Does Google Photos Reduce Video Quality?

When it comes to online photo and video storage, Google Photos is one of the most popular options. With its unlimited storage and automatic backup feature, it’s easy to see why so many people use it. However, one question that often comes up is whether or not Google Photos reduces video quality.

What is Google Photos?

Google Photos is a cloud-based photo and video storage service offered by Google. It allows users to store an unlimited number of photos and videos for free, as long as they are under 16 megapixels or 1080p resolution. Higher resolution files can be stored but will count towards the user’s Google Drive storage limit.

Does Google Photos Reduce Video Quality?

The answer to this question is both yes and no. By default, when you upload a video to Google Photos, it will be compressed to save space on your account. This compression can result in a slight reduction in video quality.

However, if you want to preserve the original quality of your videos, you can change the upload settings in Google Photos. To do this:

  • Open the Google Photos app on your phone or go to photos.google.com on your computer.
  • Click on Settings (the gear icon) in the top right corner.
  • Select “Back up & sync” from the menu.
  • Toggle “Upload size” to “Original.”

By selecting “Original” upload size, your videos will not be compressed and their original quality will be preserved.

Why Does Compression Occur?

Compression occurs because videos take up a lot of space on servers. In order for Google to offer unlimited storage for free, they need to compress files to save space.

Is There a Difference in Quality?

The difference in quality between compressed and uncompressed videos may not be noticeable to the average user. However, if you are a professional videographer or filmmaker, you may want to consider using a different storage service that does not compress files.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Google Photos does reduce video quality by default in order to save space on their servers. However, users can choose to preserve the original quality of their videos by changing the upload settings. The difference in quality may not be noticeable to the average user, but professionals may want to consider using a different storage service that does not compress files.