Manage Storage Space for Google Photos with These Simple Steps

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Posted Nov 18, 2024

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Man and Woman Looking at the Photos
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Managing storage space for Google Photos is essential to avoid running out of space. Google Photos offers 15 GB of free storage to all users, which is shared across Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos.

To free up space, you can delete unused photos and videos. According to Google, unused photos and videos take up a significant amount of storage space.

One way to free up space is to use Google's "High Quality" setting, which compresses photos and videos to take up less storage space. This setting reduces the file size of your photos and videos by up to 50%.

By implementing these simple steps, you can easily manage your storage space for Google Photos and avoid running out of space.

Understanding Google Photos Storage

Google Photos offers a convenient platform to store videos and photos, but there are limitations. Initially, Google used to provide unlimited high-quality storage, but by June 2021, users are restricted to 15 GB of free storage space across Google Photos, Gmail, and Google Drive.

Credit: youtube.com, How to fix your Google storage space forever... for free!

High-resolution photos, videos, and email attachments from Gmail all add up to the 15 GB limit. Even files in Google Drive will eat into this free allocation.

To manage your storage space better, you should know what counts toward the 15 GB limit. High-resolution photos, videos, and email attachments from Gmail all add up to the 15 GB limit.

If you receive a lot of junk media on WhatsApp or simply do not want your Instagram posts to back up to Google Photos, it's a good idea to disable backup for such folders from your device to save space. This will help you manage your Google Photos storage space better.

Your existing High quality photos and videos are exempt from the new storage policy change. Any photos or videos backed up in High quality before June 1, 2021, will not count toward your Google Account storage.

Google Photos can automatically back up photos and videos from WhatsApp, Instagram, and other folders on your device. While this can come in handy for some, these media backups also take up storage space.

Credit: youtube.com, How to fix Google Photos storage problem on your phone

You have a personalized estimate of how long your storage may last. Your estimate takes into account how frequently you back up photos, videos, and other content to your Google Account.

To free up space or optimize your storage settings, you'll need to explore options to free up space or find ways to optimize your storage settings.

Managing Storage Space

You can free up a substantial amount of space in Google Photos by following these tips. This will allow you to back up more photos and videos without having to pay for storage.

To manage your Google Photos storage effectively, it's essential to stay ahead of the curve by maintaining your storage space regularly. Regularly reviewing and deleting unnecessary content can go a long way in keeping your storage usage under control.

You can use the "Free up space" tool in Google Photos to automatically remove any local file that has a safely backed-up copy in the cloud. This tool will only delete photos that have a copy in the cloud, so you can rest assured that any local-only photos will be safe.

Additional reading: Copy Lightroom Edits

Credit: youtube.com, Gmail Tips: How to Clear Gmail Space for More Google Drive Storage

To disable photo backup for WhatsApp and other device folders, open the Google Photos app on your device, then tap your profile photo at the top-right corner and choose Photos settings. From there, head over to Backup > Back up device folders and disable all the irrelevant folders from which you do not want any media backup to happen.

If you find that none of your photos are backing up to the cloud or they are but aren't in original quality, you may have to visit your backup settings in Google Photos. Ensure the toggle is set to “on” and that you’re properly signed into the Google Account you want your images to backup to.

To convert photos to storage saver quality, open the Google Photos website on your computer, click the Settings icon in the top-right corner near your profile photo, and make sure Storage saver is selected. This will compress your existing photos and videos to save space without sacrificing much quality.

Here's a list of steps to adjust your backup settings and free up space in Google Photos:

  1. In Google Photos, hit your profile picture and tap Photos settings.
  2. Hit Backup.
  3. Ensure the toggle is set to “on” and that you’re properly signed into the Google Account you want your images to backup to.
  4. Adjust the backup quality, mobile data usage, and back up device folders as needed.

By following these tips and adjusting your backup settings, you can manage your Google Photos storage space effectively and avoid running out of space.

Discover more: Tight Space

Optimizing Photo and Video Quality

Credit: youtube.com, How to Free Up Google Photos Storage Space by Compressing Original Quality Photos & Videos

Optimizing Photo and Video Quality is key to making the most of your Google Photos storage space. You can choose between "storage saver" and "original quality" for uploaded photos, with the former compressing pictures slightly.

Uploading high-resolution photos from a DSLR can be a space hog, taking up to 30-40MP resolution. Resizing them to 20-25MP before uploading can save a substantial amount of space.

