How to clear Gmail storage if you've hit the Google 15GB limit?

Delete large emails using filters like “larger:10MB” or “has:attachment.” Remove old promotional, social, and spam emails, then empty the Bin. Clearing unused files from Drive and unwanted photos also helps free up overall Google storage.

How to increase 15GB Google storage?

You can upgrade your storage by subscribing to Google One, which offers plans starting from 100GB. This adds extra space across Gmail, Drive and Photos.

How many photos can be stored in 15 GB?

On average, 15GB can store around 4,000–5,000 photos if each photo is about 3–4MB. The exact number depends on photo quality and file size.

15GB Not Enough? How to Clean Up Google Drive, Gmail and Google Photos

Ananya Mishra

Dec 03, 2025, 15:38 IST

Google gives 15GB of free storage for Gmail, Drive, and Photos combined, which can fill up quickly. Large files, photos, videos and emails take most of the space. Clearing old files, deleting bulky emails, removing unnecessary photos and checking storage usage can help free up space and keep your Google account running smoothly.

Google Drive

( Image credit : Freepik )

Google provides only 15 GB free cloud storage for every account. It is combined for Gmail, Google drive and Google photos. When this storage fills up, it can slow down and obstruct daily tasks. There are some easy ways through which storage can be cleared up for smooth running of Google storage.

Understanding What Takes Up Google Storage

Understanding What Takes Up Google Storage T

( Image credit : Freepik )

The largest contributors are normally Google Photos and Drive. Large sized photos, videos, PDFs, school or work files, and years of supported data are stored in these folders and occupy most of the space.

How to Check Google Storage Usage

Check what type of files are taking up more space.
Open the storage page and see the percentage of used by different files.
It makes it easier to identify where the storage is being used up.

Deleting Large Files from Google Drive

( Image credit : Freepik )

Google Drive stores the largest files.
Delete the unnecessary files like videos, photos, presentations and PDFs from here by organizing them by size if needed.
Also make sure to empty the bin after deleting the files.

Clearing Gmail and Google Photos to Free Up Space

Sometimes emails can take up a lot of space. Larger emails can be filtered by searching for “larger:10MB” or “has:attachment.”
Deleting promotional emails can also help in saving some space.
Remove duplicate, blurry or unnecessary pictures from Google Photos.
Switch to storage saver quality to save more space.
To completely delete the emails and pictures, empty the bin as well.

Unlock insightful tips and inspiration on personal growth, productivity, and well-being. Stay motivated and updated with the latest at My Life XP.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How to clear Gmail storage if you've hit the Google 15GB limit?Delete large emails using filters like “larger:10MB” or “has:attachment.” Remove old promotional, social, and spam emails, then empty the Bin. Clearing unused files from Drive and unwanted photos also helps free up overall Google storage.
How to increase 15GB Google storage?You can upgrade your storage by subscribing to Google One, which offers plans starting from 100GB. This adds extra space across Gmail, Drive and Photos.
How many photos can be stored in 15 GB?On average, 15GB can store around 4,000–5,000 photos if each photo is about 3–4MB. The exact number depends on photo quality and file size.