Google Photos might skip saving big RAW files to free up space
Samsung phones let you take pictures in common formats like JPEG and HEIF, which are smaller, or in DNG, a raw format that’s not squeezed down. Raw photos keep more details and are great for serious editing, unlike JPEG or HEIF.
But here’s the catch—raw images are huge compared to the smaller formats. If you’re storing photos on Google Photos, those big raw files eat up your cloud space fast, and that storage isn’t cheap. The good news: Google seems to be fixing this by stopping raw images from automatically saving to Google Photos.
How Google Plans to Handle RAW Files
A report from Android Authority found clues in the latest Pixel Camera app (version 9.8). There’s a line of code saying, “Show option to turn on RAW+JPEG in the viewer. RAW files keep details and give more editing power, but they take up more room. RAW photos won’t save to the cloud by default.”
Before, the app said raw files would save if auto-backup was on. They also spotted hints that the app might sort JPEGs into one folder and raw files into another on your phone to keep things tidy. From this, it seems Google’s adding a choice—maybe in Android, the Pixel Camera app, or Google Photos—to stop raw files from uploading. This could save you tons of cloud space, which isn’t free.
Samsung Phones Add Extra Options
Galaxy phones can already save pictures in both small and raw formats at the same time. With Google’s new idea, the smaller JPEG version could go to Google Photos for easy sharing with friends or posting online, while the raw version stays off the cloud. This saves space and lets you edit the raw copy like a pro whenever you want.
We’re hoping Google rolls this out to Samsung phones too, maybe through a Google Photos update or Google Play System tweak. That way, it’s not just Pixel owners who get the perk—everyone could enjoy the extra space and flexibility.
