PixelMask
Make Google Photos believe your phone is a Google Pixel — and unlock Pixel-only perks like free unlimited Original-quality backup on any rooted Android device.
Forked from BaltiApps/Pixelify-Google-Photos (EOL since 2024) and rebuilt on a modern stack.
What it does
Google Photos decides whether you're on a Pixel from two things:
- the device fingerprint (
Build.MANUFACTURER,MODEL,BRAND,FINGERPRINT) hasSystemFeature("PIXEL_<year>_EXPERIENCE")flags
PixelMask intercepts both, only inside Photos, and replies with the answers a Pixel of your choosing would give. Photos then turns on the perks tied to that Pixel.
Requirements
- Rooted Android 8.0 or newer (
arm64-v8a) - An Xposed framework: LSPosed on Magisk, or Vector on KernelSU / APatch
- Android 17: Vector canary-3112 or newer (v2.2 stable crashes Photos)
- Google Photos
Install
- Install the latest APK from Releases.
- In LSPosed / Vector, enable PixelMask and scope it to Google Photos.
Use it
- Open PixelMask → Settings tab → Target Device, and pick a Pixel.
- Tap Restart Google Photos.
The Home tab shows Active in Google Photos once the hook is running there.
Did it work?
Photos → account icon → Photos settings → Backup should show:
This Pixel can back up unlimited photos & videos at no charge.
If not, tap Report — Not working on the Home tab. It fills in the details we need, including what the hook did inside Photos.
Which Pixel should I pick?
| Target | What you get |
|---|---|
| Pixel (default) | Unlimited Original-quality backup |
| Pixel 2 – 5 | Unlimited Storage Saver backup |
| Pixel 6 / 7 (Pro) | No storage perk |
| Pixel 8 Pro | Video Boost, Night Sight Video |
| Pixel 9 Pro XL | Add Me, Reimagine, unlimited Magic Editor |
| Pixel 10 Pro XL | Latest Pixel AI features |
Updates
The Home tab tells you when a new version is out. Install it over the old one; settings are kept.
For developers
See docs/INTERNALS.md.
Credits
- BaltiApps/Pixelify-Google-Photos, the original project.
- Launcher icon adapted from Now in Android (Apache-2.0).
License
MIT — see LICENSE.
Disclaimer
For research and educational use. No warranty; use at your own risk.