PSA: Google Photos Unlimited Storage Ends Next Month, Here's How to Export Your Pictures to iCloud

[FasterQuieter]

I have about 120,000 photos. When I tried putting them in iCloud, which took days, the thumbs alone took up 10GB of local storage on every device. As this is crazy, I removed them all. The thumbs somehow remained, using up all that storage. I had to factory reset both my phone and iPad to remove them. Never again.

 

[zorinlynx]

Not sure why people would switch to iCloud, Google Photos is still better. iCloud is what $120 a year for 2 TB, Google Storage is $100 TB. Google Photos has far superior tagging and searching capabilities which are critical for finding photos these days since we take so many. I mean those two reasons alone would make me want to keep my photos on Google Photos. Nothing is free, storage costs money, mobile apps cost money. I have no issues with Google Photos costing money as it is the best photo storage service still. My one complaint is the massive hole between their 2TB tier and the 10TB tier.. why not a 5TB tier in the middle?

Google Photos is too good for me to abandon. I would love the have my photos in the Apple ecosystem but iCloud just doesn't have the feature set to compete with Google Photos. I'll be upgrading my Google Photos account to a paid plan and continuing to back up there.

I'm curious if you two are Windows users or Mac users. I can understand Windows users sticking with Google Photos, as Apple doesn't have good options for using iCloud Photo Library from a Windows machine. But us Mac users have Photos.app, which is awesome. It can keep an entire copy of your photo library synced to your computer (you should ALWAYS have a local copy of your photos!) and has fairly good editing and management features. Not only that but it performs a lot better than the Google Photos web app and works offline.

Just wondering, as I've used both Google Photos and iCloud Photos and Google just can't compare, it's just not even close if you have a Mac.

 

[JosephAW]

Another free option (for now) of nearly unlimited photo storage is using iCloud Shared Albums (Apple: The photos and videos in your Shared Albums are kept in iCloud, but they don't count against your iCloud storage limit.) (ie: I have the 5gb free plan)

Other iPhone users can contribute and comment on your photos and can be shared to non-iPhone users for viewing via web link sharing.

While each album is limited to 5000 items and a limit of 200 albums per account with 1000 items per hour. You can se this place to store/share vacation photos and events without worrying about using up iCloud plans.
Yes the photos are reduced some from their original size and videos are limited to 15 minutes, it’s still very usable. And if possible store the original photos on your computer or personal network storage device that way you still have a good copy.

And if for some reason use up the 200 albums, most people have multiple iCloud accounts and you can share from your iPhone to another iCloud account that you’ve granted access to a shared album so technically there’s no limitation at this time.

Now that Google has change their photo storage I’m hoping that Apple does not follow suit.

This is a hidden feature that most iPhone users don’t take a vantage of or even know about, but it’s very powerful and free.

Read more at Apple: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202299

 

[hagar]

Google Photos is too good for me to abandon. I would love the have my photos in the Apple ecosystem but iCloud just doesn't have the feature set to compete with Google Photos. I'll be upgrading my Google Photos account to a paid plan and continuing to back up there.

What features are that? I haven‘t ever touched Google Photos but I always assumed it was like Apple Photos with the added bonus of your photos being data mined. I can imagine the search function being much better though. What else?

 

[01Shambrook]

I went through this process last month, and I'm sorry to say that this article hardly even skims the surface about how painful this process actually is. Here's why:

• If you have a lot of photos, Google Takeout will export them as 2GB zip files, which you have to download one by one. I had around 130 to download, which took ages. Also, your Google Takeout export only remains available for around 2 weeks before it's deleted, so you're against the clock to do the below.
• When downloading these files, you better have a MacBook that has enough storage. I have a MBP with 256GB which I ended up completely resetting so that I could have enough space to download the files.
• The killer bit of all this: when you upload the photos through Apple's Photos app, Photos essentially makes a copy of them in its Library file. This very quickly takes up any leftover space on the MacBook, at which point Photos refuses to upload them to iCloud, citing lack of storage space. I ended up having to follow some steps to create a separate partition of my hard drive with a limited amount of space, and move my Photos Library file into there. That way, Apple Photos would pick up sooner that the drive was full, and delete uploaded files from the local drive.
• If you're transitioning from an Android phone, there's extra, pretty awful news; iCloud distinguishes the date of your photos by a certain EXIF date ("DateTimeOriginal"), but Android does it by the photo's "File Created" date. This has the side effect of meaning that the Photos app thinks all of your photos were taken on the same day (i.e. the day you downloaded them), because it couldn't find a date stamp. This meant I had to buy a separate Mac app, which would go through my photos and copy the Date Created field to the relevant EXIF fields.

