UW-Madison Google Workspace - Managing Google Photos
This document provides guidance on how to remove all files from the Google Photos app in response to the Reshaping the UW–Madison Google Workspace Service project.
Please note: Reducing Google Photos usage to 0 GB is a requirement to receive a long-term quota or a quota increase. Storage quota requests from accounts that still have Google Photos usage may result in a delayed response.
What is Google Photos?
The Google Photos app is non-core Google app that provides a location to back up photos and videos via a computer or mobile device. This application is not covered or protected by UW-Madison's contract with Google. Access to this app for UW-Madison Google Workspace accounts is gradually being phased out. Learn more about this change: https://kb.wisc.edu/googleapps/news.php?id=13320.
Please note: You can still save photos and videos in Google My Drive or a shared drive, but they cannot be saved in the Google Photos app moving forward.
How can I tell if my UW-Madison Google Workspace account is saving files in the Google Photos app?
You can view your account's storage usage here: https://drive.google.com/settings/storage.
The most common way individuals use this feature is by installing the Google Photos app on their mobile device and logging in with their UW-Madison Google Workspace account. The app will automatically backup photos and videos which consumes campus pooled storage.
How can I move or delete photos and videos from the Google Photos app?
Reminder: After deleting photos from the Google Photos app, please also empty the trash folder to reduce storage to 0 GB. Files in the trash folder still use storage. View the photos app trash folder.
Below are additional, optional steps:
What happens if I don't reduce my account's Google Photos usage to 0 GB?
One of the prerequisites for requesting a long-term storage quota or quota increase is to have 0 GB of Google Photos storage usage. Accounts that still have files in the Google Photos app may experience a delay in receiving a storage quota update and resolving the read-only state.
Please note: You can still save photos and videos in Google My Drive or a shared drive, but they cannot be saved in the Google Photos app moving forward.