The days of unlimited free storage in Google Photos are officially over. As of June 1st, 2021, Google has ended its free unlimited storage policy for “High” quality photos, meaning that every photo you upload beyond the 15GB allowance for your Google Account will count towards your storage limit. This change, announced last November, has left many users wondering: what are my storage options now? How do I manage my growing photo library without breaking the bank? This article will delve into the specifics of this change, provide you with effective ways to manage your Google Photos storage, and explore the alternative storage options available to you.
Understanding the Impact of the Change
While the change affects everyone, the immediate impact varies depending on your current storage usage. If you’re sitting comfortably under the 15GB limit, you might not feel the pressure right away. However, if you’re nearing that limit, it’s time to take action.
Here are some key points to remember:
- Photos and videos backed up in "High" quality before June 1st, 2021, won’t count towards your storage. This is a crucial point – your existing photos backed up in "High" quality remain untouched.
- New photos and videos backed up in "High" quality will count towards your storage limit. So, starting today, you need to be more mindful of what you’re uploading.
- Photos backed up in “Original” quality (uncompressed) at any time always count towards your storage. This remains unchanged.
- "Express" quality photos (further compressed), are even smaller, but will also count towards your storage.
Managing Your Google Photos Storage
Google offers various tools and resources to help you manage your storage effectively.
Storage Management Tool
The first step towards managing your Google Photos storage is utilizing the Storage Management tool. You can access this by going to photos.google.com/quotamanagement in your web browser. The Storage Management tool will show you a breakdown of your storage usage across different categories like photos, videos, and other files in your Google Account. It then presents a set of suggestions for optimizing your storage:
- Delete blurry photos: The tool can identify and flag blurry photos for easy deletion, freeing up valuable space.
- Delete large photos: Identify and delete photos that take up the most space without significantly impacting your photo library.
- Delete unnecessary screenshots: You can easily delete screenshots you no longer need.
- Clear up your Google Drive: The tool allows you to clear up storage by deleting or moving files from your Google Drive.
Google One App & Storage Manager
Beyond the web-based tool, Google offers a dedicated app for storage management: Google One. Available both on Android and iOS, the Google One app provides a more comprehensive picture of your storage usage and offers additional features. To use it for Google Photos:
- Download and install the Google One app on your device.
- Sign in using the same Google Account linked to your Google Photos.
- Navigate to the Storage tab.
- Click on “Free up Account Storage”.
This will activate the Storage Manager, which will scan your Google Photos and suggest several ways to free up storage:
- Deleting unnecessary photos: The Storage Manager can identify photos that are similar to others in your library or are low-quality for easy deletion.
- Removing large photos: The Storage Manager will highlight bulky photos and videos that are consuming the most storage.
- Moving photos to Google Drive: If you prefer keeping your photos but want to free up space in Google Photos, you can move them to Google Drive. Google Drive offers similar features to Google Photos, including online sharing and viewing options.
New Free Tool for Low-Quality Photos
Google is also rolling out a new free tool in June that will help users identify and delete blurry, dark, and low-quality photos. This tool will be integrated directly within the Google Photos interface and will automatically suggest low-quality photos for removal, making the process even easier.
Beyond Free Storage: Paid Storage Options
If you’re a frequent photo taker and find yourself approaching or exceeding your 15GB storage limit regularly, you might need to consider paid storage options. Thankfully, there are a few choices at your disposal:
Google One
Google One is Google’s dedicated paid storage subscription service. It offers a range of storage plans:
- 100GB: Starting at Rs. 120 per month.
- 200GB: Available for Rs. 210 per month.
- 2TB: For Rs. 650 per month.
Each Google One plan includes not only extra storage for your Google Photos, but also:
- Automatic phone backup: The service allows you to automatically back up your entire Android phone for easy switching between devices.
- Expert support: Members get access to specialized support for Google products, ensuring fast resolution of any issues you might face.
- Google Store rewards: Google occasionally offers exclusive rewards and discounts to Google One members.
- Google Play credits: Google One members sometimes receive credits for the Google Play store, which can be used for apps, games, and other digital content.
- Family sharing: You can share your Google One plan with up to five family members.
- Extended free trial for Youtube Premium: Google One members often enjoy extended free trial periods for services like YouTube Premium.
Apple One & iCloud
If you’re an Apple device user, you have more options. While you can still subscribe to Google One on your iPhone or iPad, you may want to consider exploring Apple’s own offerings:
- Apple One (Individual): Priced at Rs. 195 per month, this plan offers 50GB of iCloud storage alongside subscriptions to Apple Music, Apple TV+, and Apple Arcade.
- Apple One (Family): At Rs. 365 per month, this plan offers 200GB of iCloud storage, family sharing for up to five members, and access to Apple Music, Apple TV+, and Apple Arcade.
Additionally, Apple offers standalone iCloud storage plans:
- 50GB: Rs. 75 per month
- 200GB: Rs. 219 per month
- 2TB: Rs. 749 per month
Choosing the right storage option depends on your needs and budget. If you rely heavily on Google services like Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos, Google One is a convenient choice, especially since its storage can be used across all your Google services. If you’re heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem and enjoy services like Apple Music and Apple TV+, Apple One might be the more enticing option.
Additional Storage Options
While Google, Apple, and Microsoft are the top contenders for cloud storage, there are many other players in the market. Here are some other services worth exploring:
- Dropbox: Offers a free 2GB storage plan with paid plans starting from Rs. 130 per month for 2TB.
- OneDrive: Provides 5GB of free storage and paid plans starting at Rs. 75 for 100GB.
It’s important to weigh your specific storage needs and the features and pricing offered by each service before making a final decision.
Beyond Storage: Optimizing Your Photo Workflow
It’s not just about finding storage; it’s about managing your photos intelligently. Here are some tips for a smoother photo workflow:
- Declutter Regularly: Don’t wait until your storage limit is reached. Regularly review your photos and remove unnecessary duplicates, blurry images, and those you don’t cherish.
- Use "High" Quality for Most Photos: If you need to save space, but still want high-quality images for most occasions, stick to the "High" quality setting. For important moments you want to preserve in their full resolution, use the "Original" quality setting.
- Offload Photos to External Drives: Consider offloading your entire photo library onto an external hard drive or USB flash drive for long-term storage. This frees up valuable space on your phone and in the cloud while ensuring your photos are safe.
- Explore Local Storage Options: Consider using an NAS (Network Attached Storage) device or local server to store your photos. While this requires a slightly more technical setup, it allows for greater control over your data and can be more cost-effective in the long run.
The Future of Google Photos
The end of free unlimited storage in Google Photos has ushered in a new era of mindful photo management. While the change might initially feel like a setback, it encourages users to be more deliberate about their photo libraries, embrace efficient storage strategies, and explore new options for sharing and accessing their photos. Google’s ongoing commitment to innovative features and tools for photo management suggests that its future is bright, even without the promise of unlimited storage. As technology evolves, we can expect to see even more powerful solutions for storing, sharing, and experiencing our photos in the years to come.
