Running out of storage in Google Photos can be frustrating, especially when you need space to back up new memories. Thankfully, there are several ways to free up space in Google Photos without sacrificing your favorite photos and videos. Here are some simple tricks to help you manage your Google Photos storage efficiently.
1. Delete Duplicate and Unwanted Photos
Over time, it’s easy to accumulate duplicate images and screenshots that take up valuable storage. Follow these steps to delete unnecessary images and free up space in Google Photos:
- Open Google Photos and go to the Photos tab.
- Search for Duplicates: Use the search bar to find specific types of photos like “screenshots” or “documents” that you may no longer need.
- Select and Delete: Choose unwanted images and delete them by tapping the trash icon.
Pro Tip: Google Photos also lets you filter images by location or date, making it easier to find duplicates quickly.
2. Convert Photos to “Storage Saver” Quality
Google Photos offers an option to save space by reducing the size of your high-resolution images. Switching to “Storage Saver” (formerly “High Quality”) compresses images and videos without drastically reducing their quality, helping you free up space in Google Photos.
- Go to Google Photos Settings > Back up & sync > Upload size.
- Select Storage saver to compress existing and future uploads.
Note: Storage Saver compresses photos to 16MP and videos to 1080p, which is often sufficient for most users.
3. Delete Large Files and Videos
Videos can consume significant space, especially in HD or 4K formats. Identifying and deleting large files can help you free up space in Google Photos.
- Open Google Photos and go to the Search tab.
- Select Videos to see all video files in your account.
- Choose videos you don’t need and delete them.
You can also filter by file size through the Free up space tool (under Settings), which shows larger items in your library.
4. Use the “Free Up Space” Feature
The “Free Up Space” tool automatically scans your library for backed-up photos and videos that can be safely deleted from your device, helping you free up space in Google Photos.
- Go to Google Photos Settings and tap Free up space.
- This will remove local copies of items already backed up, creating room on your device without losing your photos.
5. Clear Your Google Drive and Gmail Storage
Since Google Photos shares storage with Google Drive and Gmail, clearing out space in these services will also free up space in Google Photos. Here’s how:
- Google Drive: Delete large or old files you no longer need, especially videos and backups.
- Gmail: Search for emails with large attachments using “haslarger:10M” in the search bar. Delete unnecessary emails and empty the trash.
6. Download and Transfer to External Storage
For those who want to keep original-quality files without impacting Google Photos storage, consider downloading and transferring your photos to an external hard drive or cloud service like Dropbox. This can help you free up space in Google Photos without losing your images.
- Select photos in Google Photos and click on the three dots menu to Download them.
- Move these downloaded files to your preferred storage option, such as an external drive or another cloud service, and delete them from Google Photos.
7. Upgrade Your Google Storage
If all else fails and you need extra storage, consider upgrading to Google One. Plans start at 100GB, which gives you ample space for photos, videos, and documents across all Google services, helping you free up space in Google Photos without deletion.
- Go to the Google One website or app and choose a plan that suits your needs.
- Upgrading increases your storage limit and unlocks extra features like enhanced photo editing in Google Photos.
Wrapping Up: Free Up Space in Google Photos and Keep Your Memories
Running out of space in Google Photos doesn’t have to mean sacrificing your memories. By following these easy tricks, you can free up space in Google Photos, keep important files backed up, and enjoy an organized photo library.
Try these tips today to manage your Google Photos storage effectively and keep capturing memories!
Running out of storage in Google Photos can be frustrating, especially when you need space to back up new memories. Thankfully, there are several ways to free up space in Google Photos without sacrificing your favorite photos and videos. Here are some simple tricks to help you manage your Google Photos storage efficiently.
1. Delete Duplicate and Unwanted Photos
Over time, it’s easy to accumulate duplicate images and screenshots that take up valuable storage. Follow these steps to delete unnecessary images and free up space in Google Photos:
- Open Google Photos and go to the Photos tab.
- Search for Duplicates: Use the search bar to find specific types of photos like “screenshots” or “documents” that you may no longer need.
- Select and Delete: Choose unwanted images and delete them by tapping the trash icon.
Pro Tip: Google Photos also lets you filter images by location or date, making it easier to find duplicates quickly.
2. Convert Photos to “Storage Saver” Quality
Google Photos offers an option to save space by reducing the size of your high-resolution images. Switching to “Storage Saver” (formerly “High Quality”) compresses images and videos without drastically reducing their quality, helping you free up space in Google Photos.
- Go to Google Photos Settings > Back up & sync > Upload size.
- Select Storage saver to compress existing and future uploads.
Note: Storage Saver compresses photos to 16MP and videos to 1080p, which is often sufficient for most users.
3. Delete Large Files and Videos
Videos can consume significant space, especially in HD or 4K formats. Identifying and deleting large files can help you free up space in Google Photos.
- Open Google Photos and go to the Search tab.
- Select Videos to see all video files in your account.
- Choose videos you don’t need and delete them.
You can also filter by file size through the Free up space tool (under Settings), which shows larger items in your library.
4. Use the “Free Up Space” Feature
The “Free Up Space” tool automatically scans your library for backed-up photos and videos that can be safely deleted from your device, helping you free up space in Google Photos.
- Go to Google Photos Settings and tap Free up space.
- This will remove local copies of items already backed up, creating room on your device without losing your photos.
5. Clear Your Google Drive and Gmail Storage
Since Google Photos shares storage with Google Drive and Gmail, clearing out space in these services will also free up space in Google Photos. Here’s how:
- Google Drive: Delete large or old files you no longer need, especially videos and backups.
- Gmail: Search for emails with large attachments using “haslarger:10M” in the search bar. Delete unnecessary emails and empty the trash.
6. Download and Transfer to External Storage
For those who want to keep original-quality files without impacting Google Photos storage, consider downloading and transferring your photos to an external hard drive or cloud service like Dropbox. This can help you free up space in Google Photos without losing your images.
- Select photos in Google Photos and click on the three dots menu to Download them.
- Move these downloaded files to your preferred storage option, such as an external drive or another cloud service, and delete them from Google Photos.
7. Upgrade Your Google Storage
If all else fails and you need extra storage, consider upgrading to Google One. Plans start at 100GB, which gives you ample space for photos, videos, and documents across all Google services, helping you free up space in Google Photos without deletion.
- Go to the Google One website or app and choose a plan that suits your needs.
- Upgrading increases your storage limit and unlocks extra features like enhanced photo editing in Google Photos.
Wrapping Up: Free Up Space in Google Photos and Keep Your Memories
Running out of space in Google Photos doesn’t have to mean sacrificing your memories. By following these easy tricks, you can free up space in Google Photos, keep important files backed up, and enjoy an organized photo library.
Try these tips today to manage your Google Photos storage effectively and keep capturing memories!