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Low-res Google Photos filesMost of today’s smartphones automatically take high-quality and high-resolution photos and videos, so storing those has been a challenge. Smartphones quickly fill up, which can cause problems with apps and other files. Google has been generous in this area as well allowing unlimited uploads in Google Photos for high-quality images. That is, until now. As of June 1st, Google changed this policy, causing many users that rely on that free storage to scramble for another solution. Here are the facts about the policy change that you need to know so you don’t end up losing any photos or videos.
Unlimited Storage in Google Photos Ended June 1, 2021As of June 1, 2021, users no longer get unlimited storage for high-quality photos and videos in Google Photos. Any uploads on and after that date are now counted towards the storage total of the Google account. In the case of a free account, that’s 15GB.
Existing Photos & Videos Will Not Be Deleted or Counted in the Storage LimitIf you had 30GB of photos and videos already stored in Google Photos before June 1st, you can rest easy. Google is grandfathering existing files into the previous policy. So, any high-quality files you had in Google Photos prior to June 1, 2021, will not be deleted and will not count towards your storage limit.
Google Pixel 1-5 Users Are ExemptGoogle is rewarding people who purchase its smartphone. Google Pixel owners (versions 1 to 5) can still enjoy uploading all high-quality images and videos from their device to Google Photos and having no storage limits.
Why the Policy Change?Google states that this change in policy to stop unlimited photo uploads, “allows us to keep pace with the growing demand for storage.” This is also most likely going to push people towards a purchase from Google in the form of additional account space.
Will Filling Up Google Photos After June 1st Impact My Gmail?Because Google Photos is now fully included in your storage space allotment, if you fill it up with photos, it will impact your storage for Gmail emails and files in Google Drive. You’ll need to be aware of your overall storage limits.
Google Has Made It Easier to Delete Unneeded Photos & VideosTo help users better manage their space in Google Photos, Google has added a free tool to the app that allows users to review memories and surface shots that may be unneeded, such as those that are dark or blurry or extremely large photos and videos.
New Google Photos Storage Management Tool
How Much Does More Space on Google Cost?You can purchase a significant amount of additional storage space for as little as $1.99 per month. Google markets its storage plans under the Google One account name. Here are the different plan prices:
$1.99/month: 100GB
$2.99/month: 200GB
$9.99/month: 2TBYou can save between 16%-17% when you pay annually.