Google Photos makes it easy to back up every photo and video you capture on your phone, but some of those files might eat into your Google storage allowance. You can let Google compress files or get a Pixel if you want unlimited storage, but it can be hard to keep track of all those files. If you want to know which files are taking up your space, Google Drive has the answer.
First, you need to find your Google Photos directory inside Google Drive, which should be in the Google Drive hierarchy. If it’s not there, check your Drive settings—you might have the option for “Create a Google Photos folder” disabled. When you find your file, check the details and look for the “Size” and “Storage used” lines. Size tells you how large the file is on Google’s servers, and the storage line indicates how much counts against your quota. Storage will be either the full size for uncompressed files or 0 bytes for compressed files and Pixel captures.
Left: A “free” storage item, Right: An item counting against your quota
You will only see the storage indicator when you access the details in the folder interface. If you open a photo or video and access the details from the slideshow UI, you only get the total file size. Just highlight the photo you want to check, right-click, and select “View details.” There’s also a details button on the far right of the toolbar.
