If the Photos app is stuck on Waiting for Wi-Fi error on your Android or iPhone mobile then here are some of the best solutions to fix the issue and make the backup process work smoothly.
Fix 1. Backup Over Mobile Data
If you are seeing a ‘Waiting for WiFi’ issue on your Android mobile even when your mobile data is turned On, then you may have set the option to limit the mobile data usage to upload files to Photos. The Google Photos app for android has an option to limit Mobile data usage. If the option is set to No Data, then media will be backed up only when connected to WiFi. Thus you will see the message ‘Waiting for WiFi’. Just change the option to Unlimited or any other number, this will back up the photos and videos over your mobile data and remove the WiFi error message.
Fix 2. Remove Background Restrictions
Even if you are connected to Wi-Fi, and the photos and videos are still not backing up to your Google photos account, the issue may be with the Google photos app itself. It is good to remove any background restrictions from the app; the photos continuously work in the background to upload the media to the Google account. If you have enabled power saver options or have disabled the Wi-Fi access to the Google Photos app, then media will not upload to the cloud; therefore, it is good to check the app setting itself.
How to Enable WiFi Access to Google Photos?
If you knowingly or unknowingly have enabled the option to stop Wi-Fi access to the Google photos app then you need to turn Off the toggle to allow the Photos to access Wi-Fi to back up the data.
Long Press on Photos app and then click on App info option.Click on Mobile data and Wi-Fi and Turn Off the toggle next to Disable WiFi.
How to Disable Battery Saver?
Click on Advanced and open Battery.
Change the settings to Don’t Optimise.
How to Make WiFi Network Unmetered?
Open the Settings page and head over to WiFi.Tap on the network you are currently connected to and go to its Advanced section.Now tap on Network Usage and select Treat as unmetered. Give the phone unlimited access to WiFi.
Fix 3. Disable VPN or AdBlocker Apps
Google Photos need proper uninterrupted internet access to backup the photos and videos in the background. If you are using a VPN proxy or any adblocker app, they may restrict data usage as these apps create a tunnel retrieving the data from a third-party server. Therefore, the VPN and Blocker (DNS66, Blokada, etc.) apps will prevent the backup process; it is recommended to disable these apps when media are being added to Google cloud.
Fix 4. Clear Cache of Google Photos App
Clearing the cache of the Google photos app can fix most of the issues with the app as it will clear any filled-up junk files and other unneeded data from the app; once the cache is cleared, restart the phone and check if the backup is working.
Long press on the Google Photos app icon.Tap on App info.Then tap on Storage & cache.Hit the Clear cache button.
