How to free up Gmail storage. Clear space and manage your Google account efficiently

Google provides 15GB of free storage shared across Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos. If your Gmail storage is full, it can prevent you from sending or receiving emails, impacting productivity. This guide will help you efficiently clear space and manage your Google account storage.

Step 1: Check Your Google Storage Usage

Before freeing up space, assess how much storage Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos are using:

1. Visit Google One Storage to see a breakdown of storage usage.
2. Identify whether Gmail is consuming the most space or if other services contribute to the limit.

Step 2: Delete Large and Unnecessary Emails

Gmail stores attachments, newsletters, and promotional emails that can consume significant space.

Find and Delete Large Emails

1. Open Gmail and enter the search query:
   • size:10MB (This finds emails larger than 10MB. Adjust the number as needed.)
2. Review and delete unnecessary emails with large attachments.
3. Empty the Trash folder by navigating to Trash > Empty Trash Now.

Delete Old Emails

1. Use search operators to filter old emails:
   • older_than:2y (Finds emails older than 2 years.)
   • before:2022/01/01 (Finds emails received before a specific date.)
2. Delete irrelevant old messages and clear the Trash folder.

Step 3: Unsubscribe from Unwanted Emails

Promotional emails and newsletters take up space over time.

• Open a promotional email and click Unsubscribe at the bottom.
• Use services like Unroll.Me or Gmail’s built-in “Unsubscribe” button.

Step 4: Delete Spam and Junk Emails

Spam emails pile up over time, consuming unnecessary storage.

• Navigate to Spam in Gmail.
• Click Delete All Spam Messages Now.

Step 5: Remove Attachments Without Deleting Emails

If you want to keep emails but remove their attachments, follow these steps:

1. Open an email with large attachments.
2. Download the attachment to your device or Google Drive.
3. Use the “Remove attachment” option and save the email without it.

Step 6: Use Google Drive and Photos Efficiently

Since Gmail shares storage with Google Drive and Google Photos, freeing up space in these services can help Gmail function smoothly.

Delete Large Files from Google Drive

1. Visit Google Drive to see large files.
2. Delete unnecessary files and empty the Trash.

Manage Google Photos Storage

1. Go to Google Photos.
2. Delete large videos and old screenshots.
3. Use Storage Saver mode to store compressed images.

Step 7: Archive Important Emails Instead of Keeping Them in Inbox

Archiving emails removes them from the inbox but keeps them stored in Gmail.

• Select emails and click the Archive button.
• Access them later from the All Mail section.

Step 8: Upgrade Google Storage (If Necessary)

If you frequently run out of storage despite cleaning, consider upgrading via Google One:

• Plans start at ₹130/month ($1.99/month) for 100GB.
• Visit Google One to explore options.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can free up Gmail storage, optimize your Google account, and ensure smooth email communication. Regularly decluttering your Gmail and other Google services will help you avoid storage issues in the long run.