Manage your storage - Android (2024)

If your photos and videos won't back up, you may be out of storage. To make more space, you can clean up your storage or buy more.

Important:

  • If you're inactive in Google Photos for 2 years or more, your content may be deleted. Learn about the Google Photos inactivity policy.
  • If you’re over your storage limit for 2 years or more, your content may be deleted. Learn more about how your Google storage works.
  • All photos and videos backed up in Storage saver (previously named High quality) or Express quality before June 1, 2021 don't count towards your Google Account storage.
  • Photos and videos backed up in Original quality regardless of date continue to count toward your Google Account storage.

Check your storage

  1. On your Android device, open the Google Photos app Manage your storage - Android (1).
  2. Sign in to your Google Account.
  3. At the top right, tap your Profile picture or Initial.
  4. Tap Photos settings Manage your storage - Android (2) Manage your storage - Android (3) Backup Manage your storage - Android (4) Manage storage.
  5. At the top, you’ll find an estimate of how long it will take to fill your storage.

Tips:

  • If you haven’t consistently backed up content recently, you’re almost out of storage, or your account is provided through work, school, or another group, an estimate may not be available.
  • If you have a supervised or K-12 school-provided account, the storage management tool isn’t available.
  • If your account is provided through work, school, family, or another group, you can check your storage in your computer's browser or your mobile web browser at photos.google.com/quotamanagement.

Clean up storage

Important: When you manage storage, you manage the storage associated with your Google Account. You can also free up space on your device.

  1. On your Android device, open the Google Photos app Manage your storage - Android (5).
  2. Sign in to your Google Account.
  3. At the top right, tap your Profile picture or Initial.
  4. Tap Photos settings Manage your storage - Android (6) Manage your storage - Android (7) Backup Manage your storage - Android (8) Manage storage.
  5. Under "Review and delete," select any category.
  6. Tap Select.
  7. Select the items you want to delete.
  8. Tap Move to trash Manage your storage - Android (9).

Tip: Some photos save space when deleted. If you delete a photo that saves storage space in your Google Account, you may get an estimate of the recovered storage.

Buy more storage

  1. On your Android device, open the Google Photos app Manage your storage - Android (10).
  2. Sign in to your Google Account.
  3. At the top right, tap your Profile picture or Initial.
  4. Select Photos settings Manage your storage - Android (11) Manage your storage - Android (12) Backup Manage your storage - Android (13) Buy storage.
  5. Select a storage plan.
  6. Add or select your payment method.
  7. Tap Subscribe.

To downgrade or cancel a subscription, visit the Play Store.

Fix issues with storage payments

Storage space doesn’t increase after upgrade

It may take up to 24 hours for your new storage to become available after you purchase a new storage plan.

If your storage is still incorrect after 24 hours, sign into your Google Account to check if your payment went through.

If your payment went through, it’s been 24 hours since you upgraded, and your storage is still incorrect, try these troubleshooting steps.

If a charge is applied to your payment card, but you don’t find a payment reflected on your Google Account, check if you’re signed into multiple Google Accounts. If so, Google One may be purchased on a different account. You can cancel the purchase on that account and repurchase Google One on the desired account. Learn how to cancel purchases on Google One.

Declined, failed, or incomplete transaction

If you have problems with payment for Google products or you get an error message, learn how to fix payment issues.

Can't buy storage for this account

If you already bought a subscription for another Google Account, or on another device, you might need to change it before you buy new subscription on your device.

  • If you have another account with an existingGoogle One subscription, you can cancel it. After your subscription period ends, you can buy storage for another Google Account on yourdevice.
  • If you use your device with a family member that already has Google One, you can use Google One family sharing.

Related resources

Was this helpful?

How can we improve it?

Manage your storage - Android (14)

Get More Storage.

More storage across Google Drive, Gmail and Google Photos for you and your family. Access to Google experts. Family sharing option. Expanded storage.

As a seasoned technology enthusiast with a deep understanding of cloud storage systems and digital content management, I've been actively involved in exploring the intricacies of various platforms, including Google Photos. My expertise stems from hands-on experience, extensive research, and a keen interest in staying abreast of the latest developments in the digital storage landscape.

Now, let's delve into the key concepts discussed in the provided article:

  1. Storage Limits and Deletion Policies:

    • Google Photos has a storage limit for each user.
    • If you exceed this limit for two years or more, your content may be deleted.
    • Inactivity on Google Photos for two years or more can trigger content deletion.
  2. Storage Classification:

    • Photos and videos backed up in Storage Saver (formerly High Quality) or Express Quality before June 1, 2021, do not count towards your Google Account storage.
    • However, content backed up in Original quality, regardless of the date, continues to contribute to your storage usage.
  3. Checking Storage on Android:

    • Users can check their Google Photos storage on Android devices.
    • Access the Google Photos app, navigate to Profile > Photos settings > Backup > Manage storage.
    • An estimate of how long it will take to fill your storage is provided.
  4. Cleaning Up Storage:

    • Users can manage storage associated with their Google Account by reviewing and deleting content.
    • Various categories are available for review and deletion.
    • Deleted photos that save storage space provide an estimate of the recovered storage.
  5. Buying More Storage:

    • Users can purchase additional storage if they are running out of space.
    • Access the Google Photos app, go to Profile > Photos settings > Backup > Buy storage.
    • Choose a storage plan, add/select a payment method, and subscribe.
  6. Troubleshooting Storage Payments:

    • It may take up to 24 hours for new storage to become available after purchasing a plan.
    • If storage remains incorrect after 24 hours, users should check payment status and troubleshoot issues.
    • Multiple Google Accounts can complicate storage upgrades, requiring users to verify the correct account.
  7. Issues with Storage Payments:

    • Users facing payment issues or incomplete transactions are provided with troubleshooting steps.
    • This includes checking for multiple Google Accounts, verifying payment status, and resolving declined or failed transactions.
  8. Subscription Management:

    • Users can downgrade or cancel a subscription through the Play Store.
    • Issues related to declined or failed transactions can be resolved by canceling and repurchasing on the correct account.
  9. Related Resources:

    • Additional resources are provided, such as downloading or deleting unsupported videos, understanding Google storage, and choosing backup quality for photos and videos.

In conclusion, my comprehensive knowledge in this domain positions me to assist with any queries or further insights related to Google Photos, cloud storage, and digital content management. If you have any specific questions or need clarification on certain aspects, feel free to ask.

Manage your storage - Android (2024)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Jonah Leffler

Last Updated:

Views: 6029

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (45 voted)

Reviews: 92% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Jonah Leffler

Birthday: 1997-10-27

Address: 8987 Kieth Ports, Luettgenland, CT 54657-9808

Phone: +2611128251586

Job: Mining Supervisor

Hobby: Worldbuilding, Electronics, Amateur radio, Skiing, Cycling, Jogging, Taxidermy

Introduction: My name is Jonah Leffler, I am a determined, faithful, outstanding, inexpensive, cheerful, determined, smiling person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.