So just to be clear:

1. Download a couple of zip files from Google Photos
2. Unzip them and run them through a tool that will change the date stamps as above
3. Import to Photos app, wait for them to upload
4. Delete zip and unzipped files.
5. Repeat 1-4

Hopefully you can see now, this is not an easy process, and took me at least a week. It's really frustrating when you consider that there's a tool for moving your iCloud photos to Google Photos in the cloud, but not the reverse.

 

[hagar]

I guess the value of AI training people were providing (most without realizing it). Plus the value of data mining is no longer cost efficient for Google. Given how much larger files are with high res pictures, live photos, HDR and 4k 60FPS video shot by phones.

So, if I pay for storage. Does that mean Google no longer gets free data mining or AI training from me?

Of course it doesn’t. Google does what Google does. But this move clearly shows Apple has the more profitable business model in the long run.

 

[KanosWRX]

Of course it doesn’t. Google does what Google does. But this move clearly shows Apple has the more profitable business model in the long run.

And a less impressive service at the end of the day as well... In this case the Apple Tax isn't getting you a better product. I love my iPhone but hate Apple photo products and icloud. Google is far superior on the software side for a reason. Why limit yourself, use the best of both worlds, at least here you have the option.

 

[hagar]

And a less impressive service at the end of the day as well... In this case the Apple Tax isn't getting you a better product. I love my iPhone but hate Apple photo products and icloud. Google is far superior on the software side for a reason. Why limit yourself, use the best of both worlds, at least here you have the option.

That’s why I never touched Google Photos. I don’t know what I’m missing. I’ll just have to have faith Apple Photos will continue to improve and add features. Which I’m sure Apple will do because the camera and photos are at the heart of the iPhone experience. Unlike many other apps and services Apple builds and then forgets about.

 

[Arsenikdote]

Not sure why people would switch to iCloud, Google Photos is still better. iCloud is what $120 a year for 2 TB, Google Storage is $100 TB. Google Photos has far superior tagging and searching capabilities which are critical for finding photos these days since we take so many. I mean those two reasons alone would make me want to keep my photos on Google Photos. Nothing is free, storage costs money, mobile apps cost money. I have no issues with Google Photos costing money as it is the best photo storage service still. My one complaint is the massive hole between their 2TB tier and the 10TB tier.. why not a 5TB tier in the middle?

Apple will protect your privacy and data from the free option up to your mentioned $120 option. Google will mine and sell your data from the free option up to your mentioned $100 option.

"Google Photos is still better"? Hmmm, interesting way of measuring apps

 

[foobarbaz]

Biggest issue: live pictures arent exported correctly. They work fine in google photos but when I export and upload them to say Amazon Photos I have a picture and a 2 second video :/

That's what live photos are, even in Apple Photos.
Sounds like an import problem instead.

 

[dukeblue219]

Google Photos has a MUCH better search, syncing that actually works reliably, and a great web interface. If I need to pull a photo from my phone onto my work computer it's trivial to open photos.google.com and it's right there. Can't tell you how many times our iDevices has randomly stopped syncing with iCloud but it's a whole lot more often than Google.

It's also a lot easier to bulk upload/download to and from Google than iCloud.

Use whatever you like, but Google Photos, like Microsoft Edge, aren't bad just because they're not Apple.

 

[apparatchik]

Not sure why people would switch to iCloud, Google Photos is still better. iCloud is what $120 a year for 2 TB, Google Storage is $100 TB. Google Photos has far superior tagging and searching capabilities which are critical for finding photos these days since we take so many. I mean those two reasons alone would make me want to keep my photos on Google Photos. Nothing is free, storage costs money, mobile apps cost money. I have no issues with Google Photos costing money as it is the best photo storage service still. My one complaint is the massive hole between their 2TB tier and the 10TB tier.. why not a 5TB tier in the middle?

Because it's not about you, it's about Google maximizing revenue, Google knows there are people that need 2.5 TB, 3 TB, and so on, they want to cash in on those users, they couldn't charge you a lot more for just 0.5TB as that would look bad, hence, their next tier is 10TB, and all the market segment needing more than 2TB will pay a fixed amount. maximizing profits. This is common practice by the way.

Just like with low-cost and ultra-low-cost airlines, if your carry-on is half pound over the limit, you have to pony up to have it checked, if you could pay by the gram the business model wouldn't fly.

 

[827538]

I've completely removed myself from all Google products at this point. If they aren't going to kill/kneecap a service or product they are going to harvest every last shred of data from you.

Switched to Duckduckgo and love having uncensored results once again.

