Google Photos for Android has introduced a new feature, automatically backing up all RAW images, as reported by 9to5Google. Users of the Pixel 8, who were previously capturing RAW photos with the Pixel Camera app, recently noticed a banner in Google Photos that reads, “New RAW photos will appear in the Photos view and will now be backed up.” It’s important to note that existing RAW images on the device will not be uploaded automatically.
When a RAW photo is selected, a JPEG version is simultaneously captured and automatically uploaded to Google Photos. While this may be convenient for some users, especially if you frequently take RAW photos, it’s worth considering that RAW files are larger than JPEG files and can quickly consume your Google One storage. Additionally, uploading RAW images will consume more data.
According to the source, the uploaded image will be visible in the main “Photos” tab within the Google Photos app, marked with a “RAW” label in the top-right corner. The associated JPEG file is categorized as part of the “Burst,” and a switcher option appears at the bottom when you open a RAW file, allowing you to switch between the JPEG and RAW versions.
When viewing a RAW file, you have the options to “Set as main photo” and “Keep this photo only.” In contrast, when viewing a JPEG, you can choose to “Export this photo” or “Keep this photo only.”
For users with limited Google One storage, it is advisable to shoot only in JPEG format, as there is currently no straightforward way to restrict the automatic uploading of RAW images to Google Photos.