How to Get Unlimited Google Photos Storage With a Pixel 1

You Have a Pixel 1 But You're Still Running Out of Storage

The original Google Pixel (2016) came with unlimited original quality Google Photos uploads for life. No storage limits, no compression, no expiration date. You'd think that means free storage forever — but if you're reading this, you've probably noticed your Google storage is still filling up.

The catch: only photos uploaded through the Pixel 1 get unlimited storage. Photos uploaded from your laptop, a different phone, the web interface, or any other app count against your 15 GB Google One quota like normal. If you've been using Google Photos across multiple devices for years, a large chunk of your library is eating your storage even though you own a Pixel 1.

The frustrating part isn't the policy — it's figuring out which photos count and which don't. Google doesn't give you a list.

Which Photos Count Against Your Google Photos Quota

Google changed its storage policy in June 2021. Before that date, all Google Photos users got unlimited "high quality" (slightly compressed) uploads. After June 2021, every new photo counts against your quota — unless it's uploaded through a Pixel 1 or Pixel XL.

The Google One storage manager shows your total usage, but it doesn't tell you which individual photos are the culprits. That's the gap.

How to Find Photos That Count Against Your Storage

This is the step nobody explains well. You know some photos count and some don't, but how do you actually find the ones eating your quota?

Snapback (free Chrome extension) has a "quota only" checkbox that downloads only the photos counting against your storage. Instead of re-downloading your entire library and guessing which ones count, Snapback targets exactly the photos eating your space.

Check the "quota only" box, hit Start Backup, and Snapback downloads only the quota-counting photos — skipping everything that's already free. No need to re-download your entire library.

Step-by-Step: Free Up Storage With Your Pixel 1

1. Download quota-counting photos with Snapback

1. Install Snapback from the Chrome Web Store (free).
2. Open photos.google.com and click the Snapback icon in your toolbar.
3. Check the "Quota only" checkbox. Snapback filters your library to show only photos counting against your Google storage.
4. Click "Start Backup" to download just those photos. They'll be organized into date folders with JSON sidecar files containing the metadata.

2. Fix metadata before reuploading

When you reupload photos through Google Photos, the app reads EXIF metadata to set dates and locations. If the metadata isn't embedded in the photo file, your reuploaded photos will show today's date instead of when they were taken.

Snapback saves metadata as JSON sidecar files — the same format Google Takeout uses. Run your downloaded photos through Metadata Fixer to write dates, GPS coordinates, and descriptions directly into the photo files. Drag and drop the download folder into Metadata Fixer and it handles the rest.

3. Transfer photos to your Pixel 1

Connect your Pixel 1 to your computer via USB. Copy the fixed photos to the Pixel's internal storage — the DCIM folder or any folder works. You can also use a file manager app or transfer wirelessly if USB isn't convenient.

4. Reupload through the Pixel

Open Google Photos on your Pixel 1. It will detect the new photos and start uploading them. Since the upload originates from the Pixel 1, Google stores them at original quality without counting against your quota. Wait for the upload to finish — check the Google Photos app's backup status to confirm everything synced.

5. Delete the old quota-counting copies

Once the Pixel-uploaded versions are confirmed in your library, go back to Snapback and click "Delete exported" — it removes the original quota-counting copies from Google Photos in one step. Check your Google One storage afterwards to confirm the space was reclaimed.

Frequently Asked Questions