I've basically totally entrenched myself in Apple's ecosystem and see no reason to move, privacy, support, best hardware/software around. Not saying there's not areas Apple can't improve but they pretty much have the best of the best.
iPhone, AirPods, M1 MacBook Pro, Apple Watch all integrated together - show me an alternative to that? This is coming from an engineer who's historically been a Windows/Linux guy.

 

[Aoligei]

What features are that? I haven‘t ever touched Google Photos but I always assumed it was like Apple Photos with the added bonus of your photos being data mined. I can imagine the search function being much better though. What else?

1. Since my primary email is gmail. Believe or not, gmail is vastly superior than iCloud mail. I always have problem with my iCloud mail syncing. Gmail also categories emails, so it is easier for me to view my email. Since I logged into my gmail account on Safari, Microsoft Edge etc. I can always view my Google Photos without need to log into separate account.

2. Cross platform. Since I use Mac, Windows, Android, iOS. It is essential for me to have cross platform compatibility. Since Apple does not offer iCloud for Android, it is no go for me.

3. Google photo is better on facial recognition, better tagging, better search and better UI than iCloud photo. It is also easier to share photos to others.

 

[Aoligei]

Apple will protect your privacy and data from the free option up to your mentioned $120 option. Google will mine and sell your data from the free option up to your mentioned $100 option.

"Google Photos is still better"? Hmmm, interesting way of measuring apps

Well..I don't really care or mind Google mine my data.. It is not like I will suffer any loss... I don't understand this privacy thing, it is overblown..

 

[Aoligei]

I've completely removed myself from all Google products at this point. If they aren't going to kill/kneecap a service or product they are going to harvest every last shred of data from you.

Switched to Duckduckgo and love having uncensored results once again.

I've basically totally entrenched myself in Apple's ecosystem and see no reason to move, privacy, support, best hardware/software around. Not saying there's not areas Apple can improve but they pretty much have the best of the best.
iPhone, AirPods, M1 MacBook Pro, Apple Watch all integrated together - show me an alternative to that? This is coming from an engineer who's historically been a Windows/Linux guy.

Do you still watch YouTube? If you do, they you aren't completely removed yourself from all Google Products. Just saying.

It is your opinion that iPhone, AirPods, M1 MacBook Pro, Apple Watch are good and well integrated together.

So is my Google Pixel, Google Chromebook, Android watch etc. They all well integrated together. But you aren't going to use it.

 

[827538]

Do you still watch YouTube? If you do, they you aren't completely removed yourself from all Google Products. Just saying.

It is your opinion that iPhone, AirPods, M1 MacBook Pro, Apple Watch are good and well integrated together.

So is my Google Pixel, Google Chromebook, Android watch etc. They all well integrated together. But you aren't going to use it.

Yup, moved to Bitchute/Vimeo. Most channels I watch are already on there. I'm done with their selective censorship and stupid decisions regarding Youtube.

I have a friend who was green with envy when I got my Series 6 Apple Watch and compared to his Galaxy wear thing it looked so much better, his for example wouldn't work with his Authenticator App while mine did for example, being able to unlock my MacBook was another.

Sorry but a Chromebook is a giant steaming pile of ****. Not even in the same league as a MacBook Pro.

I take it you don't have an issue with all your data being harvested and sold to 3rd party companies? It's a serious question, I would pay Apple to keep my data private but they do it for free.

Android phones are probably where they are actually competitive and even there the UI/software on the Galaxy S series I've used feel like off-brand iPhones with odd inconsistencies. While I actually think both iPhones and the latest Galaxy S series have more performance than I would ever really need, iPhones hand down win in terms of performance and efficiency, it's not even close. The latest S21 is barely competitive with the previous 11 Pro.

The only thing I can think where Apple loses is in cost, but it's made up for in terms of long term support, my iPhone 6s that I'm about to replace with a 13 Pro is still getting all the updates and features half a decade on, the 7 year old 5S still gets occasional security updates.

 

[Arsenikdote]

Well..I don't really care or mind Google mine my data.. It is not like I will suffer any loss... I don't understand this privacy thing, it is overblown..

That is why I said it was interesting. I don't wear a tin foil hat or anything. I am in favor of targeted advertisements. However, there is a LARGE gap between all of that and what companies do with this sold data.

I am ok with everyone having their opinion, and if it is different than mine, that is great since it makes the world a better place to have different points of view.

I am also in favor of people being educated, if they want to be. When you say you think the privacy thing is overblown, is that considering how companies such as Facebook is using this type of data to manipulate people into behaving certain ways? Again, not conspiracy stuff, truly documented things within the advertising industry. I have been personally shown and pitched the benefits for a company I was consulting for. How using human behavior and psychology, these companies are truly affecting the behavior patterns of people. Think of it this way, if you have ever seen a movie where someone takes advantage of someone who just had a major loss in their life, you would see that person as a creep. Now imagine that creep has access to millions of people's data and instead of just being "at the right place at the right time" to take advantage, they can not only target the right place, but in some cases CREATE the right place. Again, this is not tin hat stuff, this is what I was literally shown in charts and graphs and sales metrics by one of the largest marketing companies in the US.

