Unlimited Lifetime Photo & Video Storage (up from 2MP to 16MP) @ Google Photos

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Unlimited Lifetime Photo & Video Storage (up from 2MP to 16MP) @ Google Photos

tightarse on 29/05/2015 - 06:59 9to5google.com (6121 clicks)
Last edited 13/11/2020 - 16:55 by 3 other users

Google Photos gives you a single, private place to keep a lifetime of memories, and access them from any device. They’re automatically backed up and synced, so you can have peace of mind that your photos are safe, available across all your devices.

And when we say a lifetime of memories, we really mean it. With Google Photos, you can now backup and store unlimited, high-quality photos and videos, for free. We maintain the original resolution up to 16MP for photos, and 1080p high-definition for videos, and store compressed versions of the photos and videos in beautiful, print-quality resolution.

More details here.

Mod edit: Prior to the announcement, Google photos counted anything above 2MP towards the free 15 GB quote for content shared between Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos. Now it's unlimited Google Photos storage for photos up to 16MP and 1080 HD for videos. This is similar to Dropbox deals.

Computing Cloud Storage

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31 May 2021

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- - - kudoz on 29/05/2015 - 12:56
      
      From recollection you can do that yeah… I believe I put all my google ones onto Flickr
  - bargainerftw on 29/05/2015 - 10:13
    
    Exactly what I've been wanting. Thanks!
- whats up skip on 29/05/2015 - 09:16
  
  +3
  
  I have over 135 years of pictures backed up on Google Drive. Sure not so many pictures from the early years.
- janeymac on 29/05/2015 - 10:04
  
  Was just about to ask: is there any advantage to swapping over from flickr to google?
  I think flickr can store full quality photos without compression, but I guess 16MP is more thanI need, anyway. Videos, I am not too sure about.
  
  Also, can anyone comment on security of one vs the other?
- CyberMurning on 29/05/2015 - 11:34
  
  but flickr only give you 1TB
Phaded on 29/05/2015 - 09:13

Anyone know if it can automatically convert photos down to 16mp? Got a whole bunch of 18mp photos that I don't want counting towards google drive limits
- Mobe1969 on 29/05/2015 - 09:22
  
  +3
  
  The desktop sync app will do it automatically if you select the option.
- m13 on 29/05/2015 - 09:26
  
  +2
  
  Yep, just select high resolution instead of original and it will resize them for you.
- theBestBastion on 29/05/2015 - 09:30
  
  +2
  
  It converts itself during the upload.
- linkii on 30/05/2015 - 13:29
  
  +1
  
  It converts all files, even if the image is less than 16mp it would compress the file to make it smaller.
VehemenceThePhoenix on 29/05/2015 - 09:21

+3

Yes it has changed for the better people… The image and video sizes for unlimited storage has increased to 16MP and 1080p.
I wouldn't be too concerned for the average user, but it seems if you choose HQ over original, and are under these size limits, it still does some lossy compressing (but not downsizing res) according to https://support.google.com/photos/answer/6220791?p=storage&r…

What if I choose High quality and I back up photos taken with a high-resolution camera?
If the camera takes photos with 16 megapixels (MP) resolution or lower, most stored photos will essentially look the same using either storage option.
If the camera takes photos with a resolution higher than 16 MP, then photos will be downsized to 16 MP.
What if I choose High quality and I back up a high-resolution video?
If the video is 1080p or less, your stored video will look close the original.
If the video is higher than 1080p, then it will be reduced to high-definition 1080p.

I've gone from Dropbox to OneDrive. Don't think I'll make another switch yet (though Google photos has a few nice features too).
zulus on 29/05/2015 - 09:23

Do they support (consider as images) RAW formats such as NEF for example?
- m13 on 29/05/2015 - 09:28
  
  +1
  
  Frequently asked questions
  Which file types can I back up?
  Photo: .jpg, .webp, .gif, .crw, .cr2, .nef, .dng, .orf, .raf, .arw, .pef, .srw, .rw2, .bmp, .ico, .tiff
  
  Video: .mpg, .mod, .mmv, .tod, .wmv, .asf, .avi, .divx, .mov, .m4v, .3gp, .3g2, .mp4, .m2t, .m2ts, .mts, .mkv
JPic on 29/05/2015 - 09:29

+6

I've been using google photo upload for years with unlimited uploading quote. It used to compress the photo to 1080p rather than High Quality though. I don't think this is a deal because nothing has really changed: you choose either to backup the compressed photos for unlimited and free, or you pay for more storage to backup originals.
- ashanrath on 29/05/2015 - 09:47
  
  +5
  
  Difference being that they now allow 16MP without hitting your quota. Anything above 16MP eats into your quota. Used to be anything above 2048x2048.
Embaloo on 29/05/2015 - 09:32

+2

How do people feel about this as opposed to a 'physical' HDD for storing photos?

