Solving the Mystery of Google Photos Storage Usage

If yoursquo;ve set up your Google Photos to use unlimited storage but are seeing 7GB of usage, this article is for you. Follow these steps to troubleshoot and fix the issue.

Understanding Google Photos Storage

Google Photos offers unlimited storage for high-quality photos (HD photos), not for the original raw files. This means that any pictures taken by a 16 MP camera or higher will be stored in high quality, counting against your unlimited storage plan. For DSLR original files, they donrsquo;t count and will be stored within your free 15 GB space on Google Drive.

Steps to Troubleshoot and Fix the Issue

1. Check Storage Settings

Open Google Photos on your device.

Go to the Settings menu.

Tap on your profile picture in the top right corner.

Select Back up sync and ensure that itrsquo;s set to back up in High quality.

This setting offers unlimited storage for high-quality photos.

2. Clear the Application Cache

If the issue still persists, clear the app cache:

For Android: Go to Settings rarr; Apps rarr; Google Photos rarr; Storage rarr; Clear Cache.

For iOS: Unfortunately, iOS doesnrsquo;t have a direct cache clearing method, so you may need to uninstall and reinstall the app to clear the cache.

3. Check Google Drive for Large Files

Go to Google Drive and review any large files or backups that are taking up space.

Delete any unnecessary files as they could be contributing to the overall storage usage.

4. Review Shared Albums or Files

If you have shared albums or files, they may also count against your storage. Check if you are part of any shared albums that might be using storage.

5. Check for Duplicates or Unwanted Files

Reviewed your Google Photos library and delete any unnecessary items. This can help free up space and ensure accurate storage usage.

6. Contact Google Support

If the problem persists after following these steps, consider reaching out to Google Support for assistance.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the issue with your Google Photos storage usage and ensure it reflects the appropriate amount of space used. Understanding the storage differences between HD photos and original files is key to managing your storage effectively.