Unlimited Photos Backup Workaround

I haven’t got to test and prove that it works but, here it goes:

Requirements §

Hardware:

1. (Old) Google Pixel Phone
2. (New) Any other phone

Software:

1. Syncthing on Both Phones

Hypothesis §

You should be able to sync your photos from your new phone to your old phone periodically when you are in your local network and the old phone backs up the photos using google photos which will occupy no storage on google drive since it is uploaded from a Pixel.

Procedure §

1. Install syncthing on both devices.
2. Pair two phones in syncthing (Both phones need to be in the same local network.)
3. Setup to sync the DCIM folder from New Phone to Old Pixel Phone
4. Disable google photos backup on New phone and Only leave it enabled on the old phone.
5. Put the Old Pixel Phone plugged in and connected to the network. (Basically a NAS)
6. The syncthing daemon should be running on both devices perpetually. (Disable Battery Optimizations for the syncthing app on both devices).
7. The photos should sync when both devices are in the same network, but the storage of the Old Pixel Phone will be occupied hence periodically click on the free up space on this device option in google photos on the Old Pixel Phone to prevent filling up the space and stopping the sync.
8. Enjoy unlimited photos and video storage.

Settings for Device in Syncthing §

1. For the sending device when adding a folder to sync, choose the Folder Type as Send Only and set File Pull Order to Newest First, and don’t forget to toggle the paired device on.
2. For the receiving device when accepting the sync folder, choose the Folder Type as Receive Only and File Pull Order to Newest First.

Using Tailscale to Sync Beyond Local Network §

Make sure everything is connected and working in syncthing before trying this. Also setup your devices to connect with tailscale first.

1. On the sending device, go to Devices and select your receiver device. - After the name of the device, there is an option to put the link, put tcp://<receiving-device-address(tailscale)>:22000 and save it.
2. On the receiving device, go to Devices and select your sender device. - After the name of the device, there is an option to put the link, put tcp://<sender-device-address(tailscale)>:22000 and save it.

Here “An Old Pixel Phone” can be a phone with a Custom Pixel OS ported ROM with Unlimited Photos enabled or a rooted android with equivalent module installed.