Change Photos Backup Quality: Full Guide
Yes, you can change the backup quality for your photos, and doing so can save significant storage space or improve the clarity of your saved images. The exact steps depend on the service you use (Google Photos, iCloud, OneDrive, etc.), but the general principle is the same: you choose between a compressed “storage saver” option and a full-resolution original option. This guide explains how to adjust these settings, what the trade-offs are, and how to get the outcome you want.
Why Backup Quality Matters
Photo backup services offer different quality tiers because full-resolution images take up a lot of server space. For example, a single 12-megapixel photo from a modern smartphone might be 3–5 MB in its original form, but a compressed version could be under 1 MB. Over thousands of photos, that difference adds up to gigabytes of storage. Services also use compression to make uploading and downloading faster, especially on mobile connections.
However, compression is not free. It can reduce fine details, introduce artifacts in skies or gradients, and make crops or prints look softer. If you ever plan to edit, print, or zoom into your photos, the original quality is safer. Understanding the difference between “original” and “storage saver” (or “high quality”) is the first step in making an informed choice.
How to Change Quality in Google Photos
Google Photos is one of the most popular backup services, and it offers two main quality settings: Original quality and Storage saver (formerly called “High quality”). Here is how to switch between them:
- Open the Google Photos app or go to photos.google.com on a computer.
- Click your profile picture (top right) and select Photos settings.
- Tap Back up & sync (or Backup on newer versions).
- Choose Upload size.
- Select either Original quality or Storage saver.
Important: This setting applies to new uploads. Existing photos that were already backed up in Storage saver quality will not be re-uploaded in original quality automatically. You would need to delete the backup and re-upload the original file from your device, which is not always possible if the original was deleted locally.
How to Change Quality in iCloud Photos
Apple’s iCloud Photos does not offer a separate “compressed” mode. Instead, it always stores the full-resolution original in iCloud, and your device can keep a smaller, optimized version to save space. To adjust this:
- Open Settings on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap your name at the top, then iCloud.
- Tap Photos.
- Choose Optimize iPhone Storage or Download and Keep Originals.
The first option keeps a smaller version on your device and stores the original in iCloud. The second keeps the full-resolution file on your device as well, which uses more local storage. This is not a backup quality setting per se, but it affects how much space your photos take up on your phone.
How to Change Quality in OneDrive and Other Services
Microsoft OneDrive has a similar setting for automatic camera uploads. In the OneDrive app, go to Settings > Camera upload and toggle Upload quality between Best quality (original) and Standard quality (compressed). Amazon Photos, Dropbox, and others have their own equivalents, but the concept is the same: look for an “upload quality” or “backup quality” option in the app’s settings.
If you use a third-party app like Google Drive or a NAS (network-attached storage), the quality is usually determined by the app’s own settings. Some apps let you choose to compress before uploading; others always send the original file. Always check the app’s documentation if you are unsure.
What Does “Storage Saver” Actually Do?
Google’s Storage saver compresses photos to 16 megapixels and compresses videos to 1080p. This means a 48-megapixel photo from a modern phone will be downscaled to 16 MP, which is still enough for most social media and small prints. The compression also reduces file size by re-encoding the image, which can drop quality in areas with fine textures or gradients.
For most casual users, Storage saver is indistinguishable from original quality on a phone screen. However, if you edit photos heavily, crop into them, or print large formats, the difference becomes noticeable. The same logic applies to video: 1080p is fine for streaming, but 4K footage will lose detail when compressed.
Common Problems and Misconceptions
One common misconception is that changing the backup quality setting will retroactively compress your existing backups. It does not. The setting only affects new uploads. Another issue is that some services, like Google Photos, have ended free unlimited storage for Storage saver photos. As of June 2021, all new photos and videos count toward your Google account’s 15 GB of free storage, regardless of quality. This means “Storage saver” no longer saves you from storage limits—it only reduces the file size, so you can fit more before hitting the cap.
Another problem: if you delete the original photo from your device after backing up in Storage saver, you cannot recover the original quality later. The compressed version is all you have. Always keep a local copy or an external backup of your originals if you care about maximum quality.
How to Choose the Right Quality for You
There is no single right answer, but here are some factors to consider:
- Storage space: If you have a small storage plan (e.g., 5 GB or 15 GB), Storage saver is often the better choice to avoid paying for more space.
- Photo usage: If you only share photos on social media or view them on screens, compressed quality is fine.
- Editing and printing: If you use Lightroom, Photoshop, or print large formats, keep originals.
- Future-proofing: Original quality is safer if you think you might need the full resolution later.
- Video quality: If you shoot 4K video, original quality is strongly recommended, as 1080p compression is a big downgrade.
You can also mix and match: back up your phone photos in Storage saver, but manually upload your important DSLR or mirrorless camera shots in original quality.
Costs and Storage Limits
Most cloud services give you a small amount of free storage (e.g., 5 GB for iCloud, 15 GB for Google, 5 GB for OneDrive). Once you exceed that, you must pay for a subscription. For example, Google One offers 100 GB for a monthly fee, and Apple’s iCloud+ starts at 50 GB. The cost is usually a few dollars per month, but it adds up over time. Storage saver can help you stay within the free tier longer, but it does not eliminate the need for paid storage if you have a large library.
If you have a very large photo collection, consider a local backup solution like an external hard drive or a NAS. These are one-time costs and give you full control over quality and privacy, but they require manual management and are vulnerable to theft, fire, or hardware failure. A hybrid approach—local backup for originals and cloud backup for convenience—is often the most robust.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does changing backup quality affect photos already backed up?
No. Changing the setting only applies to new uploads. Existing photos keep the quality they were uploaded with. To get higher quality for an existing photo, you would need to delete the backup and re-upload the original file, if you still have it.
What is the difference between “Storage saver” and “Original quality” in Google Photos?
Storage saver compresses photos to 16 megapixels and videos to 1080p, which reduces file size. Original quality keeps the full resolution and file size. Both count toward your storage quota now, but original quality uses more space per file.
Is it better to back up in original quality or storage saver?
It depends on your needs. If you value maximum quality for editing or printing, choose original. If you want to save space and don’t need large files, storage saver is fine. Consider your storage plan and how you use your photos.
Can I change the backup quality for videos separately?
In most services, the quality setting applies to both photos and videos. Google Photos’ Storage saver compresses videos to 1080p, while original quality keeps them as-is. There is usually no separate toggle for videos.
Will I lose quality if I switch from original to storage saver?
Only for new uploads. Existing originals remain untouched. New photos will be compressed to 16 MP and videos to 1080p, which may be lower than your camera’s output.
How do I know if my backup is in original quality?
In Google Photos, open a photo and tap the info icon (i). It will show “Original” or “Storage saver” next to the file details. In iCloud, you can check the file size and resolution in the Photos app on a Mac by selecting the photo and pressing Command+I.
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