Google Photos is one of the most used tools to store and manage images and videos in the cloud. However, with the removal of free unlimited storage, many users have encountered space problems. Fortunately, there are several ways to free up storage without deleting important photos or videos.
If you notice that your Google account is reaching the limit of your free 15GB and you don't want to pay for more space, in this article we explain different effective methods to optimize Google Photos storage and continue uploading files without worries.
Change the storage quality of photos and videos
One of the most effective methods for save space in Google Photos is to modify the quality in which the files are saved. Google allows you to store images in two different formats:
- Original quality: Keeps full resolution photos and videos but takes up more space.
- save storage: compresses files without reducing quality too much, allowing save more content in the same amount of space.
To change your storage settings, follow these steps:
- Open Google Photos on your mobile or access the web version.
- Access the settings menu from your profile picture.
- Select the “backup” option.
- Change the setting to “Save storage.”
This setting ensures a significant reduction in file size without noticeable loss of quality, allowing you to store more content within the free 15GB. You can also Get more space on Google Photos for free making these changes.
Use the Google Photos free up space tool
Google Photos has a specific feature for free up space on your device by deleting files that have already been backed up to the cloud. To use this tool:
- Open Google Photos and go to your profile.
- Select the “Free up space” option.
- Google Photos will identify images and videos that are already backed up.
- Confirm the Deleting files from local storage.
These files will still be available in the cloud, so you can access them from any device when you need it.
Transfer images and videos to other platforms
If you still need more storage, another option is transfer your photos and videos to other platforms like Google Drive, Dropbox or even YouTube for videos. This way you can free up space in Google Photos without losing access to your files.
To transfer content to Google Drive, follow these steps:
- Go to Google Drive and create a new folder.
- Download images or videos from Google Photos to local storage.
- Upload these files to the folder created in Google Drive.
- Verify that the files are stored correctly and delete them from Google Photos.
If you have a lot of heavy videos, you can upload them to YouTube at "Private" mode to continue accessing them without taking up space in your Google account. This is a great way to Archive content without losing it.
Delete unnecessary photos and videos
Google Photos has a tool that allows you to identify files that you could delete to recover space, As:
- Blurry or out of focus photos.
- Old screenshots.
- Large videos.
To access this feature:
- Open Google Photos and go to “Manage storage.”
- Select the option that is taking up the most space and delete any files you no longer need.
Thus, free up space without losing important photos and you can apply some such tricks to free up space on your device.
If you need more information on how to free up space in specific applications, you can check out this article on free up space on whatsapp.
Manage shared storage with Gmail and Google Drive
Google's free 15GB is split between Google Photos, Gmail and Google Drive. To optimize space:
- Delete emails with heavy attachments in Gmail.
- Delete large documents stored in Google Drive.
- Download and save files locally that you don't need to have in the cloud.
Regularly checking these platforms will allow you to make better use of your available spaceAlso, if you need specific advice, check out how free up space in gmail to ensure that you are not taking up space unnecessarily.
By following these tips, you can optimize your Google Photos storage without deleting important memories. Changing the quality of your backups, using the free-up tool, moving files to other platforms, and managing shared storage are all effective strategies to continue enjoying the service without worries.
