Google is pulling the plug on “free” unlimited photo backups; What you need to know and how will it actually impact you

Every Google account offers free 15GB storage for Gmail, Google Drive, Docs, Sheets and other files. Google Photos app is exempted from this storage quota. This means all photos and videos can be backed up automatically for free without worrying about running out of storage space. So, even if your 15GB free quota gets filled by email and Google Drive files, you can still continue to backup photos and videos.

However, this is set to change in a big way. After June 1, 2021, Google will provide a combined free storage space of 15GB for all services including Photos. As photos and videos tend to consume more storage space, you will run out of the free 15GB space quickly and may have to opt for a monthly or yearly subscription plan of Google One.

Whatever photos and videos you back up using Google Photos before June 1, 2021 will remain free and will not count as part of the 15GB quota. Only new photos and videos that are backed up after June 1, 2021 will start consuming the 15GB quota. You do not need to remove old photos or videos from the app and neither will Google delete them. 

Google Photos gives users the option to either backup photos in high and original quality. Original quality means the exact image that you have clicked in high resolution will be saved on Google Photos. This will take more storage space as usually images tend to be at least around 4MB in size. On the other hand, ‘High Quality’ means Google will compress the photo and scale it down a bit to save storage space. Backups in original quality will have more details and better quality than those saved in ‘High Quality’. 

Google has said that in June 2021, there will be a new free tool in the Photos app to easily help you manage your backed up photos and videos. This tool will help you review the memories you want to keep while also surfacing shots you might prefer to delete, like dark or blurry photos or large videos.