Gmail, Drive, and Photos are the core of our interest usage. However, the 15GB shared limited across the three services can be underwhelming, and quickly gets full. In this guide, let’s look at three easy ways in which you can use Google services even with Gmail storage full. These methods do not require any additional application.
(Also Read: How to Stop, Undo & Recover Google Storage For Photos and Videos)
How to Optimise Your Cloud Storage
Your Google Cloud storage holds all your memories. However, there might also be a lot of clutter, blurry images or even some repeated files that you can delete to free up some space. Cleaning out your larger files from Gmail and Drive data can also help. Once you have optimised your Drive, Gmail and Google Photos then you can start with the first step that is mentioned below.
Method 1: Transfer Files from Drive
Removing large files from Drive is the first step we take when we are trying to free up some storage on our Google cloud. Instead of deleting items, we can also transfer the ownership of the file to make room on our account. Here’s how:
1. Open Google Drive and go to the Storage section, where files are sorted by size by default.
2. Select any large file, click on the three dots on the larger file, and click on Share.
3. In the share menu, share it with your preferred contact. You can choose a contact from suggestions or enter a new Gmail ID.
4. After sharing the file, click on the Editor option next to the shared person name and select “Transfer Ownership“.
5. Now click on Send Invitation from the next menu.
Once you send the invitation, the receiver needs to accept it from their inbox. After confirmation, the file will get transferred to the new owner and will no longer count against your storage quota.
Method 2: Compressing Photos and Videos
You can always compress your media files to empty close to half of your storage. This method, however, will affect the quality of your photos and videos. So think well before opting for this option. You can enable this by following the steps mentioned below.
1. Visit the official Google Photos website.
2. Then head over to settings and click on Manage Storage.
3. From there, scroll down to Recover Storage and click on “Learn more“.
4. Check the box and then click on Compress “Existing photos and videos“.
After completing all the steps, you need to wait for some hours as the compression procedure takes time. You can revisit the same page to see if the process has been completed, after which you will also notice additional free space in your Google account.
Method 3: Download Google Drive Files in One Click
The best way to free up some cloud storage is to download the entire data and save it offline. Now, doing it one by one or even by selecting all files and then downloading them individually is a hassle. However, you can export all the data of your Google Cloud storage in a single file. To do this, refer to the steps mentioned below.
1. Go to Google’s Takeout website.
2. Once you are on the page, click on “Deselect All“.
3. Select the Google services from where you wish to download the data, i.e., Photos, Drive, Gmail, etc.
4. Choose the frequency and size of the export file as per your convenience.
5. Set the max file size to 50GB and then click on “Create Export“.
Once the process is complete, you can download a single .zip file on your computer containing all the selected information. You can extract it to get access to individual files.
FAQs
Q. What to do when Google storage is full?
In case your Google storage is full, you can either transfer some bigger files to another account, or you can compress your media files. A step-by-step guide can be found in the article above.
Q. How do I clean my Google storage?
You can use the Google takeout feature. This can be done by visiting the official website. You can find more details in the article above.
Wrapping Up
In this article, we have covered three methods that will help you if your Google storage is full. If you are someone whose emails are blocked and photos are not backing up because of no storage space, then this article is what you need. Features like Google takeout and compressing images are not well known, so make sure you share this with someone who is facing the same issues. For more useful reads, stay tuned to GadgetsToUse.
- How to Stop, Undo & Recover Google Storage For Photos and Videos
- How to Install DeepSeek R1 on PC or Mac, Run Locally
- How to Install Instagram Edits App on Any iPhone
- How to Block Random Videos in Feeds on Twitter, Facebook and Reddit
You can also follow us for instant tech news at Google News or for tips and tricks, smartphones & gadgets reviews, join the GadgetsToUse Telegram Group, or subscribe to the GadgetsToUse Youtube Channel for the latest review videos.
