Google Photos is a popular cloud storage service for photos and videos, offering convenience and accessibility. However, with limited free storage, managing your space efficiently becomes crucial. Here are some tips to help you increase your Google Photos storage without spending a dime.
1. Optimize Storage Settings
Google Photos offers an option to store photos and videos in “High quality” rather than “Original quality.” While “Original quality” retains all the details and resolution, “High quality” compresses the files slightly but still maintains good quality. The significant advantage is that photos and videos stored in “High quality” do not count against your storage quota. To enable this:
Open Google Photos.
Go to Settings > Back up & sync > Upload size.
Select “High quality (free unlimited storage).” 구글 포토 백업
2. Clean Up Your Library
Regularly cleaning up your photo library can free up significant space. Delete duplicates, blurry photos, and screenshots that are no longer needed. Google Photos offers a handy tool to help with this:
Open Google Photos. 윤과장의 소소한 일상 이야기
Tap on the “Search” tab.
Scroll down to the “Types” section where you can find categories like “Screenshots,” “Videos,” and “Large photos.”
Review and delete unnecessary files.
3. Use Google’s Storage Management Tool
Google provides a storage management tool that helps you identify and remove large files, blurry photos, and screenshots. To access this tool:
Go to the Google Photos website.
Click on “Free up account storage.”
Follow the recommendations to delete files you no longer need.
4. Utilize Shared Libraries
Sharing your photo library with a partner or family member can help distribute the storage load. By setting up a shared library, you can ensure that photos and videos are accessible to both parties, potentially reducing the amount of duplicate storage used:
Open Google Photos.
Go to Settings > Partner sharing.
Set up sharing with your partner or family member.
5. Export and Archive Photos
For photos and videos that you don’t need immediate access to, consider exporting and archiving them. Google Takeout allows you to download your entire Google Photos library:
Go to Google Takeout.
Select “Google Photos” and choose the file format and delivery method.
Download the files and store them on an external hard drive or another cloud service.
6. Leverage Other Google Services
Google Drive and Gmail also contribute to your overall storage quota. By cleaning up these services, you can free up more space for Google Photos:
Google Drive: Delete large files, empty the trash, and remove old backups.
Gmail: Search for emails with large attachments and delete them. Remember to empty the trash and spam folders.
7. Take Advantage of Promotions
Google occasionally offers promotions that provide additional storage space for free. Keep an eye out for such promotions and take advantage of them to boost your storage capacity.
8. Switch to Alternative Storage Solutions
If you find that you consistently need more storage than what Google Photos offers for free, consider using additional or alternative storage solutions. Services like Dropbox, Amazon Photos, and Microsoft OneDrive offer free storage tiers that you can utilize in conjunction with Google Photos.
9. Regularly Monitor Storage Usage
Regularly monitoring your storage usage can help you stay on top of your storage limits and manage your files more efficiently. Google One provides a detailed breakdown of how your storage is used across Google Photos, Drive, and Gmail:
Visit the Google One website.
Check the storage breakdown to see which services are using the most space.
Manage your files accordingly.
By following these tips, you can make the most out of your Google Photos storage without spending money. Regular maintenance, smart storage settings, and utilizing additional tools and services can significantly enhance your photo and video backup experience.