Update (7/12): Google on Wednesday announced it has finally launched Backup & Sync for Mac and PC devices.

The app lets you easily back up some or all of the files and photos on your machine to Google Drive and Google Photos, so "they're no longer trapped on your computer," Product Managers Aakash Sahney and David Loxton wrote in a blog post.

Google had planned to launch Backup and Sync on June 28, but delayed the release until today to continue working on the app, a spokesperson for the company told PCMag. The new tool replaces the existing Google Photos desktop uploader and Drive for Mac/PC.

"You probably keep your most important files and photos in different places—your computer, your phone, various SD cards, and that digital camera you use from time to time," Sahney and Loxton wrote. "It can be a challenge to keep all these things safe, backed up, and organized."

Backup and Sync offers a "simpler, speedier and more reliable way to protect the files and photos that mean the most to you," they said. For more information and to download Backup and Sync, head here.

Original Story (6/14):

The cloud is a vast place, limited only by how much you're willing to pay to store your backups, photos, and other essential files. But once you find the perfect cloud storage solution, you still have to solve the problem of how to upload all your stuff.

Google aims to make that process more straightforward with an imminent rebranding of its Google Drive app for Macs and PCs in order to prompt more people to use the company's cloud storage offerings to back up their computers. The app's new straightforward name is Backup and Sync, and it will launch on June 28, according to a G Suite blog post.

The Google Drive app is currently integrated with the Google Photos desktop uploader, so it might have escaped your notice if you're looking for a set-it-and-forget-it standalone backup solution. Once it becomes Backup and Sync, the app will offer a streamlined process for scheduling automatic backups, including choosing the folders you'd like to continuously back up to your Google Drive.

Google has not announced any changes to Drive subscription plans with Backup and Sync. The free version is included with any Google account and comes with 15GB of storage shared across all Google services, although there are several exemptions to the limit, including lower-resolution photos. That means Backup and Sync will become an even more attractive option for people looking to back up their photo collections or Microsoft Office documents for free.

If you need extra space, 100GB of storage costs $1.99 per month and 1TB costs $9.99 per month, with discounts for annual prepayments. If your company uses G Suite, you might have a different storage allotment included with your Google account for work. Or, if your company has disabled Google Drive, you won't be able to access Backup and Sync at all, according to G Suite.