Gmail Storage Running Out? Take these 5 steps to get back to normal

Running out of storage space in Gmail can be a frustrating experience. Imagine, when you want to send an important email or receive a large file from a colleague, suddenly the message “Storage full” or “Google Drive quota has run out” appears.

This problem is common because Gmail uses the same space as Google Drive and Google Photos, so old files and emails keep piling up over time.

So, here is a complete and practical guide to help you overcome the problem of running out of Gmail storage, including tips for deleting large emails, how to organize stored files, and recommendations for using tools from Google to expand storage space.

Why does Gmail run out of storage?

Gmail uses combined storage space with other Google services such as Drive and Photos. Things that often make space fill up quickly include:

• Old emails with large attachments, such as PDF files, videos, or work documents.

• Large files in Google Drive that continue to be stored without being cleaned.

• Photos/videos in Google Photos especially if they are of high quality.

• Use a free Google account which only gets 15 GB of storage.

Therefore, keeping Gmail storage spacious requires handling from various angles, not just the inbox.

1. Clean Up Large Emails Taking Up Space

The most effective way to deal with full Gmail storage is to delete large emails.

Steps to Clean Large Emails

1. Open Gmail in a browser.

2. In the search field type: size:10mb or larger:10mb

3. Gmail will display emails larger than 10 MB.

4. Select unimportant emails then delete them.

5. Don’t forget to empty the Trash to completely recover space.

You can increase the number, for example size:20mb, to find even larger emails.

2. Delete Old Attachments Without Deleting Emails

Sometimes you want to save an important email conversation, but the attachment is large. Solution:

• Download the attachment to your computer.

• Once saved, delete the attachment from the email.

• The email remains intact, but the space used is reduced.

Several browser extensions such as Save Emails to PDF can help save conversations as well as attachments.

3. Google Drive and Google Photos Management

Since Gmail storage shares space with Drive and Photos, cleaning out these two services can also help.

Delete Large Files in Google Drive

1. Go to drive.google.com

2. Click Storage in the left menu.

3. Sort files by size.

4. Delete large files that are not needed.

Google Photos Optimization

Google Photos is often the cause of space filling up quickly because photos and videos are automatically saved.

• Use the Storage management feature in Google Photos.

• Delete blurry or duplicate photos.

• Move old photos to a local hard drive or another service.

4. Increase Storage with Google One

If after cleaning up the space you still feel like it’s not enough, you can consider Google One — a paid service from Google.

Google One Benefits

• Increase storage from 100 GB, 200 GB, up to 2 TB.

• Can be used with family members.

• Includes access to premium Google support.

• Automatic backup feature for mobile phones.

Google One is perfect for users who intensively use Gmail, Drive, and Photos every day.

5. Additional tips so that Gmail doesn’t fill up quickly

Here are some strategies that you can do regularly:

• Delete Spam and Promotions regularly.
• Unsubscribe from newsletters you no longer read.
• Set automatic filters to delete old emails after a certain period of time.
• Use folders or labels to organize incoming emails so you know which ones can be deleted.

Running out of Gmail storage can hinder productivity. But with the right strategy, such as deleting large emails, cleaning up Google Drive & Photos, or upgrading storage with Google One, you can free up space more efficiently and keep Gmail optimal.

Good luck!