This archive report was first published on 18 August 2021.
Google Photos has ended its unlimited photo storage policy, effective immediately. Since its inception in 2015, Google Photos offered unlimited storage to all users. However, this is no longer the case, and users now have a limited 15 GB of free storage.
Although 15 GB is still a substantial amount of storage space, especially considering that most high-quality photos are only 1-4 MB in size, this change may still be inconvenient for some users. Fortunately, there are several options for cloud photo storage, including Apple's iCloud Photos.
According to Apple, each iCloud account comes with 5 GB of free storage. Users must pay for additional storage after that, with Apple offering storage plans ranging from $0.99 per month for 50 GB to $9.99 per month for 2 TB.
For those looking to transfer their photos from Google Photos to iCloud, here's a step-by-step guide:
First, head to takeout.google.com and click on "Deselect all" in the upper right corner. Then, scroll down and select Google Photos from the drop-down menu. Next, scroll to the bottom and select "Next Step." After that, select your export preferences and choose "Create Export."
Wait for Google to send you an email when your photos are ready. Once you've obtained your photos, you can upload them to Apple's iCloud Photos service using a Mac or a web browser on a PC.
Using a Mac, launch the Photos app and select File, then Import. Choose the folder(s) containing your photos and examine them. Then, choose to Import All New Pictures. After that, your photos will be fully transferred from Google Photos to iCloud.
Alternatively, you can use a web browser on a PC to upload your photos to iCloud. Head to iCloud.com and sign in with your Apple ID. Choose Photos, then click the Upload button. Choose the folder(s) containing your photos and select Upload.
After that, your photos will begin to upload to the iCloud servers. Depending on how many photos you need to upload, this process may take some time.
