How to Free Up Storage With Google Photos on Android

You can use Google Photos to save space on your Android device when you delete photos that are safely backed up Google Photos Help. This guide explains how to check your backup status, delete local media files, and continue viewing your items.

Verifying Google Photos backups on Android

Before you use this feature, you must ensure that you have already backed up your photos properly Google Photos Help. To verify this, open the Google Photos app, tap your account profile photo or initial at the top, select Photos settings, and then tap Back up Google Photos Help.

As a practical suggestion to spot-check your media, scroll through your photo grid. At the bottom right of each thumbnail, backed up photos or videos are tagged with Backed up Google Photos Help. Photos that aren't backed up do not have this icon Google Photos Help.

Deleting local copies to clear Android storage

On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Photos app and sign in to your Google Account Google Photos Help. Tap your account profile photo or initial and then choose Free up space on this device Google Photos Help.

You will see how much space will be freed up Google Photos Help. To delete all the items from your phone, tap Free up [x] from device Google Photos Help.

Accessing photos after removing local copies

If you remove copies of photos and videos on your Android device, they are now deleted, but you can still see your photos and videos—including the ones you just removed—in the Google Photos app and at photos.google.com Google Photos Help. Photos and videos that are fewer than 30 days old may be retained on your device, and they will still be backed up in your Google Photos library Google Photos Help.

You will not be able to see photos and videos you removed if you use your mobile device's built-in gallery, if you are offline, or if you are not signed in to the Google Photos app Google Photos Help.

MemoryFrame

Make something from the photograph that matters

Bring your photograph and its story to MemoryFrame to begin a piece of artwork.

Start your MemoryFrame

Sources and further reading

• support.google.com/photos/answer/9343402
• support.google.com/photos/answer/6128843