I know essentially nothing is 'private' anymore if it's seen the face of a screen that's hooked up to the internet, but all the thoughts of photos of all your family & friends that don't even have the internet that you're giving to Google makes me a bit sad. :(

P.S. It's a Good Deal I know for people who are prepared to though, not denying that. Good post OP.
- ElWircho on 29/05/2015 - 09:37
  
  +4
  
  Nothing beats private HDDs for private content imho. Old-fashioned: maybe, but that's what feels best for me.
  - boomramada on 29/05/2015 - 09:42
    
    +4
    
    Only if its backed up in two locations, on site and off site, in case your house burned down.
    - tyler.durden on 30/05/2015 - 08:23
      
      get a fire resistant safe / storage box..
      
      would that protect it?
    - OzBragain on 31/05/2015 - 06:20
      
      @tyler.durden: Depends how important your data is, no single backup is 100% reliable. Multiple backups in multiple locations is the safest.
- MissKitty on 29/05/2015 - 16:01
  
  It's also compressed. You cannot use this for lossless storage, even though the resolution <16MP is the same.
com930 on 29/05/2015 - 09:35

+3
Just tried it and some comments so far:

The upload speed is pretty good

Keep the same resolution < 16MP but the file size is less; say original file is around 2MB@ 12MP, the file on GG photo is 1.59MB @ 12MP

The desktop app is OK but whenever we choose to see the photo, it shows in Internet Explorer and ask for choose alternative browser
caitsith01 on 29/05/2015 - 09:40

+3

A "private" place on Google? That is comedy gold.

Hopefully no-one is naive enough to actually believe that "free" things from Google are actually "free"… have a read of their actual privacy policy and think about what they get in return. If you still think it's a good deal, then good luck to you!
- CptTerry on 29/05/2015 - 09:59
  
  +4
  
  if you're not paying for the product, you are the product.
  - caitsith01 on 29/05/2015 - 12:04
    
    Exactly. Google isn't one of the biggest companies on earth because it gives away "free" stuff and gets nothing in return.
ashikk on 29/05/2015 - 09:50

Is this any different to one drive?
- merill on 29/05/2015 - 10:25
  
  OneDrive lets you store any file (documents, images, videos etc).
  - ashikk on 29/05/2015 - 10:36
    
    Sorry, I know that. I meant to ask actual resolution as my original photos.
chonghe on 29/05/2015 - 09:54

Not sure where to see the 16MP, I go to my Photos app > Setting > Auto Backup > Photo size
I still see the "unlimited free storage at 2048px"
Anybody has similar issue?
- iNeedMoreMoney on 29/05/2015 - 10:07
  
  r u using the existing google+ photos app or downloaded the standalone photos app just now?
  - chonghe on 29/05/2015 - 10:36
    
    It is the original built-in in my phone, the app name is "Photos" which has the same icon as the one in the link.
    Isn't that standalone?
    - iNeedMoreMoney on 29/05/2015 - 10:58
      
      +3
      
      think u gotta go to google play and download the photos app. the one you've got is old.
    - chonghe on 29/05/2015 - 11:09
      
      @felixco:
      Thanks! Downloaded and is all good now.
wakkawalla on 29/05/2015 - 10:13

Guys you would need to update to the latest version for Google photos. Seeing the settings afterwards.
Doy on 29/05/2015 - 10:28

I don't fully understand. I have about 10GB of photos in Drive at the moment, and while I can have access to those through Google Photos, they are still taking up the 10GB in Drive. Do I have to transfer them to G Photos or something?
- ryang on 29/05/2015 - 10:38
  
  Not sure of the specifics, but pretty much. There's now a Photo app in your GDrive, you might have to manually move them.
ednamekin on 29/05/2015 - 10:45