Compressing a video before uploading can also reduce its file size. You can use a different file format to potentially reduce the file size further.

By resizing photos and compressing videos, you can make the most of your Google Photos storage space without sacrificing too much quality.

Delete Unnecessary Files

Regularly reviewing and deleting unnecessary files is a great way to keep your Google Photos storage usage under control. You can start by going through your Google Photos library and deleting any blurry shots, duplicates, or irrelevant pictures.

Doing a periodic clean-up can make a big difference in keeping your storage usage under control. I've seen people accumulate a lot of unnecessary files over time, and it's amazing how much space they can free up by deleting them.

Credit: youtube.com, How to fix your Google storage space forever... for free!

To find and delete unsupported videos in Google Photos, follow these steps:

  1. Open the Google Photos website on your computer.
  2. Click the Settings icon at the top-right corner near your profile photo.
  3. You will see an Unsupported videos section on the Settings page. Click on View next to it.
  4. All incompatible videos will be listed. Select all the files and proceed to delete them.
  5. Make sure to empty the trash to get rid of these files permanently.

Deleting junk screenshots is also a good idea. You can find all the screenshots you've uploaded to Google Photos by searching for "screenshots" and then proceed to delete the ones you no longer find relevant. Alternatively, navigate to Google Photos Settings > Manage storage > Screenshots to review and delete all unwanted screenshots.

For your interest: Delete Picasa Photos

Adjusting Backup Settings

If you find that none of your photos are backing up to the cloud or they are but aren’t in original quality, you may have to visit your backup settings in Google Photos. This is a crucial step to ensure your photos are being backed up correctly.

To access your backup settings, hit your profile picture and tap Photos settings, then head over to Backup. Ensure the toggle is set to “on” and that you’re properly signed into the Google Account you want your images to backup to – especially if you pay for extra storage with Google One.

Credit: youtube.com, How to STOP BACKUP in Google Photos!

You can adjust the amount of compression taking place when photos are backed up as well as if they back up during mobile data usage. The last setting lets you choose which folders backup automatically.

Here are some options to consider:

  • Backup quality: This setting allows you to adjust the amount of compression taking place when photos are backed up.
  • Mobile data usage: This setting lets you choose whether or not photos backup during mobile data usage.
  • Back up device folders: This setting lets you choose which folders backup automatically, such as WhatsApp, Instagram, or other messaging apps.

If you take a lot of screenshots but don’t necessarily want them taking up cloud space, you can turn that folder off. The same goes for documents, downloaded images, and images received in Google Messages or other messaging apps.

Understanding Capacity Consequences

Reaching the storage capacity of Google Photos can be a disaster. You'll be restricted from taking new photos or videos.

Google gives you some time to handle things when the storage space is filled, but it's still a stressful situation. You'll have to decide which pictures or videos will remain.

If you leave it unattended, you may end up losing your photos, which can be heartbreaking. You may not be able to use other important services offered by Google such as Google Drive or Gmail.

Credit: youtube.com, Google’s Lie | Get Unlimited Storage Forever!

The worst part is that you won't be able to use Google Drive or Gmail even if you're not trying to take new photos. This can cause inconvenience and disrupt your workflow.

By managing your Google Photos storage filled notifications, you can avoid these consequences and keep your memories safe.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Google Photos still have unlimited storage?

No, Google Photos no longer offers unlimited storage since June 1, 2021, when the policy ended. Users now have limited storage space for their photos.

How do I get 100GB of Google Photos storage?

To get 100GB of Google Photos storage, upgrade to a paid Google One monthly subscription. This will increase your total storage across Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos.

Sources

  1. Google Photos Full? Learn What to Do Today (multcloud.com)
  2. leave users scrambling to free up some space (bloomberg.com)
  3. hit the cap (google.com)
  4. Google One plans (google.com)
  5. Takeout page (google.com)
  6. liable for deletion (google.com)
  7. Google Photos website (google.com)
  8. Google Photos app (google.com)
  9. Google One (google.com)

Gilbert Deckow

Senior Writer

Gilbert Deckow is a seasoned writer with a knack for breaking down complex technical topics into engaging and accessible content. With a focus on the ever-evolving world of cloud computing, Gilbert has established himself as a go-to expert on Azure Storage Options and related topics. Gilbert's writing style is characterized by clarity, precision, and a dash of humor, making even the most intricate concepts feel approachable and enjoyable to read.

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