Does Google Photos Compress Photos? (2026)
Depends on your storage setting. Google Photos's default 'Storage saver' mode compresses photos down to a maximum of 16 megapixels and video to 1080p. Switch to 'Original quality' and photos are stored exactly as uploaded, at the cost of filling your storage faster. Since June 2021, both settings count against the same 15 GB free Google Account quota, so choosing 'Storage saver' does not buy you free space, only smaller files.
Does Google Photos compress photos?
It depends entirely on which of the two upload settings you have selected, and the default one compresses. 'Storage saver' is the setting most free accounts start on, and Google's own documentation for it states that photos are compressed to a maximum resolution of 16 megapixels and videos to 1080p. 'Original quality' stores the file exactly as it was uploaded, with no resizing or re-encoding.
Both settings have used the same name and the same 16 MP figure since Google restructured its storage policy in June 2021, when it ended the older unlimited free storage for compressed uploads and moved every photo, on either setting, onto the same 15 GB Google Account allowance shared with Gmail and Drive.
How to check which setting you are on
Open Google Photos, go to Settings, then Backup, and look under upload size. It will read either 'Storage saver' or 'Original quality'. This setting applies going forward, to photos you upload after changing it. It does not retroactively change photos that were already compressed and stored, so switching to 'Original quality' today does not restore detail already lost from an earlier upload.
What Storage saver actually changes
Resolution is capped at 16 megapixels. A photo above that limit, which includes most current phone cameras shooting at their highest setting, is downscaled to fit. A 48 MP photo, common on recent flagship phones, comes down to roughly a third of its original pixel count.
Video is capped at 1080p. Anything recorded at 4K or higher is reduced to 1080p, which is a meaningful drop if you intend to view the footage on a large screen or edit it later.
Metadata is not the part that changes. Google Photos reads GPS coordinates, timestamps and camera data on either setting, because that information is what drives search, the map view and grouping by trip. Compression, on Storage saver, affects the pixel data, not what is recorded about the photo.
What Original quality gets you, and what it costs
On 'Original quality', a photo is stored at exactly the resolution and file size it was uploaded at, with no resizing and no re-encoding. The trade-off is storage: a full 30 to 50 MB RAW-adjacent file from a modern phone or camera uses that much of your 15 GB allowance, where the same photo under Storage saver would use a fraction of it. For anyone shooting a lot of photos or video, that quota fills fast, and the practical fix is either paying for more Google One storage or moving full-resolution archives somewhere with more room.
Google Photos against the other apps people use
| Platform | Compresses by default | Route to the original | Practical for a whole album |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Photos | Yes, on Storage saver | Switch to Original quality | Yes |
| Google Drive | No | Every upload, no setting needed | Yes, as a file list |
| Yes | Send as document | No | |
| Telegram | Yes, when sent as Photo | Send as File | Only as separate file attachments |
| Viallo | No | The download button on each photo | Yes |
Google Photos on 'Original quality' and Google Drive end up in the same place on quality, since neither compresses. The difference between them is the browsing experience: Photos gives you an actual gallery with search and grouping, Drive gives you a file list. Compared against messaging apps, Photos on either setting beats WhatsApp and Telegram's default send, because even Storage saver's 16 MP ceiling is well above what a chat app compresses down to. Our full WhatsApp photo quality breakdown covers that comparison in detail.
Sharing a Google Photos album at full resolution
Sharing a Google Photos album carries forward whatever quality the photos in it were stored at. Share an album made of Storage saver uploads, and viewers see the compressed version, because that is the only version that exists on Google's servers. Viewers also generally need a Google account to see more than a basic view, which is a real friction point for anyone you share with who does not already live inside that ecosystem.
Viallo takes a different approach on both counts. A JPEG, PNG or WebP is stored at the resolution and file size it was uploaded at, with no Storage saver equivalent to accidentally leave switched on, and the recipient opens the album in a browser with no account required.
- No compression on upload: a JPEG, PNG or WebP keeps its resolution and file size exactly as uploaded. There is no separate setting to remember.
- HEIC is the one conversion: iPhone HEIC and HEIF files are converted to JPEG at quality 92, at full pixel dimensions. The HEIC file itself is not kept.
- Metadata travels with the photo: GPS coordinates, camera settings and timestamps are read on upload and stored, which drives automatic location grouping and the map view.
- Fast on screen, original on download: the grid and full-screen view use lighter copies so an album opens quickly on a phone, and the download button on each photo returns the original file.
For a family that already lives in Google's ecosystem and remembers to check the upload setting, Google Photos on 'Original quality' is a solid choice. For sharing with people who do not want to create an account just to see an album, a link-based platform closes that gap. The broader comparison against every alternative is in sharing photos without compression.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Google Photos reduce photo quality?
Only on the 'Storage saver' setting, which is the default for most free accounts and compresses photos to a maximum of 16 megapixels and video to 1080p, according to Google's own documentation. Switching to 'Original quality' stores every photo exactly as uploaded, with no resizing.
How do I stop Google Photos from compressing my photos?
Go to Settings, then Backup, and change the upload size setting from 'Storage saver' to 'Original quality'. This only affects photos uploaded after the change; anything already compressed under Storage saver stays as it is.
Does Original quality use more of my Google storage?
Yes. Since June 2021, both Storage saver and Original quality count against the same 15 GB free Google Account allowance, shared with Gmail and Drive. Original quality files are larger, so they use more of that quota per photo.
Is Google Drive better than Google Photos for keeping full quality?
Drive never compresses, on any setting, because it stores files as-is rather than processing them as photos. Google Photos matches that only when set to 'Original quality'. What Drive does not offer is Photos' gallery view, search and automatic organisation.
Does Viallo compress photos when sharing an album?
Not the stored file. A JPEG, PNG or WebP is kept at the resolution and file size it was uploaded at, with no setting to remember, and the download button on each photo returns that file. The one real conversion is HEIC: iPhone HEIC and HEIF files become JPEGs at quality 92, at full pixel dimensions.