Choose the upload size of your photos & videos

You can change the quality of your photos and videos to fit your preferences, or to free up your storage space.

Important:

  • Each Google Account comes with 15 GB of free storage.
  • You can back up as much as 15 GB each day.

Learn about your backup options

High quality
  • Unlimited free storage.
  • Photos are compressed to save space. If a photo is larger than 16MP, it will be resized to 16MP.
  • You can print good quality 16MP photos in sizes up to 24 inches x 16 inches.
  • Videos higher than 1080p will be resized to high-definition 1080p. A video with 1080p or less will look close to the original. Some information, like closed captions, might be lost.
Important: Starting June 1, 2021, photos and videos backed up in High quality will start to count towards your Google Account storage.
Original quality
  • Photos and videos uploaded in Original quality count towards your Google Account storage. Check your storage here. Each account comes with 15 GB of free storage and you can purchase more from Google One (where available). Learn how to buy storage. 
  • All photos and videos are stored in the same resolution that you took them.
  • Recommended for photos that have more than 16MP and videos with more than 1080p.
  • Recommended for printing large banners.
Express backup
If you don't see this option in your backup settings, it isn't available in your region.
  • Faster backup over WiFi and mobile data.
  • Unlimited free storage.
  • Photos may be compressed to use less mobile data. If a photo is larger than 3MP, it will be resized to 3MP.
  • You can print good quality 3MP photos in sizes up to 6 inches x 8 inches.
  • Videos higher than 480p will be resized to standard definition 480p. A video with 480p or less will look close to the original. Some information, like closed captions, might be lost.
Important: Starting June 1, 2021, photos and videos backed up in Express quality will start to count towards your Google Account storage.

Before you get started

Download and install the Google Photos app.

Change your upload size

  1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Photos app Photos.
  2. Sign in to your Google Account.
  3.  At the top right, tap your account profile photo or initial.
  4. Select Photos settings Settings and then Back up & sync.
  5. Select High quality or Original quality. 

If you can't change your upload size, you might be out of storage.

  • Under Back up at lower resolution, tap Resume Backup.

Note: If you use your Google Photos account on multiple devices, and you change your upload size for one device, it will not affect the backup setting on any other device.

Some users may see more options:

  • You can change your upload size to Express backup.
  • If you change your upload size from Express backup to a higher quality option, Google Photos will re-upload any existing photos or videos on your device.
  • You can limit backup data usage.

To limit backup data usage:

  1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Photos app Photos.
  2. At the top right, tap your account profile photo or initial.
  3. Select Photos settings  Settings and then Back up & sync.
  4. Turn off cellular data to back up photos and videos. 
  5. Under "Daily limit for backup" choose how much data Google Photos can use when automatically backing up photos and videos.

Pixel storage info

Important: If you have a Pixel 5 device or earlier, your current backup quality options and benefits remain unchanged. Uploads in High quality from your Pixel 2-5 devices will continue to receive unlimited free storage. However, photos and videos backed up from other devices in High quality after June 1, 2021 will start to count towards your Google Account storage.

If you have a Pixel phone and have set up Google Photos backup, photos and videos you take on your Pixel are automatically backed up from your phone to Google Photos. Learn more about Google Photos backup.

Pixel 3a-5

You can choose to upload your photos and videos either in High quality or in Original quality. Photos and videos uploaded in High quality from Pixel 3a-5 are free and unlimited. Photos and videos uploaded in Original quality will count towards your Google Account storage. Learn how to change your upload size, and learn more about storage plans.

Pixel 3

You get unlimited free storage at Original quality for all photos and videos uploaded to Google Photos from Pixel 3 through Jan 31, 2022. Photos and videos uploaded on or before that date will remain free at Original quality. After January 31, 2022, new photos and videos will be uploaded at High quality for free. If you upload new photos and videos at Original quality, they will count against your storage quota.

Pixel 2

You get unlimited free storage at Original quality for all photos and videos uploaded to Google Photos from Pixel 2 through January 16, 2021. Photos and videos uploaded on or before that date will remain free at Original quality. After January 16, 2021, new photos and videos will be uploaded at High quality for free. If you upload new photos and videos at Original quality, they will count against your storage quota.

Pixel (2016)

You get unlimited free storage at Original quality. You won’t be able to upload in High quality.

Reduce the size of your photos & videos

If you have photos in Original quality and want to save some space, change your already backed-up photos and videos to High quality. This setting will not appear if you don’t have any photos in Original quality.

  1. On a computer, go to photos.google.com/settings.
  2. Click Recover storage. This will not change the quality of your future uploads.

Important: You can only recover storage once a day. 

Photos or videos will not be changed to High quality if you’ve uploaded them with:

  • Your Pixel
  • Your Pixel 2 or 3 during your Original quality offer period

But it will change any photos or videos you’ve uploaded on:

  • Blogger
  • Google Maps
  • Google Photos
  • Hangouts
  • Panoramio
  • Picasa Web Albums
  • YouTube Web Channel Art
Important: If your Google Photos account becomes inactive for over 2 years or you are over your storage limit, your content may be impacted. Learn more about this.
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