"private place"
Make it so on 29/05/2015 - 10:49

All my photos are 18MP+…..
- hopper on 29/05/2015 - 11:06
  
  what cam has 18MP, though only sony has 20MP which are useless comapared to samsung and LG
  - Make it so on 29/05/2015 - 11:34
    
    I have two Sony camera's which are 18MP. My Sony phone is 21MP, and is certainly not useless. The quality of the photos is incredible, as it has the same size sensor as my Sony cameras (bridge camera size).
    My point is, I am not about to downsample my photos to store them in Google.
    - T-man on 29/05/2015 - 18:10
      
      Do you save them in RAW files or jpg file?
    - Make it so on 29/05/2015 - 18:15
      
      @tlam: JPEG. Yes, not ideal, but mostly adequate.
  - atlas on 02/06/2015 - 17:54
    
    Any decent DSLR?
  - syousef on 02/06/2015 - 19:45
    
    The bottom of the line Canon DSLR cameras do 18MP. The bottom of the line Nikons are at 24MP. You're behind the times friend.
  - jjcf on 05/06/2015 - 09:31
    
    Wow. Was it rough, time travelling here from 2003?
T-man on 29/05/2015 - 10:53

Now I just wait for Dropbox and OneDrive to beat Google.
- CyberMurning on 29/05/2015 - 11:36
  
  offering unlimited? i think hard as dropbox is business driven model, they need $
jimmej on 29/05/2015 - 11:38

+1

That's annoying. My camera is 16.1MP…
CyberMurning on 29/05/2015 - 11:44

so will the google photo "warn" me if i try to load something big that will go towards my 15gb limit?
can i choose to downsize by default, when i upload anything bigger than 16mb so i will always have unlimited quota?
- iNeedMoreMoney on 29/05/2015 - 11:50
  
  From memory, in settings you either specify unlimited or full size, then when you upload it automatically resizes everything. Otherwise it would be a nightmare getting warnings every time I take a photo.
spider man on 29/05/2015 - 11:49

great idea for photo storage
marquise on 29/05/2015 - 12:28

Is there a way to sync with PC? Eg. right now I have my Google Drive files synced to PC just like Dropbox does, would be good to have photos appear in there
- Takoosh on 29/05/2015 - 13:39
  
  +1
  
  I don't know if this will sync them, there is a way to add a 'Google Photos' folder to Google Drive however.
  
  In Google Drive, select Google Photos in the menu on the left, there should appear a banner near the top asking if you'd like to create a Google Photos folder which will then appear in 'My Drive'.
Click_It on 29/05/2015 - 14:46

Does anyone have experience storing videos there?

I understand 1080p is free, which most of my collection is, but I don't want any of it compressed because some of these eventually will be edited & rendered through Sony Vegas as time permits which isn't a lossless process, if anyone's gonna compress my videos it should only be me.

EDIT: I probably should upload something short, then download it again and compare…
[Deactivated] on 29/05/2015 - 15:13

In my opinion, google's definition of private is very stretchy, but I don't really care. Whatever goes on facebook can go there.

A possible example is using the images as a database to test facial recognition software.

Not sure what sort of metadata gets uploaded along with the images but almost anything can be done if you have a large sample size.
plmko on 29/05/2015 - 15:28

"up to 16MP for photos"

Pass, i'll stick with Flickr.
Pizdets on 29/05/2015 - 16:20

Can anyone link me to the privacy policy? I can't seem to find it.
I'm assuming by default they can use your photos for ads etc?
pencilman on 29/05/2015 - 16:20

Thanks TA!
Great deal and thanks for the post.
After watching Ex machina, the thought of giving all my personal photos to Google is a bit worrying.
Downloaded the photos app in iOS and must say it seems smooth and impressive.
The machines have won….
- CyberMurning on 29/05/2015 - 17:14
  
  if people are worry about privacy, just dont access internet at all. full stop.
muncan on 29/05/2015 - 17:40

Now I have a way to find all my photos with beers in them. Bravo!
merill on 29/05/2015 - 21:31

Has anyone managed to upload their files? My uploads are barely moving.
SaberX on 30/05/2015 - 01:09

hi guys, I'm new to backing up into cloud. I've got several dozen gb of photos and videos accumulated over growing up. Just wondering if someone could explain the difference between all the terms being thrown around above regarding google doesnt resize resolution quality but will compress file??

Does this mean any original photo i store once compressed can i redownload it into the original file quality etc. Or does compression mean an irreversibly compacting quality process?

