5 Easy Ways to Free Up Space When Gmail Storage Is Full
Are you getting those dreaded “Storage Full” notifications from Gmail? You’re not alone. Gmail offers 15 GB of free storage, but that space is shared across Google Drive, Google Photos, and Gmail itself, so it can fill up fast. If your Gmail account is maxed out, don’t worry! Here are five effective ways to quickly free up space and keep your inbox running smoothly.
Table of Contents
1. Clear Out Large Attachments
Attachments often take up the most space in your Gmail account. Fortunately, Google makes it easy to locate these space-hogging files. Here’s how you can locate and remove them:
- In the search bar, type: has:attachment larger:10M
- This will bring up all emails with attachments larger than 10 MB.
- Delete the ones you no longer need.
- Remember to empty your Trash to free up space!
Alternatively, you can adjust the file size in your search query, like larger:5M or larger:20M, depending on what you’re looking for. Download important attachments to your computer before deleting them, so you have a backup.
2. Manage and Delete Old Emails
We often hold onto emails far longer than we need to. You can find old, unnecessary emails and delete them in bulk. Here are a few tips to make this process easy:
- Use search queries like older_than:1y or older_than:2y to find emails older than one or two years.
- Consider unsubscribing from email newsletters you don’t read anymore.
- If there are specific emails you can delete based on the sender, search for the sender’s email address and delete all emails from that sender.
Pro tip: Set up filters to automatically archive or delete emails you’re less likely to read, keeping your inbox and storage under control over time.
3. Purge Spam and Trash Folders
While Gmail automatically deletes spam emails after 30 days, sometimes they can pile up and take up valuable space before then. Here’s a quick way to clear them out:
- Go to the Spam folder and click Delete all spam messages now.
- Go to the Trash folder and select Empty Trash now to permanently delete all items.
This might not free up a massive amount of space, but every little bit helps, especially when you’re running low on storage.
4. Use Google’s Storage Manager
Google offers a useful Storage Manager tool that shows you exactly how your storage is being used across Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos. You can find it at Google Storage.
- Go to the Storage Manager page and review the list of large files and attachments.
- Delete anything you no longer need directly from there.
This tool is perfect for getting an overall view of your account’s storage usage and quickly getting rid of large files.
5. Archive Instead of Deleting Emails
If there are emails you want to keep but don’t need immediate access to, consider archiving them rather than letting them sit in your inbox. Archiving moves emails out of your inbox and into a separate folder, which helps to keep your inbox organised, though it won’t reduce your storage usage by itself.
To archive emails:
- Select the emails you want to archive.
- Click on the Archive button (the icon looks like a box with a downward arrow).
Archiving won’t free up space but will keep your main inbox clean, making it easier to manage emails you actually need to keep an eye on.
Bonus Tip: Consider Upgrading Your Google Storage
If you’ve tried all these steps and still find that you’re running out of space, it may be time to consider upgrading. Google One offers affordable plans starting at 100 GB, which also come with added benefits like access to Google experts and more.
Final Thoughts
Gmail can quickly become cluttered, but with a few simple steps, you can free up valuable storage space and keep your account running efficiently. Whether you’re managing old emails, deleting large attachments, or cleaning out your spam folder, these methods will help you reclaim space in no time.
Try out these tips, and watch your Gmail go from overflowing to optimised!
F&Q
How can I check my Gmail storage usage?
You can check your Gmail storage usage by visiting Google’s storage page. This page shows how much storage you’re using across Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos.
What happens when my Gmail storage is full?
When your Gmail storage is full, you won’t be able to send or receive emails, and new emails will bounce back to the sender. Additionally, you may not be able to upload new files to Google Drive or back up photos on Google Photos until you free up space.
Can I delete large attachments in Gmail without deleting the entire email?
Gmail doesn’t currently offer an option to remove just the attachment while retaining the email itself. Consider downloading any important attachments before deleting the email to save a copy.
Do emails in my Trash and Spam folders contribute to my Gmail storage usage?
Yes, emails in both the Trash and Spam folders contribute to your total Gmail storage usage. Be sure to empty these folders regularly to free up space.
What’s the easiest way to delete old emails?
To delete old emails quickly, you can use search filters like older_than:1y (for emails older than one year) or use Gmail’s built-in filters. You can also combine filters with keywords to target specific types of emails.
Will deleting emails free up storage on Google Drive and Google Photos?
Removing emails will solely clear space within Gmail, not on Google Drive or Google Photos. To free up storage on Google Drive and Google Photos, you’ll need to delete files and photos directly from those services.
What are some other ways to reduce Gmail storage besides deleting emails?
In addition to deleting emails, you can:
Remove large attachments.
Unsubscribe from newsletters.
Archive emails instead of keeping them in your inbox.
Use Google Storage Manager to delete large files from Drive and Photos.
Can I buy more storage for Gmail?
bsolutely, you can upgrade your storage with Google One. Plans begin at 100 GB, extending storage across Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos. Visit Google One for more information on storage plans.
How often should I clean out my Gmail to prevent storage issues?
It’s a good idea to check your Gmail storage every few months and clear out old emails, especially if you frequently receive large attachments or newsletters. Setting up filters to automatically archive or delete emails can also help keep your inbox manageable.
Is there a way to automatically delete emails from specific senders?
Indeed, Gmail allows you to create filters to automatically delete emails from certain senders. Go to Settings > Filters and Blocked Addresses, create a new filter, and choose to delete emails from the selected sender.
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