How to Free Up Space in Google Drive

ByGoogle Drive Downloader

Learn how to free up space in Google Drive with these tips. Identify and remove large files, use Google One for additional storage, delete hidden files, and more.

How to Free Up Space in Google Drive
How to Free Up Space in Google Drive

How to Free Up Space in Google Drive

Google Drive is an incredibly useful tool for storing files in the cloud, but like any storage solution, it has its limits. If you use Google Drive frequently, you might find yourself running out of space sooner than you’d like. Fortunately, there are several strategies you can employ to free up space in Google Drive. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything from identifying and removing large files to using Google One for additional storage and more.

Free up space in Drive

  1. Find and remove large files:
    1. Go to drive.google.com/drive/quota, where your files are listed in order from biggest to smallest.
    2. Right-click a file that you want to delete and then click Move to Trash.
  2. Find files and folders that you can delete using Drive search. For example:
  3. Select the files that you want to delete and click Move to Trash .
  4. Click Trash and confirm that you want to delete the files. Caution: After files are permanently deleted in the next step, you can’t recover them.
  5. Click Empty Trash. This action permanently deletes your files and frees up their storage space. If you delete many files at once, it can take some time for the space to be freed up.

Free up space in Email

  1. Find emails that you can delete using Gmail search . For example:
    • Emails that are greater than a certain size, such as 15 MB (try it in Gmail)
    • Older emails, such as emails you got more than 3 years ago (try it in Gmail)
    • Emails with attachments (try it in Gmail)
    • Newsletters, emails from groups, or organizational updates that come from the same sender or have a standard subject line
  2. Select the emails that you want to delete and click Delete.
  3. Click Trash and confirm that you want to delete the emails. Caution: After emails are permanently deleted in the next step, you can’t recover them.
  4. Click Empty Trash now. This action permanently deletes your emails and frees up their storage space. If you delete many emails at once, it can take some time for the space to be freed up.

Free up space in Photos

  1. Find and review your videos, which often use the most storage:
    1. Go to https://photos.google.com/search/_tv_video to see your videos.
    2. Select the videos that you don’t need and click Delete.
    3. Go to https://photos.google.com/unsupportedvideos to see any videos that aren’t supported by Photos. (These unsupported videos don’t show up in Photos search results). Delete any videos that you don’t need.
  2. Find other groups of photos and videos that you can delete using Photos search.
  3. Scroll to your oldest photos and delete out-of-date photos or photos that you no longer need.
  4. Use the Explore page to quickly find groups of content that you can delete, such as photos of specific people or places, videos, screenshots, and creations such as animations and movies.
  5. Click Trash and confirm that you want to delete the photos and videos. Caution: After they’re permanently deleted in the next step, you can’t recover them.
  6. Click Empty Trash. This action permanently deletes your photos and frees up their storage space. If you delete many photos at once, it can take some time for the space to be freed up.

Identifying and Removing Large Files

One of the quickest ways to free up space in Google Drive is by identifying and removing large files. Here’s how you can do it:

Using Google Drive’s Built-In Storage Manager

Google Drive has a built-in storage manager that helps you quickly find large files. To use it:

  1. Open Google Drive on your computer.
  2. Click on the “Storage” link on the left sidebar.
  3. This will display a list of your files sorted by size, with the largest files at the top.

Manually Sorting Files

You can also manually sort files by size:

  1. In Google Drive, click on the “List View” button (the icon with horizontal lines) at the top-right corner.
  2. Click on the column header “Storage used” to sort your files from largest to smallest.

Once you’ve identified the large files, decide if you still need them. If not, delete them to free up space.

Using Google One for Additional Storage

If you find that you consistently need more space, upgrading to Google One might be the best solution.

What is Google One?

Google One is a subscription plan that gives you more storage across Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos.

Benefits of Google One

  • Increased Storage: Plans start at 100GB and go up to 30TB.
  • Family Sharing: Share your plan with up to five family members.
  • Extra Features: Access to Google experts, additional sharing options, and more.

