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Fixing Gmail Storage Full Issue: A Step-by-Step Guide

Author Geri Mileva Updated on Dec 6, 2024

If the "Gmail storage full" message is becoming all too familiar, it's time to free up some space. There are several ways to resolve your email storage issue. One of which is using Clean Email to make organizing your emails even simpler.

Why Is My Gmail Storage Full?

If a Gmail out-of-storage error keeps popping up whenever you access your account, you've likely hit your Gmail storage limit. All free Google accounts include 15GB of free storage shared across Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos. But that generous space is easy to fill up if your inbox is packed with:

  • Large-sized emails
  • Old messages
  • Photos, videos, and other attachments
  • Shared files

There are two ways to know if your Gmail storage is about to hit its limit:

  • Checking the storage bar at the bottom of your Gmail page, which shows how much space you're using.
  • Receiving notifications about your storage being almost full.

Manually cleaning up your Gmail storage takes time. That's all the more reason to use an online email management service to clear up your Gmail account.

How to Resolve the Gmail Storage Full Dilemma

The first step in overcoming a maxed-out email storage situation is to clean up your Gmail inbox.


Method 1: Delete Large Files and Mail

Get rid of large files on Google Drive and delete large emails in Gmail, particularly those with attachments, to quickly free up enough space for your needs.


Via Google Drive

  1. Go to your Google Drive.
  2. Click Storage to display your files, with the largest ones at the top.
  3. Delete old or unnecessary files.
Delete old or unnecessary filesDelete old or unnecessary files

Via Gmail

  1. In the Gmail search bar, type "has:attachment larger:10MB." Change the size (e.g., larger:5MB) to refine your search. Alternatively, you can click the search options icon on the right side of the search bar. In the Size field, select greater than and enter the size you want (in MB). Then, click Search.
    2. How to find large emails in Gmail appHow to find large emails in Gmail app
  2. Select the emails you want to delete by checking the boxes beside them.
  3. Click the trash can icon to delete them.

Via Clean Email

Deleting large emails in Gmail can be time-consuming. The Clean Email app provides you with a more optimized and faster solution.

  1. Go to the Clean Email app. Sign up for free or log in with your connected email account.
  2. Go to All Mail or your inbox and use the Large Mail filter to find emails bigger than the size you choose (e.g., 10MB).
    3. Select the Emails larger than 10 MB Smart ViewSelect the Emails larger than 10 MB Smart View
  3. Refine your search using additional filters to sort emails by date, size, or sender.
  4. Select the emails you want to delete.
  5. Click the Trash button.
  6. To permanently delete the emails, click Delete and confirm.

Method 2: Delete Unnecessary Mail

When your Gmail is over capacity, you might even find that your Gmail is not receiving emails. Sometimes, the solution to the "Gmail storage full" issue is as simple as deleting the emails you don't need.


Empty Spam and Trash on Gmail

For Spam messages:

  1. Open Gmail and log in.
  2. Click Spam on the left side of the screen.
  3. Click Delete all spam messages now at the top.
Click Delete all spam messages now at the topClick Delete all spam messages now at the top

For Trash messages:

  1. Open Gmail and log in.
  2. Click Trash on the left side of the screen.
  3. Click Empty Trash now at the top.
Click Empty Trash now at the topClick Empty Trash now at the top

Moreover, you can opt to auto-delete spam on the web version of your Gmail by creating a new filter to block out these unnecessary emails.


Delete Promotional Mail

Sometimes, a significant portion of your storage is filled with promotional emails. To delete Gmail Promotional messages:

  1. Log into your Gmail account on a computer (this works best on a desktop).
  2. Click the Promotions tab.
  3. Click the main checkbox (top left) to select all emails.
  4. Click the trash can icon to delete them.
Click the trash can icon to delete themClick the trash can icon to delete them

Empty Smart Folders in Clean Email

The Smart Folders help you organize emails like Seasonal Sales promotions (Black Friday or Christmas Sale ads) and Online Shopping confirmations (Amazon, eBay, etc.). You can empty these folders manually or set up an Auto Clean rule.

To manually delete messages from Smart Folders:

  1. Log in to Clean Email.
  2. In the left menu, find Smart Folders and click Online Shopping or Seasonal Sales.
  3. Click Select at the top, then Select All.
  4. Click Delete at the bottom of the window.
    5. Empty Smart Folders in Clean EmailEmpty Smart Folders in Clean Email
  5. Confirm you understand that the messages will be permanently deleted from your inbox and can’t be restored.

💡 Note: You can also choose to Archive or move the emails to Read Later.

To automatically delete with Auto Clean:

  1. In the left menu, click Auto Clean.
  2. Click + to create a new rule and give it a name.
    3. Automatic rules with feature Auto Clean in Clean EmailAutomatic rules with feature Auto Clean in Clean Email
  3. Select the Seasonal Sales (or Online Shopping) Smart Folder.
  4. Under Old Mail, set the age to 5 days.
  5. Choose the action Trash (moves messages to the Trash folder) or Delete (permanently, without an option to restore).
  6. Toggle the switch to apply the rule to existing messages.
  7. Click Create Rule.
Automatic rules with feature Smart Folder in Clean EmailAutomatic rules with feature Smart Folder in Clean Email

Delete Old Emails

Sometimes, the sheer volume of emails you've accumulated over time takes up significant storage. You can delete old emails via Gmail or Clean Email to free up space. To take it further, you can also mass delete emails on Gmail.

