Google Drive has become an indispensable tool for many people and companies of all sizes. It allows access to files anytime, anywhere, using an internet connection. As an integral part of Google account, Google Drive storage is shared with Google Mail or Gmail, Photos and more.
Understanding how to manage Google storage efficiently is crucial for keeping your files organized and preventing storage fill issues. In this informative blog, we will find various ways to manage Google storage to optimize your space and ensure a seamless Google experience.
Checking Your Drive Storage
Before we move into how to manage Google storage, it is very important to know how much storage is left in your Google Drive. To check available storage, go to https://one.google.com/storage. This simple check will give an overview of your Google Drive storage and how many steps you still have available.
Deleting Files in Google Drive
When you need to free-up your Google Drive, you first move unwanted files to the trash. Files in the trash are automatically deleted after 30 days, but you can restore them within this timeframe. To permanently delete files from the Drive, empty the trash. Just remember that when you delete or restore files, it will take time to reflect across your Google Drive.
Items Consume More Space
Google Drive: Most of the files in your My Drive, including PDF files, images, videos and more, contribute to storage. Additionally, files that delete end up in the trash until they are automatically deleted after 30 days.
Google Mail: In your Google Mail, messages and attachments, including emails in your spam folder and Trash folders, takes up space in your Google Storage.
Google Photos: Photos and videos in HD quality use your Google Storage. Starting from June 21, 2021, photos and videos in high definition take up your storage. However, older files uploaded before the above date won’t consume Storage space.
Items That Don’t Take Up Space
Some items (Sites, Drive, Photos and Videos) in your Google Account do not count against your Google storage limit:
Google Drive: Files in “share with me” and shared drives only occupy space in the property owners Google Drive not your Google Storage.
Google Sites: Google Sites (structured wiki and web page creation tool) don’t use your Google Account storage.
Collaboration Tools: Collaboration files such as Google Docs, sheets, slides, forms, jamboard and drawing created before June 1, 2021, and edited after above mentioned time do not account for your storage.
Google Photos: Your photos and videos uploaded in Google Drive in High quality before June 1, 2021, do not use your Google Account Storage.
Why is Google Storage Crucial?
Running out of Google Storage can lead to various problems and reduce Google user experience:
Google Mail: If you exceed your Google Storage or are inactive for two or more years, you won’t be able to send or receive any mail communications.
Google Drive: Once you run out of the Google Drive storage limit, you can’t upload or sync new files. Also, you can’t create new documents, presentations, spreadsheets and more.
Google Photos: When you run out of Google Storage, you can’t upload new images and videos. After two years of inactivity or running out of storage, all your photos and videos may be deleted.
Freeing Up the Google Storage
Google Drive: Use your computer to sort files from largest to smallest. Move files you no longer need to the Trash folder or permanently delete them. Deleted files will free up your storage and be reflected in your Google Storage within 24 hours.
Gmail Messages: In the search box, type “has:attachment larger:10M” (replace “10” with a higher number for larger files). Please select the email that you don’t need and trash them. Remember to empty the Trash to clear Google Storage.
Delete Spams: Now move to your spam folder in your Google Mail and click and delete all spam messages or select specific emails and delete them forever.
Photos & Videos: The easiest way to do this is in Google Photos, point to an item, then click “Select,” and then click “Delete”, followed by “Move to the trash.”
One Storage Manager: To erase single or multiple files that are taking up storage space, use this feature of Google One Storage Manager, which gives you greater control over your storage space.
Following these steps, you can effectively do Google drive management and ensure your storage is well-organized and efficient. Monitoring your storage usage regularly and removing unneeded files can help you avoid problems with storage and have a pleasant experience on Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos. Enjoy organizing!