Google Photos is a powerful tool for backing up your photos and videos to the cloud on Android and iOS devices. Beyond essential storage, it offers numerous features that are often overlooked. The Memories section tracks your media by date and location, while the sorting options help you organize photos by people and objects for easier retrieval. To explore all the features of Google Photos, refer to our detailed Google Photos Explainer below.
Google Photos works on all the Devices.
Google Photos stands out for its versatility. With a Google account, you can install the app on Android, iPhone, or iPad and access your photos seamlessly. Additionally, Google Photos is available online, making it easy to use across Windows, Chromebook, and Mac devices.
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How to Upload Photos & Videos on Google Photos
As your mobile device storage fills up, large photos and videos often become the first to be deleted to free up space. Google Photos offers a convenient solution for this. You can back up images and videos you want to delete from your device, allowing you to retrieve them later. To upload photos and videos to Google Photos, follow these steps:
- Open the Google Photos app.
- Tap your profile icon at the top left.
- Select “Photos Settings” and then “Backups.”
- Toggle the Backup switch to start backing up your images and videos.
Google Photos provides up to 15 GB of free storage per account. You can also manage your Google storage and adjust upload quality settings in the menu.
Image Quality Options on Google Photos
Original Quality
Choose the Original Quality option to upload images and videos in their full resolution and specifications. This is the default backup setting for all Google accounts. If you have a Google Pixel 5 or newer, you benefit from unlimited storage, allowing you to back up high-resolution photos with Google Photos.
Storage Saver
Opt for Storage Saver to slightly reduce the quality of your images and videos while preserving most of their detail. This setting compresses photos to 16 megapixels and videos to 1080p, helping to conserve storage without a significant drop in quality.
Express
Use the Express setting when storage is limited. This option reduces photos to 3 megapixels and videos to 480p, significantly decreasing file sizes to maximize available storage.
How to Edit a Picture in Google Photos?
Google Photos offers various editing tools, including options for cropping, rotating, using the Magic Eraser, applying color focus, and adjusting brightness. If you see a prompt saying “Fix lighting” on some of your uploaded images, tapping it will automatically enhance the lighting for a more polished look.
Additionally, under the Library tab, you can access Utilities to create custom collages, animations, or movies. Choose from various templates and select the photos you want to include to personalize your creations.
How to use Magic Eraser and Unblur Google Photos?
To remove an unwanted background object from a photo, use the Magic Eraser tool in Google Photos. Navigate to the Edit settings and select Magic Eraser. Swipe over the object you want to delete, and it will be removed seamlessly. To fix blurry images, use the Unblur Image setting to enhance clarity.
Share Images in Google Photos
You can easily share images or videos backed up on Google Photos through any messaging app. Additionally, you can create and share albums or collections with others. To share a collection on Google Photos, follow these steps:
- Open the Google Photos app and go to the Library.
- Either create a new collection or select an existing one.
- Please tap on the collection to open it.
- Click the three-dot icon at the top right and select “Share.”
- You can also generate a shareable link to the collection and distribute it to anyone.
Hide Sensitive Data in Google Photos
To securely hide personal images or videos, use Google Photos’ Locked Folder feature. Here’s how to set it up:
- Open the Google Photos app and go to the Library.
- Tap the “Locked Folder” option in the top row.
- Follow the prompts to set up your locked folder.
Select and save unlimited images or videos to this secure folder.
AI Features in Google Photos
Google Photos employs machine learning to automatically categorize images based on their content. It recognizes and organizes faces, objects, food items, and scenes from your photos into distinct libraries. Once uploaded, the app detects and sorts these elements accordingly. To explore these categories, go to Google Photos and switch to the search tab.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Google Photos?
Google Photos is a cloud-based service for storing, organizing, and sharing photos and videos. It offers automatic backup, advanced search features, and various editing tools.
How can I edit photos in Google Photos?
Google Photos offers tools for cropping, rotating, adjusting brightness, applying color focus, and using the Magic Eraser. You can access these features through the Edit settings.
How do I remove unwanted objects from an image?
Use the Magic Eraser tool in the Edit settings. Swipe over the object you want to remove, and it will be seamlessly erased.
Can I share photos and videos from Google Photos?
You can share images or videos via messaging apps, create and share albums or collections, and generate shareable links. To access these options, tap the three-dot icon and select “Share.”
How do I create and share collections?
Open the Google Photos app, go to the Library, choose or create a collection, and tap the three-dot icon to share or generate a link.
What is the Locked Folder feature?
The Locked Folder lets you securely store personal images and videos you want to keep private. To set it up, go to the Library, select “Locked Folder,” and follow the setup prompts.
How does Google Photos categorize my images?
Google Photos uses machine learning to categorize images based on content, such as faces, objects, food items, and scenes. These are organized into specific libraries, which you can explore in the search tab.
How do I access Google Photos on different devices?
Google Photos is available on Android, iOS, and web browsers, allowing you to access and manage your media across various platforms.
Conclusion
Google Photos is a versatile and powerful tool for managing your photo and video library. It offers seamless cloud backup, editing features, and advanced categorization through machine learning.
Whether you want to preserve high-quality media, share albums and collections, or securely store personal content, Google Photos provides user-friendly solutions across various devices. By leveraging its capabilities, you can efficiently organize, enhance, and access your media while enjoying the convenience of cloud storage.