Google Photos Changes Today: If you haven't already heard, as of June 1, the popular cloud storage service no longer offers unlimited free storage for high-quality (or well-compressed) images. What are "high quality" photos?
(Image credit: Google) In Google Photos, "high quality" is the confusing name for its compressed download option. When you upload photos with this option enabled, Google Photos compresses them to a maximum file size of 1 MP. This differs from "original quality", which does not use any compression. The big change today is that Google Photos no longer offers unlimited storage for "high quality" files. But what does this mean and what should you do about it? It depends on your current Google Photos setup and how you use the service, but we've rounded up your options now, including the ability to move your backups to another service. Long story short, don't panic: ``high-quality'' photos or videos you uploaded before June XNUMXst won't count toward your free Google Photos storage, and you still get XNUMXGB of free storage with your Google account. On top of this, if you have a Pixel phone, you'll still get free Google Photos storage space for different kinds of files, depending on the model you have. But if you're using Google Photos' backup and sync feature to back up your smartphone snapshots, now's a good time to check your settings before you hit the new free storage limit. Here's everything you can do to make sure you're ready for today's Google Photos policy change.
1. Delete your Google Photos library with this tool.
It's a little late to start populating your Google Photos account with thousands and thousands of images from an old hard drive, while "high-quality" photos and videos saved before June 1 won't count. In the storage of your Google account, we have already exceeded that. cut in most areas.
(Image credit: Future) Still this way, that's not to say it's not a great idea to reformat your Google Photos account to make sure you don't hit the fifteen GB limit any time soon. And Google Photos has introduced a new tool to help you do just that. Just that: To find it, tap your account icon in the top right corner of the app (when you're in the 'Library' tab), then tap the 'storage' account. Here click on 'manage storage' and you should see some new sections including 'blurred photos'. It's a quick way to delete all those casual snapshots you've taken of both sides of your cash shots and free up some space. In this section, you will also see how much storage you have left and an estimate of how long it will last based on your recent backups.
2. Check your Google Photos backup settings
The Google Photos backup and sync option is a convenient way to automatically save copies of your photos in the background. But if you're using it to store ``high-quality'' photos and you're nearing maximum storage, it might be a good idea to take a break while you work out your Google Photos strategy. After all, if you run out of storage space, you will not be able to save additional photos or videos from today.
(Image credit: Future) To find the option
Copia de respaldo y sincronización '' en su teléfono, toque la imagen de perfil de su cuenta en el rincón superior derecha de la aplicación. Entonces vaya a "Configuración de fotografías", entonces "Copia de respaldo y sincronización". Acá vas a poder activar o bien desactivar la opción, como seleccionar la calidad en la que deseas descargar tus fotografías (calidad high quality '' or `` original ''). If you decide to go with the simpler option of upgrading your Google One storage to the 100GB plan (which costs just US$49 / €XNUMX / AU$XNUMX per month), you may want to move copies backup to `` original '' (or else uncompressed). quality. But if you've exceeded your storage limit, you don't have to worry about losing existing photos yet. Google states that "if you exceed your quota over twenty-four months, your content may suffer." Which means you have some leeway to decide what to do.
3. The simple answer: upgrade your Google One storage
If you regularly back up your snapshots to Google Photos and are worried about going over the fifteen GB limit (which applies to your Google account, including Drive), you have a few options, the simplest of which is to simply upgrade your subscription plan. Google storage. . Actually, there is no dedicated storage plan for Google Photos. Instead, to increase its capacity, you'll need to purchase a subscription to Google One. There are 3 paid plans to choose from and you can read the full details in our Google Photos cost guide.
(Image credit: Future) For most people, a simple switch to the cheaper 100GB allotment (US$49/€2/AU$XNUMX per month) will Do the trick and it will give you some peace of mind about employment. Google Photos backup and synchronization option. But if you fancy the switch to recording photos in ``original'' quality (from both a smartphone and a camera), it's worth looking into higher tiers like the 'XNUMXTB' option (which costs US$XNUMX). / €XNUMX / AU €XNUMX). per month, or US €XNUMX / €XNUMX / AU €XNUMX per year). We still think that Google Photos is one of the more cost-effective cloud photo storage options, even with today's new policy change, but that's not to say you shouldn't consider alternative options. ...
4. Consider alternative options to Google Photos
Thinking about setting up a new system to back up your photos? With today's Google Photos policy change, it's a good time to do so. We still rank Google Photos as one of the best cloud photo storage options, especially if you shoot eminently with a smartphone, but there are alternative options that might be better for you.
(Image credit: Future) The most obvious one for Amazon Prime subscribers is Amazon Photos. For $XNUMX / $XNUMX a month, you get Amazon's overnight delivery service, all of the best Amazon Prime Video shows, and unlimited capacity for full-resolution photos. With each and every one of these benefits in mind, it offers tremendous overall value – read our full Google Photos vs. Amazon Photos comparison for more details. But if you just want the backup copies of photos and videos, without the bell and whistle, there are other alternative Google Photos options. For photographers, it's worth checking out Flickr again, as their Pro account ($XNUMX/$XNUMX a year) gives them unlimited storage and other perks, including discounts on Blurb photo albums. We're also fans of iDrive (for those looking for a complete cloud storage service) and, for professionals, of Smugmug.
5. Are you going ahead? How to make a backup or delete your photos from Google
If you've decided to move from Google Photos to Amazon Photos or Flickr, you'll want to back up or even delete your Google Photos account. You can back up your Google Photos library in 2 main ways: by downloading and saving it to a hard drive (with Google Takeout), or by uploading it directly to another cloud service. For full instructions on how to do both, check out our Google Photos backup guide.
(Image credit: Future) Unfortunately, there's no way to download your Google Photos library in the app itself, but you can simply do so by going directly to Google Takeout. This lets you select the file format and maximum size, among other options, and then receive an email invitation to download your backup. Alternatively, you may find it simpler to create a cloud backup, an alternative offered by Google Takeout. In the second step, under ``delivery procedure'', you can select between OneDrive, DropBox, and Box, such as Google Drive. These can be used as a storage place to save your snapshots, before you move them to your new cloud photo storage service. Want to bulldoze your Google Photos library to protest their new storage policy? Check out our guide on how to delete your Google photos permanently, which includes steps at different levels of deletion, including the nuclear option.