Google Photos to End Free Unlimited Storage on June 1, 2021

Google Photos, introduced in 2015, has long been celebrated for offering free unlimited cloud storage for photos and videos uploaded in compressed “High” quality. However, Google announced that this benefit will end on June 1, 2021, as part of updated storage policies affecting both Google Photos and Google Drive.

Under the new policy, Google will treat Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drawings, Forms, and Jamboard files in Drive as part of the standard 15GB free storage allocation, a change also applying to Photos. Going forward, any new photos or videos uploaded to Google Photos in original quality will count toward this 15GB limit. Compressed “High” quality uploads made before June 1 will still be stored free of charge, but those added after that date will also consume storage.

Pixel phone users will retain free storage for compressed photos and videos uploaded from their devices, at least for now. All other devices will use the account’s 15GB allocation. Users can monitor their storage usage through the app or online and receive alerts as they near capacity. To expand storage, subscribers can enroll in Google One plans.

Additionally, Google will begin deleting content from Gmail, Drive, and Photos for accounts inactive for two years or those exceeding storage limits for the same period, with multiple warnings issued beforehand. A new Storage Management Tool launching on June 1 will help users identify and remove unnecessary backed-up photos and videos.

The change reflects Google’s need to manage rapidly growing data demands, with 4 trillion photos currently stored and 28 billion new files added weekly. The company states that monetizing storage helps fund continued service improvements.