How to Change Backup Quality and Compression Settings in Google Photos

Every Google account receives 15 gigabytes of complimentary cloud storage, shared collectively across Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos. Because modern smartphones capture 48-megapixel or 200-megapixel RAW images and 4K 60fps video clips, a busy holiday trip can easily consume your entire account quota within days. In Google Photos, choosing between Original Quality and Storage Saver allows you to manage cloud capacity proactively, deciding whether you want bit-for-bit uncompressed files or highly efficient, compressed copies that preserve storage space.

Comparing Original Quality vs. Storage Saver

Understanding the technical differences between Google Photos’ upload tiers ensures you make an informed decision for your media:

• Original Quality: Backs up your photos and videos at their exact resolution and sensor bit rate with zero compression. Essential for professional photographers capturing RAW (DNG) files or videographers needing uncompressed 4K/8K footage for colour grading. Every byte counts directly against your Google storage quota.
• Storage Saver: Employs Google’s visual compression algorithms to downscale images larger than 16 megapixels down to 16MP, and compresses high-resolution video to crisp 1080p high definition. Photos look virtually indistinguishable from originals on smartphones and laptop screens while consuming significantly less cloud space.

How to Change Backup Quality on Android and iPhone

You can adjust your default mobile upload quality at any time:

1. Open the Google Photos app on your smartphone.
2. Tap your Profile Avatar in the top-right corner of the screen.
3. Tap on Photos settings (or Google Photos settings).
4. Tap on Backup at the top of the menu.
5. Scroll down to the Settings section and tap Backup quality.
6. Choose your preferred profile: Original quality or Storage saver.
7. Tap Select to confirm. All future photo and video uploads from your device will apply this compression standard.

How to Change Upload Quality on the Web

If you upload pictures from your desktop computer via a browser:

1. Navigate to photos.google.com and sign in.
2. Click the Gear (Settings) icon in the top header bar.
3. Under Upload size for photos and videos, select either Original quality or Storage saver.
4. Your browser preferences update immediately for all drag-and-drop uploads.

Converting Existing Original Photos to Storage Saver

If your 15GB Google Account is already critically full from years of Original Quality uploads, you do not need to delete memories. Google Photos can retroactively compress existing media to recover gigabytes of space:

1. Open Google Photos settings in your desktop web browser.
2. Under the Storage saver section, look for Recover storage.
3. Click Convert existing photos and videos to Storage saver.
4. Read the confirmation dialogue carefully, check the acknowledgement box, and click Compress existing photos & videos.
5. Google’s servers will batch-compress your historical media over the next few hours, reclaiming substantial account capacity.