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If you can live with some compression being applied to your files, Google Photos offers a reliable and free method for storing your photos and videos. The platform can also be used for storing original-quality JPGs and Raw files but those files will count against your quota and once you’re out of storage you’ll have to pay for extra space.
Depending on the file types you are storing, some of your video files might now count against the quota as well. Google has introduced new rules to make unsupported videos count against your Google account storage quota. One of the reasons for this move — but likely not the only one — might be that some users apparently used fake file extensions to disguise unsupported files.
Whatever the reasons, to not count against your quota from now on video files have to be at least one second long, be of the right file type, be playable by Google Photos and be playable when downloaded to your device. Below are the file types accepted by Google:
- Photos: .jpg, .png, .webp and some RAW files.
- Live photos can be backed up if you use the Google Photos app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Videos: .mpg, .mod, .mmv, .tod, .wmv, .asf, .avi, .divx, .mov, .m4v, .3gp, .3g2, .mp4, .m2t, .m2ts, .mts, and .mkv files.
Any videos uploaded after December 6 which don’t comply with these requirements will take up storage space.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)