Downloading videos from Google Photos should be a straightforward process, but sometimes you might encounter problems where the downloaded video doesn’t play correctly on your computer or other devices. This can be frustrating, especially when you want to save and share your precious memories. One common cause, particularly for Google Pixel users, lies within the camera settings themselves, specifically how videos are initially stored.
If you’re experiencing issues playing videos downloaded from Google Photos, especially on a Mac or when uploading to other online platforms, the culprit might be your Google Pixel’s camera “efficient storage” setting. This setting, designed to save storage space on your phone, can sometimes create compatibility issues with other devices and video players.
The solution, as discovered by a user facing this exact problem, involves adjusting a setting directly within your Google Pixel camera app. By default, Google Pixel phones may use an efficient video storage format, which, while saving space, may not be universally compatible. Changing this setting ensures your videos are recorded in a more widely supported format, resolving playback problems after downloading from Google Photos.
To fix this, you need to disable the “efficient storage” option in your Google Pixel camera settings. While this might mean your videos take up slightly more space on your phone, it ensures they are recorded in a format that is easily playable across different devices once downloaded from Google Photos. After making this change, test it out by recording a short video, uploading it to Google Photos, and then downloading it to your computer. You should find that the downloaded video now plays without any issues.
So, while Google Photos provides a convenient way to back up and access your videos, ensuring your camera settings are optimized for compatibility is key to a seamless download and playback experience. By turning off the efficient storage option on your Google Pixel, you can avoid video playback headaches and enjoy your downloaded memories without frustration.
