How to Get More Gmail Storage for Free

Running out of Gmail storage can be frustrating, especially when you rely on it for important emails, attachments, and files. Gmail offers 15GB of free storage, but this space is shared across Google Drive, Google Photos, and Gmail. The good news is that there are several ways to free up space and extend your Gmail storage without spending a dime.

In this guide, we’ll explore the Best strategies for freeing up more Gmail storage and keeping your inbox running smoothly.

Table of Contents

Check Your Current Gmail Storage Usage

Before you start freeing up space, it’s important to check how much storage you are currently using.

Steps to Check Gmail Storage:

Go to Google One Storage
Sign in with your Google account
View the breakdown of storage across Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos

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10 Ways to Free Up Gmail Storage

1. Delete Large Emails and Attachments

Large attachments take up a significant portion of your Gmail storage. Deleting them can quickly free up space.

How to Find and Delete Large Emails:

In the Gmail search bar, type: has:attachment larger:10MB
Review the results and delete unnecessary emails
Empty the Trash folder to permanently remove them

2. Clear Spam and Trash Folders

Spam and Trash folders automatically delete emails after 30 days, but you can manually clear them for instant space.

Steps to Clear Spam and Trash:

Go to the Spam folder, click Delete all spam now
Open the Trash folder and click Empty Trash now

3. Remove Unwanted Promotional and Social Emails

Gmail categorizes emails into Primary, Promotions, and Social tabs. The Promotions and Social tabs often contain unnecessary emails.

How to Delete Bulk Emails in Promotions and Social Tabs:

Open the Promotions tab
Click the checkbox to select all emails
Click Delete and empty the Trash
Repeat for the Social tab

4. Use Google Drive Storage Wisely

Since Gmail storage is shared with Google Drive, optimizing Google Drive files can help free up space.

Ways to Reduce Google Drive Storage:

Delete large and unnecessary files
Empty Google Drive’s Trash folder
Use Google’s Storage Manager to identify large files

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5. Optimize Google Photos Storage

Google Photos can take up a lot of storage if you store high-resolution images.

How to Reduce Google Photos Storage:

Go to Google Photos Settings
Select Storage saver instead of Original quality
Delete blurry and duplicate photos
Empty the Bin in Google Photos

6. Use a Secondary Google Account

If you need more storage but don’t want to pay for it, creating a secondary Google account can help.

How to Use Multiple Accounts for Extra Storage:

Create a new Google account
Forward important emails from your primary account
Use Google Drive to store additional files

7. Download and Backup Important Emails

If you have emails you want to keep but don’t need in Gmail, consider backing them up offline.

How to Download Gmail Emails:

Go to Google Takeout
Select Mail and choose your download format
Save the backup to your computer or an external drive

8. Manage Email Subscriptions and Unsubscribe

Emails from newsletters, promotions, and automated services can pile up quickly, taking up valuable storage space.

How to Unsubscribe from Unwanted Emails:

Open a promotional email and look for the Unsubscribe link at the bottom
Use Gmail’s Unsubscribe button for supported emails
Try third-party tools like Unroll.me to bulk unsubscribe

9. Archive Important Emails Instead of Keeping Them in Inbox

If you have emails that you need to keep but don’t need immediate access to, consider archiving them.

How to Archive Emails in Gmail:

Select the emails you want to archive
Click the Archive button (box icon with a down arrow)
Archived emails are removed from the inbox but remain accessible via the All Mail folder

10. Use Google Workspace Free Trial to Expand Storage Temporarily

If you need temporary storage space, Google Workspace offers free trials with extra storage.

Steps to Access Free Trial:

Sign up for Google Workspace’s free trial
Migrate heavy files and emails to the temporary storage
Once the trial ends, move the necessary data back to free storage

Frequently Searched Questions (FAQs)

Q: How much free storage does Gmail provide?

A: Gmail provides 15GB of free storage, which is shared across Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos.

Q: What happens if I exceed my Gmail storage limit?

A: If you exceed your storage limit, you won’t be able to send or receive new emails until you free up space or purchase additional storage.

Q: Can I move my Gmail emails to another email provider?

A: Yes, you can use email forwarding or third-party services like Thunderbird or Outlook to migrate emails to another provider.

Q: Does deleting emails free up storage immediately?

A: Yes, but you must also empty the Trash folder to permanently remove emails and free up space.

Q: Can I transfer Google storage from one account to another?

A: No, Google does not allow transferring storage between accounts, but you can move files manually by sharing them with another Google account.

Conclusion

Gmail storage can fill up quickly, but with the right steps, you can free up space without paying for extra storage. By deleting large emails, clearing spam, optimizing Google Drive and Photos, managing email subscriptions, and leveraging a secondary Google account, you can keep your Gmail running smoothly without any additional costs.

Follow these Simple Strategies to Maximize your Gmail storage and never worry about running out of space again!

How To Get More Gmail Storage For Free In 2025