Google Photos may soon offer its Storage Saver feature on the mobile app, allowing users to conserve storage without having to pay for additional space. Currently, Storage Saver is only accessible on the web version of Google Photos, where it compresses backed-up media to save space. While additional storage options start at $1.99/month, those unwilling to subscribe can either compress their media or delete photos to free up space. The potential introduction of Storage Saver to the mobile app was uncovered through an APK deep dive, although its official release is not confirmed and subject to change by Google.
There is no way to reverse the compression process, as indicated by the strings in the feature. The “Yes” button confirms your choice to compress data, with a warning that the action is permanent. Once compressed, the data cannot be restored to its original quality. The difference in quality may vary depending on the type of media, but photographers concerned about photo quality may opt not to compress backed-up photos. Additionally, users can only compress media once daily, which is an unusual limitation. Nonetheless, when storage space is scarce and no other solutions are available, compression can at least help conserve some space.