cloud as a single source for device settings, backups, and photos keeps data under Samsung account control, which can streamline support and device restore processes.
Risks and downsides — what to watch for
- User confusion and migration friction: Reversing a well-established default (OneDrive) risks confusing users who may not notice the setting change and lose automatic backups if they don't actively configure OneDrive or migrate photos.
- Vendor lock-in concerns: Consolidating backups into Samsung Cloud increases the importance of Samsung’s decisions about data portability and retention. In previous transitions (Samsung Cloud → OneDrive) users had fixed migration windows; the reverse could introduce similar constraints. Historical shutdowns have required users to migrate or download data on a timeline. Users should be wary of time-limited migration support.
- Trust and reliability perceptions: OneDrive is a widely trusted, cross-platform provider. Some users may perceive Samsung Cloud as less neutral, potentially affecting enterprise usage or cross-platform workflows.
- Commercial and contractual fallout: For Microsoft, losing a built-in Galaxy gallery sync channel diminishes OneDrive’s installed-base advantage on Android. For Samsung, maintaining its own cloud infrastructure has ongoing operational costs and regulatory obligations in multiple markets.
- Unclear timelines and partial rollouts: Because the primary evidence is an APK teardown, it's possible Samsung may stage the change by region, model, or carrier — leading to inconsistent experiences across Galaxy devices. The lack of a public, detailed timeline increases the chance of miscommunication.
Verification and evidence: what the public record shows
- Evidence that OneDrive will lose Gallery integration primarily comes from an APK teardown of the Gallery app included in One UI 8.5 builds; strings discovered in the package refer explicitly to OneDrive support ending and to Samsung Cloud migration tips. APK teardowns are frequently reliable indicators of planned features, but they are not guarantees of final behavior — companies commonly remove or change functionality during testing. Android Authority published the teardown report and included extracts of the strings.
- Windows Central and other outlets reported the same findings and framed them within the 2019 Samsung-Microsoft partnership context, noting that the partnership had previously made OneDrive the default gallery backup medium on Samsung devices. Windows Central emphasized that the strings indicate Samsung intends to “rip out” OneDrive integration from the Gallery app while still allowing the OneDrive app to function as a separate backup option.
- Samsung’s own support documentation makes clear that historically Samsung Cloud and OneDrive have coexisted in different roles: Samsung Cloud has been used for device settings and app sync, and OneDrive was later adopted for Gallery photo sync during the earlier migration cycle. Official Samsung support pages describe migration and data access tools when Samsung Cloud features were phased into OneDrive previously, but they do not currently contain a public, detailed announcement confirming a new reversal to Samsung Cloud as the default. This absence underscores that the current signals are pre-release and may change.
Recommendations for Galaxy users and IT administrators
For individual users
- Audit your backups today: Check whether your photos are stored in OneDrive, Samsung Cloud, Google Photos, or elsewhere. If you rely on OneDrive and want to keep it as your primary backup, install and configure the OneDrive app to accept automatic photo uploads.
- Adopt a redundant backup strategy: Keep at least two independent backups (e.g., cloud + local backup) to guard against migration mistakes, account issues, or service changes.
- Watch One UI release notes: When your device receives One UI 8.5 or later updates, read the Gallery change log and check migration prompts carefully before confirming any automatic switch.
For enterprises and IT admins
- Communicate with end users: If your organization standardizes on OneDrive for business continuity or compliance, notify Galaxy users that bundled Gallery behavior may change and ensure device management policies require the OneDrive app where needed.
- Review data governance: Evaluate how the change might affect retention policies, eDiscovery, and backup workflows that rely on user photos being in OneDrive.
- Prepare migration guidance: Draft clear, step-by-step instructions for employees about how to retain OneDrive backups, migrate photos, or opt into Samsung Cloud where appropriate.
How this fits the broader cloud-backup landscape
The mobile photo-backup space is crowded and dynamic. Google Photos remains the default choice for many Android users, while iCloud occupies the same role for Apple customers. OneDrive has historically been attractive to users embedded in Microsoft’s ecosystem, especially Office 365 subscribers. Samsung’s apparent U-turn reflects both competition and the desire of OEMs to own more of the software stack on their devices.- Consumer behavior has shifted toward using whatever cloud service is most convenient and preinstalled — that’s why default settings matter. A default can change market share overnight; removing OneDrive from the default Gallery sync will likely reduce its visibility among casual users.
- OEMs are increasingly balancing partnerships (which can include preloads and integrations) against the strategic desire to control features, data flows and monetization across their hardware. Samsung’s move, if finalized, is consistent with that broader industry pattern.
What is not yet known (and what to watch)
- Official Samsung announcement: As of the latest public reporting, Samsung has not published a formal support article announcing a OneDrive removal or giving dates for migration. The discovery stems from an APK teardown rather than a Samsung press release. That means timelines, exact mechanics, and whether the change will be global or phased are still unconfirmed. Treat the current evidence as probable but not final.
- Timing and region rollout: If Samsung follows historical precedent, any change could be staggered by region or by device family. Watch for carrier-specific notices and One UI release notes for country-by-country details.
- Data migration guarantees: In previous service transitions, Samsung provided migration tools and deadlines. Whether Samsung will offer a straightforward migration path from OneDrive back to Samsung Cloud, and for how long, remains unclear. Users should assume they may need to act proactively.
Final analysis
Samsung’s potential decision to remove OneDrive from Gallery sync and push photos toward Samsung Cloud is a meaningful inflection point in two ways: it signals Samsung’s desire to reclaim a core piece of the device experience, and it alters the ecosystem balance for photo backups across billions of devices.For consumers, the change may be benign if handled with transparent migration tools and ample notice. For Microsoft, losing Gallery as a default sync path reduces OneDrive’s organic reach on Galaxy devices — though OneDrive will remain available as a standalone app and as a robust cross-platform file-sync solution. For administrators and privacy-conscious users, the change underscores the importance of maintaining multiple backups and understanding where personal and corporate data lives.
Because the primary evidence today comes from pre-release app code, the prudent stance is to treat these reports as credible but provisional: Samsung appears to be preparing the switch, but the company has not yet issued full public guidance or firm deadlines. Users should review backup settings now, plan for redundancy, and watch for official migration announcements when One UI 8.5 reaches their devices.
Samsung’s partnership with Microsoft produced years of visible integration; whether this latest change represents a strategic rebalancing or a temporary experiment, it will matter to the everyday workflows of Galaxy owners — and it will serve as the next test of how device makers and cloud providers negotiate the thin line between partnership and platform control.
Source: Windows Central Samsung and Microsoft partnership woes as Galaxy phones move to drop OneDrive as backup service