Can you transfer your Google+ Photo Backup to the new Google Photo (to then delete from Google+)?

[Audemars02]

Can you transfer your Google+ Photo Backup to the new Google Photo (to then delete from Google+)

I had previously used Google+ Photo backup to backup my photos, at the original resolution. So, I have 14GB of photo backups eating away at my Google Drive storage limit.

I have recently set up the new Photos backup using "High Res" so I have unlimited uploads, and therefore don't need those 14GB anymore.

I am trying to figure out if there is an EASY way to transfer these photos from Google+ Backup to Google Photos so I can then delete the 14GB on Google Drive. I see ways for me to show the Google Drive photos on Google Photos, or I can go to Photos thru Google+, but I can't figure out a way to transfer them to Google Photos backup.

Also, how do you actually figure out what photos were previously backed up via Google+ so I can selectively delete them?


Does that make sense? Any thoughts?

Thanks!
Adam

 

[Andrew Martonik]

There's a fundamental issue with the way you're thinking about this that I think is making the issue more complicated than it ought to be.

If you've backed up something via Google+ Photos before, that's all now Google Photos. If you previously signed up for "show my Google+ Photos in Drive", those photos are also now just Google Photos. There's no difference in the databases or where the photos are stored. Anything that was in Google+ before is now part of Google Photos. They're one in the same, as evidenced by when you sign up for Google Photos and the entire library is already populated with your photos that used to be just in Google+.

The only way to know for sure that you've removed the 14GB of photos so they no longer count against your storage is to take them out of Google Drive completely, and then re-upload them via Google Photos (either the website or the desktop app) with the "High Quality" (free) upload setting turned on. Google doesn't let you sort or search for just photos that are counting against storage and those that are free.

But be aware that any photos you add to Google Photos are technically being saved into Google Drive regardless of whether you select "High Quality" or "Original". The only difference is that when they're uploaded they're marked as counting or not counting against your Drive storage. If you don't want to see the Google Photos folder inside your Drive, go into the Drive settings on the web and uncheck "Create a Google Photos folder".

 

[Audemars02]

yea, i totally get that.. my issue is that I have no idea how to even begin to figure out HOW to get the 14GB to no longer count against my limit. I would be fine if I had to download them just to reupload them, but first I would have to figure out how to know which ones are going against the quoto in the first place.

On the Google Drive Page, if i click on each photo, it shows the "Quoto Used" amount, but I now have over 20,000 pictures in Google Photos... how do I know which ones are going against the quoto and which aren't? thats my biggest issue

 

[Audemars02]

Also, got another odd one for you. When I go into the new Photos App, i actually cant enable Photo Backup in the settings there. I have to go into the Google+ app and set up the auto backup there. i have tried uninstalling the Photos app and "Disabling" the Google Plus app, then redownload Google Photos, but no mater what I do, it wont let me enable backup from Photos or select an account. But, I can view my images in Photos, act on Collections, and even upload/delete photos. any idea whats going on?

I have a verizon galaxy S4, but getting a new phone in the next week or so (leaving towards the G4)... so may just let it work itself out when I get the new device. but no matter what i do, i cant get it to work. thoughts?