How to Upgrade

  1. Go to the Google One website.
  2. Choose a plan that suits your needs.
  3. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete your purchase.

Deleting Hidden Files and Clearing the Trash

Clearing the Trash

Files you delete from Google Drive aren’t immediately removed; they go to the Trash and stay there for 30 days unless you empty it manually. To clear the trash:

  1. Go to the Trash on the left sidebar.
  2. Click “Empty trash” at the top-right corner.

Finding Hidden App Data

Some apps store hidden data in your Google Drive. To delete this data:

  1. Go to Google Drive.
  2. Click the gear icon at the top right and select “Settings.”
  3. In the Settings menu, click on “Manage Apps.”
  4. Look for apps with hidden data and click “Options” > “Delete hidden app data.”

Deleting Duplicate Files

Duplicate files can take up a significant amount of space in Google Drive. Here’s how to find and remove them:

Manual Search

Use the search bar in Google Drive to look for files by type or name. Manually review the search results and delete duplicates.

Using Third-Party Tools

Several third-party tools can help you find and delete duplicate files in Google Drive, such as:

  • Duplicate File Finder: This tool scans your Google Drive for duplicates and helps you remove them easily.

Converting Uploaded Files to Google Formats

Google Drive offers free storage for documents, spreadsheets, and presentations created in Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides. By converting your uploaded files to these formats, you can save space:

  1. Open the file in Google Drive.
  2. Click on “File” > “Save as Google Docs/Sheets/Slides.”

Deleting Unnecessary Email Attachments

Email attachments saved in your Google Drive can take up a lot of space. Here’s how to manage them:

In Gmail

  1. Use the search bar to find emails with large attachments by typing “has:attachment larger:10MB.”
  2. Delete unnecessary emails or download attachments to your computer and remove them from  Google Drive.

In Google Drive

  1. Use the search bar to find attachments by file type.
  2. Manually review and delete unnecessary attachments.

Compressing Files

Compressing files before uploading them to Google Drive can save a significant amount of space. Use file compression tools like ZIP or RAR to compress large files.

Using a File Compression Tool

  1. Select the files you want to compress.
  2. Use a tool like WinRAR or 7-Zip to compress the files.
  3. Upload the compressed files to Google Drive.

Using Google Photos Settings

If you use Google Photos, it’s essential to manage its settings to save space in Google Drive.

High-Quality vs. Original Quality

  1. Open Google Photos.
  2. Click on the settings gear icon.
  3. Under “Upload size,” select “High quality” instead of “Original quality.” This offers unlimited free storage for photos and videos in slightly reduced quality.

Deleting Unnecessary Photos and Videos

  1. Review your Google Photos library.
  2. Delete photos and videos that you no longer need.

Archiving Old Data

If you have old data that you rarely access but still need to keep, consider archiving it. You can download the data to an external hard drive or a different cloud storage service to free up space in Google Drive.

Downloading Data

  1. Select the files or folders you want to archive.
  2. Right-click and choose “Download.”

Using Other Cloud Storage Services

Services like Dropbox, OneDrive, or Amazon S3 can be used for archiving old data.

Regular Maintenance

Finally, regular maintenance is key to keeping your Google Drive organized and efficient.

Monthly Review

Set a reminder to review your Google Drive once a month. Check for large files, duplicates, and unnecessary data.

Using Tools and Apps

Use tools and apps designed to manage Google Drive storage efficiently. Apps like “Clean Drive” can automate the process of finding and removing large or duplicate files.

Conclusion

Managing your Google Drive storage effectively can save you from the hassle of running out of space. By following the tips outlined in this guide, you can free up significant space, maintain an organized drive, and make the most out of Google’s cloud storage solutions. Whether it’s identifying and removing large files, upgrading to Google One, or performing regular maintenance, these strategies will help you keep your Google Drive in top shape.

Remember, the key is to be proactive. Regularly monitor your storage usage and take steps to clean up and organize your files. This way, you’ll always have enough space for the files that matter most.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *