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Now Google probably wants to cash out: a free service suddenly becomes chargeable and millions of cell phone users may lose their photos in the future. GIGA explains how to protect yourself.
Languages:German
Platforms:Android
Since the launch of Google Photos, more than 4 trillion photos have been stored in the online service. And another 28 billion new photos and videos are added every week. It is probably these gigantic numbers that have now forced the company to make a radical change.
Google Photos: What mobile users should do now
Starting June 1, 2021, free storage on Google Photos will end, the search engine provider explains in a press release. Until now, mobile phone users could save high quality photos and videos for free and without any limitation to Google Photos. Now it’s over. The online service will continue to exist, but uploaded files will count towards users’ storage quota starting mid-next year. That’s 15GB with a free Google account or the storage you rent per month in Google One.
Existing photos and videos shouldn’t be affected by the change, Google assures. There is no need to pay to archive these files. For photos and videos uploaded after June 1, 2021, Google will then deduct the storage space. So if you always delete your recordings from your mobile – in good faith that they will be automatically saved to Google Photos – you may have a big and above all nasty surprise next year. There is probably nothing else to do here than to rent storage from Google One. 100 GB are already available for € 1.99 per month.
Why smartphone cameras have gotten so good:
Pixel phone owners also have to pay
However, those who own a Pixel smartphone can consider themselves lucky. Google phones aren’t affected by the change. Even after June 2021, owners can save their photos and videos in high quality for free and in unlimited quantities to Google Photos, but only if they have a current pixel. Future Pixel owners (all after the Pixel 5) also have to pay, the company confirmed to Android police.
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