Pixel User Replaces Google Photos With Offline Gallery by Google Over 15GB Storage Limit
Updated
Updated · Android Police · Jul 19
Pixel User Replaces Google Photos With Offline Gallery by Google Over 15GB Storage Limit
3 articles · Updated · Android Police · Jul 19
Summary
Gallery by Google became the author's main Pixel photo app after Google Photos kept consuming space from a shared 15GB Google account used for Gmail and Drive.
The switch hinged on local storage: Gallery by Google works offline, avoids cloud backup by default, and can move photos to microSD storage on supported devices.
Its trade-off is a much thinner feature set—no locked folder and only basic editing such as auto-enhance, filters, crop, and rotate, without Google Photos' AI tools like Magic Editor.
The app is not preinstalled on Pixel and must be downloaded from the Play Store, while the author also flagged concern that Google could eventually discontinue the lightweight alternative.
For users seeking similar privacy-focused options, the report points to open-source Fossify Gallery as a possible fallback if Gallery by Google does not last.