To delete old emails via Gmail filtering:

  1. In Gmail's search bar, type “older_than:1y.” This will display emails older than one year; adjust the timeframe as needed (e.g., “older_than:2y”).
  2. Click the main checkbox to select all visible emails.
  3. Click Select all conversations that match this search.
  4. Click the trash can icon to delete.
Click the trash can icon to deleteClick the trash can icon to delete

💡 Note: Remember to empty your Trash right away for permanent deletion.

To delete old emails via Clean Email:

  1. Go to the Clean Email app and log in.
  2. In the All Mail folder, use the Old Mail filter. Adjust the timeframe as needed.
  3. Select the senders you want to clear.
  4. Click the Trash button on the action bar.
Find old emails with Clean EmailFind old emails with Clean Email

Prevent Gmail from Getting Full Again

To avoid the "Gmail storage full" message in the future, you'll need some proactive strategies to clean up your Gmail storage. Here's how to set up rules to keep your inbox organized and prevent it from overflowing again:

Method 1: Set Filtering Rules in Gmail

First off, set your criteria. Consider which emails you often delete (ex. old subscriptions). To create the filter:

  1. Click Settings and select See all settings.
  2. Choose Filters and Blocked Addresses.
  3. Click Create a new filter. Set filter parameters.
    4. How to avoid Gmail spam filterHow to avoid Gmail spam filter
  4. Enter criteria in the relevant fields (From, Subject, Has the Words, etc.).
  5. Choose an action. You can either Delete it or Skip the Inbox (Archive it) to apply the filter to existing and incoming emails.

Method 2: Set Auto Clean rules in Clean Email

Clean Email's Auto Clean feature is similar to Gmail filters but provides more flexibility for automated email management.

  1. Go to the Clean Email app and log in.
  2. Find the Tools section on the left-hand navigation pane. Click the drop-down arrow and choose Auto Clean.
  3. Click Create Rule to begin a new rule.
  4. Define the criteria for the rule (similar to Gmail filters).
    5. Click Create Rule to begin a new ruleClick Create Rule to begin a new rule
  5. Choose actions like Delete, Archive, Mark as Spam, and Move to a folder.

Method 3: Unsubscribe from Newsletters

Gmail automatically recognizes subscription emails. As such, unsubscribing is pretty straightforward. You have three options to do so:

Gmail often shows an Unsubscribe button next to the sender's address. Click it to opt-out.

Most subscription emails have an unsubscribe link (usually at the bottom). Click and follow the instructions.

  1. Go to the Clean Email app and log in.
  2. Select the Unsubscriber tool on the left.
  3. Choose the subscription(s) you want to stop and click Unsubscribe on the bottom bar.
Remove your unwanted newsletters with UnsubscriberRemove your unwanted newsletters with Unsubscriber

Elevate Your Inbox Management with Clean Email

While unsubscribing from newsletters is helpful, sometimes you need more powerful Gmail cleanup tools to tackle inbox overwhelm. Clean Email offers a suite of features to go beyond simple inbox cleanup, including:

Cleaning Suggestions feature in Clean EmailCleaning Suggestions feature in Clean Email
Smart Folders feature in Clean EmailSmart Folders feature in Clean Email
Stop spam emails with Screener feature in Clean EmailStop spam emails with Screener feature in Clean Email

You can explore these and other features for free during the trial period to see how the app enhances your email management routine. Moreover, Clean Email ensures your data is protected and never used for anything other than improving your inbox experience.

Wrap-up

Dealing with a full Gmail inbox can be frustrating, but with the right strategies, you can regain control. Deleting large files, clearing unnecessary emails, and setting up proactive filtering rules are essential. For even more powerful organization and automation, use Clean Email. It’s also available on mobile for convenient email management on the go.

FAQs

Why is my Gmail storage full?

Your storage can become full because the 15GB of free space shared across Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos gets filled with large-sized emails, old messages, attachments, and shared files.

What do I do when my Gmail storage is full?

When you run out of storage, manage Gmail by deleting large files and unnecessary emails, emptying spam and trash folders, unsubscribing from unwanted emails, and using tools like Clean Email for efficient inbox cleanup.

How to free up space in Gmail?

To free up space in Gmail, delete large and old emails, clear spam and trash folders, unsubscribe from unnecessary subscriptions, and use the Clean Email app to organize and eliminate excess content.

How do I clear Gmail storage on my iPhone?

To clear Gmail storage on your iPhone, delete large or old emails directly in the Gmail app, and empty the spam and trash folders. For a more thorough cleanup, use the Clean Email app to efficiently unsubscribe from unwanted subscriptions and set automatic rules to keep your inbox clean.

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