Google Bows Storage Before June 1 Photo Plan Change

Google clarified its updated policy on high-quality Google Photos storage as it prepares for a June 1 changeover to new plans. It announced Google One in November, with 100 GB plans starting at $1.99 a month, to “keep pace with the growing demand for storage and build Google Photos for the future.” Google customers continue to get 15 GB of storage free. Their existing photos and videos are exempt from the change, and won’t count toward Google account storage, it said Monday. The company estimates more than 80% of customers should be able to store “three more years of memories in High quality” with the 15-GB allowance. Customers approaching the ceiling will be notified by email. Google began rolling out a tool in the Photos app to help customers manage their backed up photos and videos that count toward their storage quota. The storage management tool “surfaces photos or videos you might want to delete” such as blurry photos, screenshots and large videos,” it said.