Running out of Gmail storage space is a serious problem, especially considering that your important emails can start bouncing back. Learning how to increase Gmail storage is vital not just to continue receiving your emails but also to be more organized.
In this post, we'll guide you through effective strategies for freeing up space and expanding your storage capacity. First, let’s discuss the most obvious solution to increasing your storage: purchasing more space.
How to increase Gmail storage by purchasing more space
Step 1: Go to Google One
Navigate to Google One and sign in if you need to.
Step 2: Click “Upgrade”
Click ‘Upgrade’ in the left-hand corner.
Step 3: Choose a new storage limit
Google offers multiple storage plans. Pick the one that suits your needs.
Click ‘Start trial’ on the plan that you want.
Step 4: Review payment and subscribe
Google will now ask whether you want a monthly or an annual billing cycle. The annual billing cycle usually comes with a discount. Pick how you want to pay and click ‘Continue.’
Read through the payment terms and choose your method of payment. Google allows you to pay through various payment methods. You can also pay through Google Pay balance if you have it. Continue using your preferred payment method to complete the purchase.
How to clear up Gmail storage: 3 key tips
Not everyone needs to subscribe to more storage space. If you feel like the free 15 GB that Google offers is enough, here’s how you can optimize your storage.
Delete emails with large attachments after saving them
First things first, you may want to check how much storage you have left. Learn how to check your Gmail storage. Large attachments can quickly eat up your Gmail storage. To manage this, identify emails with large attachments.
You can do that by using the search function. Type ‘size:10MB’ in the search bar above your inbox to locate emails with attachments over 10 MB. Identify the emails you want to save.
Download and store the attachments, then delete the emails to free up some space instantly. Do this regularly to ensure your inbox space is optimally utilized.
Regularly clear your spam emails
Everyone gets spam, and it’s easy to mark emails as spam and then forget about them. However, spam can accumulate quickly, taking up valuable storage space in your Gmail account.
Regularly clearing your spam folder is essential for efficiently managing your storage. So, navigate to your spam folder and review its contents. If you see anything worth salvaging, mark it as ‘not spam.’
Then, select all spam emails and click "Delete forever" to permanently remove them. Learn how to check your spam filter on Gmail on your desktop and mobile device to free up some space methodically.
Delete emails using search filters
The above were safe options for freeing up space. If you still need more storage after deleting emails with large attachments and cleaning out the spam folder, it’s time to make some tough decisions and start deleting emails.
If your inbox is cluttered, you may feel the urge to delete all your unread emails to free up some space quickly, but this method can be problematic. Instead, try using Gmail search filters to identify specific emails to delete in a chunk.
However, first, you have to be clear about your search criteria. Do you want to delete emails from a specific sender or perhaps emails over two years old?
Here is a list of all the Gmail search modifiers. Search for the emails you want to delete, review them, and click delete to free space. Emptying your Gmail trash folder is another way to free up space.
Learn more Gmail how-tos on the YAMM blog
Whether you're looking to boost your email productivity, learn more about Gmail storage, master advanced features, or troubleshoot common issues, the YAMM Blog is the place to go.
If you’re interested in transforming your inbox into a tool for productivity and communications with step-by-step tutorials and easy-to-follow how-tos, visit the YAMM blog!