3 minute read

Google ended unlimited free photo storage on June 1, 2021. Since then, every photo and video you upload counts against your free 15 GB — shared across Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos. Five years later, most workarounds have been closed off. A few still hold up. Here is what actually works in 2026 and what has changed since the original policy shift.

What Changed in 2021 — and Why It Still Matters

Before June 1, 2021, photos uploaded in “High quality” (compressed) did not count toward your storage quota. That effectively gave every Google account unlimited photo backup, as long as you were willing to accept slight compression. Google ended that arrangement across the board.

Everything uploaded before that date remains free and does not count toward your storage cap. Everything after does — regardless of quality setting. If you have been using Google Photos since before 2021, the photos from that era are safe. New uploads are not.

What Still Works in 2026

OG Pixel method (Pixel 1 and Pixel XL)

As of early 2026, the original Google Pixel (2016) and Pixel XL still upload photos at original quality without counting against your quota. This was a hardware-level promise Google made at launch and has not revoked it — yet. Google has not announced a sunset date, but given the pattern of closing other loopholes, it is not guaranteed to last.

A used Pixel 1 or Pixel XL costs $30–60 on eBay. Some users set them up as dedicated backup stations — plugged in, connected to Wi-Fi, running Google Photos in the background. Any photos transferred to the device and uploaded through it inherit the unlimited benefit.

If you plan to use this method, do it now rather than waiting.

Pixel 2 through Pixel 5

These devices still get unlimited uploads at “Storage Saver” (compressed) quality. Not original quality, but still free and unlimited for compressed backups. Pixel 6 and later have no special storage benefit at all.

Compress existing originals

Google Photos offers a built-in “Recover storage” option that converts any “Original quality” photos you previously uploaded to “Storage saver” quality. This can free up significant space. The tradeoff is a reduction from original resolution down to 16 MP for photos and 1080p for video. For most people, the difference is not visible in everyday use.

Find it in Google Photos → Profile icon → Manage storage → Compress existing photos.

Partner sharing

Google Photos lets you share your library with one trusted partner. This does not grant either person extra storage — but if one account has an OG Pixel benefit or substantial unused quota, it allows both people to view a shared library without duplicating storage usage. Useful for families or couples managing photos across accounts.

What No Longer Works

T-Mobile unlimited Google Photos plan — shut down in September 2025. This was the last subscription anywhere offering unlimited Google Photos backup. It’s gone.

Multiple Google accounts — Google’s terms of service prohibit using multiple accounts to bypass storage limits. It also makes managing your photo library genuinely cumbersome. Not worth it.

What to Actually Do in 2026

If your 15 GB is getting full:

  1. Run the built-in compression tool first — it is free and often recovers several gigabytes
  2. Delete blurry photos, duplicates, and screenshots you do not need
  3. If you want original-quality unlimited backup and have a Pixel 1 or XL available, set it up now before Google closes that door
  4. If you need more storage long-term, Google One starts at $2.99/month for 100 GB — cheaper than most cloud alternatives

The era of truly unlimited free photo backup is over. The remaining workarounds are narrowing. The most reliable path forward is either accepting the compression trade-off or paying for storage.

For privacy-focused file storage on Android, see Samsung Secure Folder vs Google Files Safe Folder.

Sources:

  1. Google Blog: An update to your Google Photos storage policy
  2. Google Photos Help: About the Google Photos storage policy
  3. Google Photos Help: Manage your storage
  4. Google Photos Help: Share Google Photos with a partner
  5. 9to5Google: The last remaining subscription for unlimited Google Photos storage is dead
  6. Metadata Fixer: Pixel 1 Unlimited Google Photos Storage

You May Also Enjoy

2 minute read