5 Expert Tips to Manage Google Drive Storage: Free Solutions to Optimize Your Space

Google Drive Tricks : Save Money on Digital Storage

Feeling overwhelmed by your digital storage limits? You’re not alone. With Google Drive’s 15GB of free space quickly filling up, you might find yourself staring at an upgrade prompt before you’re ready to spend more. But before you shell out for extra storage, there are effective ways to free up space without spending a cent. Here’s how to manage your Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos to reclaim precious storage space with ease.

1. Find and Delete Large Files First

Struggling with limited space? One of the quickest ways to clear up storage is by targeting the largest files in your account. By focusing on these, you can make a significant impact without having to sift through countless smaller files.

On Desktop:

1. Log into your Google Drive account.
2. Click “Storage” in the menu on the left side of the screen.
3. If your files aren’t listed by size, click “Storage used” to reorder them from largest to smallest.
4. Select the large files you want to delete by clicking on them. Hold the Shift key to select multiple files.
5. Click the trash bin icon or drag the files to “Trash” on the left.

Don’t forget to empty your trash:

1. Click “Trash” on the left.
2. Click “Empty Trash” on the right, and confirm by clicking “Empty forever.”

On Mobile:

1. Open the Google Drive app and log in.
2. Tap “Files” at the bottom-right corner.
3. Tap “Name” under My Drive and then “Storage used” to sort your files.
4. Tap the three dots (…) next to the file to delete it.
5. Tap “Remove” then “Move to trash.”

Speed up trash emptying:

1. Tap the hamburger icon in the top-left corner.
2. Tap “Trash.”
3. Tap the three dots (…) and then “Empty trash.”

2. Empty Your Gmail Spam Folder

Not sure where all your storage went? Sometimes, forgotten spam emails can pile up and take valuable space. Clearing out your spam folder is a simple way to reclaim some storage.

On Desktop:

1. Log into Gmail.
2. Click “Spam” on the left side of the screen. If not visible, click “More” to find it.
3. Click “Delete all spam messages now.”
4. Confirm by clicking “OK.”

On Mobile:

1. Open the Gmail app and log in.
2. Tap the hamburger icon in the top-left corner.
3. Tap “Spam.”
4. Tap “Delete all spam messages now” or “Empty spam now.”

3. Delete Old or Duplicate Photos in Google Photos

Is your photo library overflowing? Photos and videos often take up more space than other files. Manually reviewing and deleting old or duplicate photos can free up a lot of space.

On Desktop:

1. Open Google Photos and log in.
2. Hover over the photos or videos you want to delete and click the gray checkmark icon.
3. Click the trash icon and then “Move to trash.”
4. Click “Trash” on the left.
5. Click “Empty trash” and confirm.

On Mobile:

1. Open Google Photos and log in.
2. Tap the photo or video to delete.
3. Tap the trash can icon and then “Delete.”
4. Tap “Library” and then “Trash.”
5. Tap the three dots (…) and then “Empty trash.”

Remember, photos in the trash will automatically delete after 60 days if not manually emptied.

4. When All Else Fails, Download Your Files to Your Desktop

Hitting a storage wall? If you’ve tried everything and still need more space, downloading your files to your computer might be the solution. This lets you free up space while keeping your files safe offline.

For Google Drive and Photos:

1. Log into Google Drive or Google Photos on your desktop.
2. Select the files or photos you want to download.
3. Click the three stacked dots and then “Download.”

For Gmail:

1. Log into Gmail.
2. Open the email you want to download.
3. Click the three stacked dots and select “Download.” Emails will be saved as .eml files.

After downloading, you can delete the items from your account and empty your trash bins to reclaim space.

By applying these tips, you can effectively manage your storage without needing to upgrade to a paid plan. For more ways to optimize your digital life, explore additional tips and tricks on managing Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos.