How to Prepare for Google’s New Cloud Storage Restrictions
Effective June 1, 2021, all files you create or upload to Google services will use the same account to use a portion of your designated storage space. If you are using a free account, it is only a matter of time before it is completed. And if you have an older Google account that you use for long term storage but rarely sign in, you might want to start doing so much more often.
Google’s changes to storage limits are a big departure from its current policy, especially for Google Photos , which previously allowed users to upload unlimited photos for free, provided they were saved in “high” quality rather than “original” quality. Drive and Gmail have provided exceptions for certain files as well, but once Google’s new policy takes effect next year, any new photos you upload or documents you create will count towards your Google account’s shared dedicated cloud storage.
The changes apply to all users on all devices, although there are some exceptions where files actually count towards your storage limit:
- The data will only occupy photos and files created or uploaded after June 1, 2021. Previously uploaded content will not be counted (unless you delete and re-upload files after June 1, 2021).
- Photos taken with a Pixel phone and uploaded in “high” quality are not included in your cloud storage limit.
Most Google users only have 15GB of free storage space, so avid photographers and people who do most of their work in Drive won’t take long to use their cloud data, especially if you have tons of files. space already.
When Google May Delete Your Account For Inaction
Not only are Google’s storage limits inconvenient, the company will start actively deleting data from accounts that exceed their limit or remain inactive for too long.
According to the email that Google sent to users: “If you are inactive for 2 years (24 months) in Gmail, Drive or Photos, we may remove content in products in which you are inactive. If you exceed the storage limit by 2 years, we may remove your content from Gmail, Drive, and Photos. ”
Since the new restrictions will not take effect until June 2021, your content may not be removed until June 1, 2023 at the earliest. However, as long as your account is active and you remain in the storage allocated to you, your content will be safely stored in the storage. cloud. Google is probably hoping this will push more users to buy Pixel phones and larger Google One storage plans, but those aren’t the only solutions.
Take control of your Google storage
Before June, take the time to check your various Google accounts, delete what you don’t need, and back up your photos elsewhere. (We have a manual backup and delete your Google data to help manage online tool data Google , as well as transfer your Google Photos library to another location .)
If you don’t know what other services are available, check out our suggestions for the best alternatives to Google Photos , the best cloud storage and free options for backing up your photos from your smartphone, although saving your photos and files to an external hard drive or even a recordable drive is always the same. good idea.