I have a standard one drive (Hotmail) and google drive (Gmail). given these are limited in download is this new gmail offer the best way to keep a completr backup of a large external hdd backup as far as photos go? Or is an alternative like flickr from what i hear allows you to upload as many photos as you can or want?
- muncan on 30/05/2015 - 01:38
  
  +2
  
  I'm glad you asked; nutty professor muncan is here to explain image compression….
  Let's say you upload a photo with 16 million uniquely coloured dots. You know they're all different; you chose the colours yourself. When you upload the photo to Google, it reckons that you can't really tell the difference between your original photo with 16 million unique dots, and a tweaked version with 15,946,338 unique dots + 53,662 reused dots. The tweaked photo still has the same total number of dots, but it's betting that you'll never notice some of the dots aren't the original colour. Meanwhile Google gets to reduce the file-size of their copy of your photo (less unique dots = less data), and generally speaking you're none-the-wiser. And hey, if you're uploading a JPEG then it's highly likely it's already compressed with some of this file-size reducing tweaking going on, so why should you care about losing a few more uniquely coloured dots anyway?
  Thanks for listening, I'm now heading off to count the number of uniquely coloured dots in a paddock of sheep; some jumping a fence. Because they're awesome.
  - SaberX on 30/05/2015 - 03:54
    
    Great explanation. So is the change in dots a figure of speech or is it literally as you said - the compression is technically saving space by altering your image colour quality that technically downloading it you'll end up with a different image than your original? Obviously a raw pic from a dslr is the most.original with any jpeg from compact.cameras etc.already being compressed prior to copying across to your Comp?
    
    In other words for an original file backup this is not the service for you but for an everyday person the unlimited upload is great?
    
    Comparatively if u use flickr, dropbox and onedrive, google drive etc do all these also compress?
    
    Thanks nerdy professor muncan!
    - muncan on 30/05/2015 - 10:20
      
      Further reading: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lossy_compression
    - linkii on 30/05/2015 - 13:22
      
      Yes it makes the images smaller to save space. This would make the image quality worst than what it was before. Use another service if you want to keep the original file.
    - SaberX on 02/06/2015 - 20:39
      
      @ko0l:
      
      Does flickr as an alternative make it smaller?
    - ryang on 03/06/2015 - 00:47
      
      @SaberX: Not that I'm aware of, but last time I checked bulk upload options were quite limited.. The only program I could find was old and failed a lot. Granted, this was over a year ago now - after Flickr announced 1TB for free.
      
      Edit: And a quick Google looks like they've released their own app - https://www.flickr.com/tools/
T-man on 30/05/2015 - 01:09

Does anyone know if the images are still unloading i don't use my phone or open the Google Photo app?

I couldn't find the background uploading setting like Dropbox does.
- amsaini15 on 04/06/2015 - 00:12
  
  To be honest, I find the settings menu confusing too. 2 days ago I got done with 1GB Data upload on my mobile inspite of me taking every care that upload only on wifi.
tyler.durden on 30/05/2015 - 08:32

+2

So now google will have all your details and help further identify you including

-your emails messages all scanned.
-your phone
-your photos
-who your friends and relatives are
-where you like to go (locations)
-what you like and don't like
-all your search history
-knows all your health problems
-knows all your sex fetishes

Now they can give you even more targeted ADs.

If NSA wants any of your info, they just need to go to google or put another backdoor (this time they would be more care to prevent another Edward Snowden leak)

Google is becoming SKYNET..

Anyone interested should watch "Citizen Four" or anything Edward Snowden has said
- SBOB on 30/05/2015 - 09:21
  
  You're on the Internet… If you really worried about all of this you would move to a cave ;)
  - tyler.durden on 30/05/2015 - 10:03
    
    +4
    
    Not so much worried,
    it is about losing your privacy to one big company
    
    There's a saying that..
    