Again, I am in favor of targeted advertising and I don't think "big data" is bad. However, there are things to be concerned about from a privacy perspective if you care about not being manipulated.

 

[falainber]

Yup, moved to Bitchute/Vimeo. Most channels I watch are already on there. I'm done with their selective censorship and stupid decisions regarding Youtube.

I have a friend who was green with envy when I got my Series 6 Apple Watch and compared to his Galaxy wear thing it looked so much better, his for example wouldn't work with his Authenticator App while mine did for example, being able to unlock my MacBook was another.

Sorry but a Chromebook is a giant steaming pile of ****. Not even in the same league as a MacBook Pro.

I take it you don't have an issue with all your data being harvested and sold to 3rd party companies? It's a serious question, I would pay Apple to keep my data private but they do it for free.

Android phones are probably where they are actually competitive and even there the UI/software on the Galaxy S series I've used feel like off-brand iPhones with odd inconsistencies. While I actually think both iPhones and the latest Galaxy S series have more performance than I would ever really need, iPhones hand down win in terms of performance and efficiency, it's not even close. The latest S21 is barely competitive with the previous 11 Pro.

The only thing I can think where Apple loses is in cost, but it's made up for in terms of long term support, my iPhone 6s that I'm about to replace with a 13 Pro is still getting all the updates and features half a decade on, the 7 year old 5S still gets occasional security updates.

"I take it you don't have an issue with all your data being harvested and sold to 3rd party companies?" Nobody in their right mind have an issue with that because it's an obvious lie.

 

[Aoligei]

"I take it you don't have an issue with all your data being harvested and sold to 3rd party companies?" Nobody in their right mind have an issue with that because it's an obvious lie.

I really don't care. Whether you like it or not, your data a being harvested. Do you truly believe Apple doesn't collect your data and using your data to improve or probably target you for more profit?

Do you carry your phone with you everyday? Do you seriously think your phone provider does not look at your data and not profit off from your data. Regardless they are selling to 3rd party companies?

Do you really think your government is not collecting data about every living citizen in your country? Whether it is using data to improve government services, offering tax credit or refunds or using it to target certain demographics?

I really don't care what Google do to my data, it is unavoidable. I might as well take advantage of free staffs offered by Google and improve my livelihood with that.

Big data is the future, every company in the world using big data for one thing to other. They have your data and they will use to their advantage and ultimately profit off from your data.

 

[A MacBook lover]

Not sure why people would switch to iCloud, Google Photos is still better. iCloud is what $120 a year for 2 TB, Google Storage is $100 TB. Google Photos has far superior tagging and searching capabilities which are critical for finding photos these days since we take so many. I mean those two reasons alone would make me want to keep my photos on Google Photos. Nothing is free, storage costs money, mobile apps cost money. I have no issues with Google Photos costing money as it is the best photo storage service still. My one complaint is the massive hole between their 2TB tier and the 10TB tier.. why not a 5TB tier in the middle?

But it’s google, why trust google.

 

[fredrik9]

Google Photos is too good for me to abandon. I would love the have my photos in the Apple ecosystem but iCloud just doesn't have the feature set to compete with Google Photos. I'll be upgrading my Google Photos account to a paid plan and continuing to back up there.

What feature set does Google Photo have that iCloud doesn't? I haven't heard of anything special?

 

[KanosWRX]

Apple will protect your privacy and data from the free option up to your mentioned $120 option. Google will mine and sell your data from the free option up to your mentioned $100 option.

"Google Photos is still better"? Hmmm, interesting way of measuring apps

Sure, if 100% data privacy is critical to your life then sure feel free to use the service that best serves that need. If a better app with better features matters then Google Photos is the better option. Its not like my photos are going out on the public internet to be sold, I have never heard of a data breach from Google Photos either, I trust Google to have some of the best if not the best security on the planet actually. Do I feel like the better service is worth them mining some of my data, yep, and that's why I use it.. But if an inferier product meets your needs from both a productivity and privacy standpoint then more power to you.

 

[Program_Install]

Google offers a lot of great services, personally I just cannot associate. Something always feels so compromising with them. To each their own.

I am curious about those that will upgrade to a paid tier, what features for you are missing in iCloud that prevents you from making the switch?

 

[Agit21]

iCloud and Apple Services in General are a nightmare if you use android windows and or ios devices. If you only use Apple devices, iCloud is fine I guess.