How to free up space in Google Photos

Step by step

1. 1 min

   Run the Free Up Space tool

   Open the Google Photos app and tap your profile icon in the top right corner. Select Free up space to automatically remove photos and videos from your device that have already been backed up to the cloud. Confirm by tapping the Free up button in the prompt.

   Note: This process only deletes local copies, not the cloud backups.
2. 2 min

   Manage large files and clutter

   Navigate to the Library tab and tap Utilities. Locate the Manage storage section to identify Large photos & videos, Blurry photos, and Screenshots. Select each category to review and delete unwanted high-capacity files permanently.

   Note: Deleted items are moved to the Trash and still occupy space until emptied.
3. 1 min

   Convert original quality backups to storage saver

   Access the Google Photos settings via your profile icon. Select Photos settings, then tap Backup. Choose Backup quality and toggle from Original quality to Storage saver to compress existing and future uploads, significantly reducing storage consumption.

   Note: This change applies to all items already uploaded to the account.
4. 30 sec

   Permanently delete trash files

   Go to the Library tab and select Trash. Tap the three-dot menu in the upper right corner and select Empty trash. Confirm the deletion to permanently remove these files from your Google account storage.

   Note: Once emptied, these files cannot be recovered.
5. 1 min

   Disable unnecessary device folder backups

   In the Photos settings menu, select Backup and tap Back up device folders. Identify folders containing low-priority content like instant messaging images or social media caches. Toggle these folders to the off position to prevent them from consuming cloud storage.

   Note: Disabled folders remain on your device but will not sync to the cloud.