Google Photos has been a game-changer for many of us, offering a convenient and free way to store and manage our photos. However, some users have been facing a frustrating issue – their photos are being deleted without their consent. If you’re one of them, you’re probably wondering why Google Photos is deleting your photos and what you can do to prevent it.
Understanding Google Photos’ Storage Policy
To understand why Google Photos might be deleting your photos, it’s essential to know how the service works. Google Photos offers unlimited storage for photos and videos, but there’s a catch. This unlimited storage is only available for photos and videos that meet certain criteria.
High-Quality Vs. Original Quality
Google Photos allows you to upload your photos in two different qualities – High-Quality and Original Quality. High-Quality photos are compressed to reduce their file size, making them easier to store and share. Original Quality photos, on the other hand, are stored in their original resolution and file size.
If you upload your photos in High-Quality, they won’t count towards your Google Drive storage limit. However, if you upload them in Original Quality, they will consume your Google Drive storage space.
What Happens When You Run Out of Storage Space?
If you’re uploading your photos in Original Quality and you run out of storage space, Google Photos will start deleting your oldest photos to free up space. This is done to ensure that you can continue uploading new photos and videos.
However, this can be a problem if you’re not aware that you’re running out of storage space. You might wake up one morning to find that some of your favorite photos are missing.
Other Reasons Why Google Photos Might Be Deleting Your Photos
While running out of storage space is the most common reason why Google Photos might be deleting your photos, there are other reasons as well.
Duplicate Photos
Google Photos has a feature that automatically detects and removes duplicate photos. If you have multiple copies of the same photo, Google Photos might delete the duplicates to free up space.
Corrupted Photos
If a photo is corrupted or damaged, Google Photos might delete it to prevent it from causing problems with your account.
Photos That Violate Google’s Terms Of Service
Google has strict policies against uploading explicit or copyrighted content. If you upload photos that violate these policies, Google Photos might delete them and even suspend your account.
How To Prevent Google Photos From Deleting Your Photos
While Google Photos’ automatic deletion feature can be useful, it can also be frustrating if you’re not aware of it. Here are some tips to help you prevent Google Photos from deleting your photos:
Check Your Storage Space Regularly
Make it a habit to check your Google Drive storage space regularly. You can do this by going to the Google Drive website and clicking on the “Storage” tab.
Upload Your Photos In High-Quality
If you’re not particular about storing your photos in their original resolution, upload them in High-Quality. This will ensure that they don’t consume your Google Drive storage space.
Use The “Free Up Space” Feature
Google Photos has a “Free Up Space” feature that allows you to delete photos and videos that are already backed up on your Google Drive account. Use this feature to free up space and prevent Google Photos from deleting your photos.
Backup Your Photos To An External Hard Drive
While Google Photos is a convenient way to store and manage your photos, it’s always a good idea to backup your photos to an external hard drive. This will ensure that you have a copy of your photos even if Google Photos deletes them.
Conclusion
Google Photos is a powerful tool for storing and managing your photos, but it’s not perfect. If you’re facing the issue of Google Photos deleting your photos, it’s essential to understand why it’s happening and take steps to prevent it. By following the tips outlined in this article, you can ensure that your photos are safe and secure.
Remember, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Backup your photos to an external hard drive and use the “Free Up Space” feature to prevent Google Photos from deleting your photos.
What Is The Google Photos Purge And Why Is It Happening?
The Google Photos purge refers to the company’s decision to delete photos and videos from users’ accounts that were uploaded before June 1, 2021, and are stored in the “High quality” or “Original quality” storage tiers. This change is happening because Google is ending its unlimited free storage policy for Google Photos.
As a result, any photos or videos uploaded before June 1, 2021, will count towards the user’s 15 GB of free storage, which is shared across Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos. If a user exceeds this limit, they will need to either delete some of their files, upgrade to a paid Google One storage plan, or risk having their files deleted by Google.
How Will I Know If My Photos Are At Risk Of Being Deleted?
Google will notify users via email if their account is at risk of exceeding the 15 GB free storage limit. Users can also check their storage usage by going to the Google One website or the Google Photos app. Additionally, users can use the Google Photos storage management tool to see which files are taking up the most space and decide which ones to delete or upgrade their storage plan.
It’s essential to regularly check your storage usage to avoid any unexpected deletions. You can also consider upgrading to a paid Google One storage plan, which offers more storage space and additional features.
Can I Prevent My Photos From Being Deleted?
Yes, there are several ways to prevent your photos from being deleted. One option is to upgrade to a paid Google One storage plan, which offers more storage space and additional features. Another option is to delete some of your files to free up space in your account. You can also consider downloading your photos and videos to an external hard drive or another cloud storage service.
If you’re not willing to pay for additional storage, you can also consider compressing your photos to reduce their file size. However, this may affect the image quality. You can also consider using a different cloud storage service that offers more free storage space.
How Do I Download My Photos And Videos From Google Photos?
To download your photos and videos from Google Photos, you can use the Google Takeout tool. This tool allows you to download all your Google data, including your photos and videos, in a single archive file. You can also use the Google Photos app to download individual files or albums.
To use Google Takeout, go to the Google Takeout website and select the data you want to download. You can choose to download all your Google data or just your photos and videos. Once you’ve selected the data, click on the “Next” button and follow the instructions to download the archive file.
Can I Recover Deleted Photos And Videos?
If your photos and videos are deleted by Google due to exceeding the storage limit, you may be able to recover them. Google offers a trash folder where deleted files are stored for 60 days. If you act quickly, you can recover your deleted files from the trash folder.
To recover deleted files, go to the Google Photos app and click on the “Trash” folder. Select the files you want to recover and click on the “Restore” button. Keep in mind that if you’ve exceeded the storage limit, you’ll need to free up space in your account or upgrade to a paid storage plan to prevent further deletions.
What Are The Alternatives To Google Photos?
If you’re not happy with Google Photos’ new storage policy, there are several alternatives you can consider. One option is Amazon Prime Photos, which offers unlimited photo storage for Amazon Prime members. Another option is Microsoft OneDrive, which offers 5 GB of free storage and additional features.
Other alternatives include Flickr, which offers 1 TB of free storage, and pCloud, which offers up to 10 GB of free storage. You can also consider using a different cloud storage service that offers more free storage space or additional features.
Will Google Photos’ New Storage Policy Affect Other Google Services?
Google Photos’ new storage policy may affect other Google services that use the same storage space. For example, if you use Google Drive to store files, you may need to free up space in your account or upgrade to a paid storage plan to avoid exceeding the storage limit.
Additionally, if you use Gmail, you may need to delete some of your emails or upgrade to a paid storage plan to avoid exceeding the storage limit. However, Google has stated that it will provide plenty of notice before making any changes to its storage policies, so you’ll have time to adjust your usage accordingly.