How much does Google Photos give?

Google Photos typically provides 15 GB of free storage for each Google Account, which is shared across Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos. However, certain older devices offer an exception for unlimited storage.

Understanding Your Google Photos Storage

Every Google Account comes with a default of 15 GB of cloud storage. This storage is not exclusive to Google Photos; it's a unified allocation shared across Google's popular services, including:

• Google Photos: For backing up your images and videos.
• Gmail: For your emails and attachments.
• Google Drive: For files, documents, and other data you store.

This means that all content backed up to Google Photos, unless specified by a special provision, will count towards this 15 GB limit. Once this quota is reached, users typically need to free up space or purchase additional storage through a Google One plan.

Special Provision for Pixel Devices

There's a significant exception for users with older Pixel smartphones:

• Unlimited Storage for Pixel 5 and Earlier: If you own a Pixel 5 or an earlier Pixel model (e.g., Pixel 4, Pixel 3, Pixel 2, original Pixel), you receive unlimited storage for photos and videos that are backed up from that specific device, at no additional charge. This benefit applies to media uploaded from the eligible Pixel device itself.

This unlimited storage benefit for older Pixel devices allowed users to back up their entire photo and video library in original quality without impacting their 15 GB shared storage limit. For more details on managing your Google Photos storage, you can visit the Google Photos Help page.

Storage Overview

The following table summarizes the primary storage provisions for Google Photos:

Understanding these distinctions is crucial for managing your digital memories effectively within the Google ecosystem.