    Google know more about you than even your closest love one.
    It knows more about who you really ARE than what you show to others.
    - OZB Al on 07/06/2015 - 15:17
      
      TechCrunch agree with you:
      Google Photos Reminder: Smile, It’s Free — You’re The Product!
      And so do I.
    - SBOB on 07/06/2015 - 17:03
      
      @OZB Al:
      
      what an incredibly unbiased and well rounded piece of journalism /sarcasm ;)
      
      In this day and age you are going to get advertisements on the web regardless. Now would you want those to be somewhat relevant or just randomly selected. I'll take relevant ads over random viagra ads any day, and if some statistics from my email, searches and images does that then all the better..
      (and technically, if advertisements get more relevant then advertisers will pay a higher $ per impression resulting in less impressions needed for a site to obtain the same amount of $..though thats more of a pipe dream ;) )
      
      Considering how much I pay google, ($0) I think I get pretty impressive value for money with my search, email, photo storage, android OS etc etc etc
    - OZB Al on 07/06/2015 - 20:23
      
      @SBOB: you may feel that way, but this study shows shows you may be in the minority:
      https://www.asc.upenn.edu/sites/default/files/TradeoffFallac…
      
      If companies give me a discount, it is a fair exchange for them to collect information about me without my knowing it. (91% disagree)
      It’s fair for an online of physical store to monitor what I’m doing online when I’m there, in exchange for letting me use the store’s wireless internet, or Wi-Fi, without charge. (71% disagree)
      It’s OK if a store where I shop uses information it has about me to create a picture of me that improves the services they provide for me. (55% disagree)
      
      I don't think that the private information Google is collecting about me is their property, so I avoid them where possible, but still use them when required.
CyberMurning on 30/05/2015 - 09:13

so, this is just backup not sync?
cristtos on 30/05/2015 - 09:18

+1

Upload in progress - 148344 pictures remaining (RAW upload disabled)
= 'till cows come home (on my ADSL 1 Mbps uplink pipe)
Just for fun you can use this calculator:
http://www.meridianoutpost.com/resources/etools/calculators/…
- muncan on 30/05/2015 - 09:59
  
  Thanks for that link! So ~40 days to upload my ~1TB of photos at 1Mbps, ignoring my 100GB monthly quota. (or 10+ months with my quota)
  The next question is from where do we realistically upload our gazillion photos? Public wifi is about to get a whole lot more shitty!! I suppose I could bring my NAS to work…. (on my last day)
  What about Internet Cafes - not sure if they have usage caps?
  Pied Piper, where are you?
  - daver on 30/05/2015 - 15:15
    
    Perhaps ten 14 hour session over as many months of what's built in to a decent phone#lte service.
    7.2GBph free wknd time ?
  - brisdaz on 04/06/2015 - 19:11
    
    +3
    
    Perhaps you can use the Regus business grade internet service. It was 3.2mbs at Riverside.
    - muncan on 04/06/2015 - 22:02
      
      Brilliant idea!!
  - malouphix on 19/06/2015 - 13:02
    
    In QLD I go to State Library fast upload if connected using cat 5. :)
cristtos on 30/05/2015 - 10:25

I have pointed my desktop client to my pictures repository directory (with many subdirectories)
The questions are:
Will the client automatically pickup all the new additions?
How will it handle RAW? Converting to JPG or using my paid storage quota?
How will it handle duplicates/symlinks?

Any more knowledgeable person out there?

Thanks
- linkii on 30/05/2015 - 13:25
  
  It won't sync the files on your directory. Each time you upload a photo, google would compress the files to its own standards. Creating a new file that is different from the one on your desktop.
seigweilo on 16/06/2015 - 12:54

I wonder how secure this is.
- tooblue on 26/06/2015 - 14:56
  
  +1
  
  To NSA?
tooblue on 26/06/2015 - 14:59

By lifetime, does google mean the same lifetime as Google Reader, Google Notebook, etc.?
By high resolution, does google mean by compressing original to a lower quality and smaller size file?
crudman on 29/06/2015 - 01:56

Licence agreement is sketchy for anything other than what you would normally put on social media if you ask me. Google has 1 agreement covering all their products and needless to say it has to be very open to apply to all their products. One could argue the following clause was intended for a different product but legally it applies to Google Photos too. Note the 'promoting' in "The rights you grant in this license are for the limited purpose of operating, promoting, and improving our Services, and to develop new ones."

They do say you keep ownership but that's irrelevant since that's normal - a commercial photographer own the photos and sells licences for them.

Flickr has no such terms stating something more expected: "for the purpose for which such Content was submitted or made available."

Dropbox doesn't either

This was posted 8 years 11 months 4 days ago, and might be an out-dated deal.

Unlimited Lifetime Photo & Video Storage (up from 2MP to 16MP) @ Google Photos

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