How to compress pictures and videos in Google Photos uploaded in original quality

Last year, Google Photos featured introduced rules according to which all images, regardless of quality, now take up space on the "Disk". Only 15 GB is available for free. And if you already lack them, perhaps compression of already loaded images will help you out.

This advice is suitable for those who used auto-upload of photos and videos in their original quality, that is, in their original resolution, and now want to reduce their weight and at least free up some memory. Here's how to do it:

• Open Google Photos in a browser on your PC and navigate to settings.

• In the "Quality of uploaded photos and videos" option, select "File compression" and click "Free up space".

• Confirm the action by pressing the "Compress" button.

After that, compression will be applied to all photos and videos uploaded in original quality. The squeezing process can take more than an hour and cannot be undone.

As a rule, photos with a resolution of more than 16 megapixels and videos with a quality higher than 1080p are compressed. And files uploaded directly to Google Drive are not affected by this operation.

Compressed photos, although they will weigh less, are quite suitable even for printing - with a size up to 61 × 41 cm (the maximum allowed by Google).