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Google Photos will no longer offer free unlimited storage for some video files

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By Cosmin Vasile

Updated: Dec 11, 2018, 7:47 PM

Google Photos will no longer offer free unlimited storage for some video files

UPDATE: The original story incorrectly stated that Google Photos would no longer store a user's video files for free, without those counting towards their quota. In actual fact, only unsupported video file formats will take up cloud space, while supported files will not, as long as the user is okay with Google compressing them. The text below has been edited to clarify this.

Google Photos has quietly been updated so that one of its functions would not work as it did until now. Many of you probably don't know, but Google promised a few years ago that it will allow Google Photos users to upload as many photos and videos as they wish, assuming they were okay with the fact that the service was going to compress all their media files.

But recently, Google added a note on its support site that says unsupported videos uploaded after December 6 will take up storage space. Unsupported files include formats like VOB, used with DVDs, and RAW video – the kind of which a higher-end camera could be able to shoot. The holographic H4V format available on the RED Hydrogen One isn't supported either.

Fortunately, video file formats currently used on nearly all Android smartphones and iPhones are still supported. In other words, you will still be able to shoot as much video as you want with your phone and back it up to Google Photos without that counting towards your space allowance. That is unless you're using the Original Quality option and you're okay with Google compressing your media. As AndroidPolice points out, the list of supported video file formats includes .mpg, .mod, .mmv, .tod, .wmv, .asf, .avi, .divx, .mov, .m4v, .3gp, .3g2, .mp4, .m2t, .m2ts, .mts, and .mkv.

Of course, that doesn't mean that you won't be able to store these unsupported video formats at all on your Google Photos accounts. It's just that they're not part of the free storage deal any longer.

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Cosmin, a tech journalist with a career spanning over a decade, brought a wealth of experience to PhoneArena. His expertise lies in brands like Samsung and Nokia, and he has a keen interest in innovative technologies. After a brief stint in PR, Cosmin returned to tech journalism in 2016, committed to delivering clear and objective news. When he's not writing or appearing as a guest on TV and radio shows, Cosmin enjoys playing RPGs, watching Netflix, and nurturing his passion for history and travel.