Google Photos has introduced a new feature on its Android app, enabling automatic backup of RAW images, as reported by 9to5Google. Users of the Pixel 8 who previously captured RAW pictures using the Pixel Camera app recently discovered a banner notification in Google Photos, stating, “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 user selects a RAW photo for backup, a corresponding JPEG version is also captured and automatically uploaded to Google Photos. While this is a convenient feature, it may not be ideal for those who frequently shoot in RAW, as RAW files are larger in size compared to JPEG, potentially filling up your Google One storage quickly. Additionally, the automatic upload of RAW images will consume more data.
According to the source, the uploaded image will appear in the primary “Photos” tab within the Google Photos app, with the “RAW” label located in the top-right corner. The accompanying JPEG file is considered part of the “Burst” and can be switched between JPEG and RAW using a switcher that appears at the bottom when a RAW file is opened.
When viewing a RAW file, users have the options to “Set as main photo” or “Keep this photo only.” In contrast, JPEG images offer the options to “Export this photo” or “Keep this photo only.”
If you have limited Google One storage available, it is advisable to shoot in JPEG only, as there is no straightforward way to restrict the automatic upload of RAW images to Google Photos.
