If you’ve recently received a warning that your Google storage is nearly full, you’re not alone.

Many users are unaware that emails, attachments, Google Drive files, and even deleted items all count toward the 15 GB of free storage Google provides with a standard Gmail account.

According to Teksiden, even your Recycle Bin in Gmail and Google Drive uses up storage—so it’s important to empty it regularly.

Google bundles your storage across three services: Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos.

It’s not just emails that eat up space. Attachments, such as images, videos, and documents, also count against your storage allowance—both in Gmail and in Drive.

If you’ve been using Google Photos for a while, you may notice a Google Photos folder in your Drive. These files also consume space, even though they appear in both places.

Remember: Google Drive and Google Photos have their own Trash folders as well. These should be emptied if you’re trying to free up storage.

How to Create More Space

Empty the Trash in Gmail

• Open Gmail, go to the Trash folder, and click it.
• At the top of the page, click “Empty Trash Now.”
• This will permanently delete all emails in the Trash folder.
• Bonus tip: Also empty your Spam folder, which can hold hundreds of unnecessary emails.

Note: Once emptied, the Trash cannot be recovered.

Check Your Storage Usage

• Go to your Google Account page
• Click on “Account Storage”
• You’ll see a breakdown of how much space Gmail, Drive, and Photos are using.

Want Even More Space?

If clearing out old content doesn’t free up enough space, consider:

• Deleting large attachments in Gmail
• Removing unused files from Google Drive
• Compressing or deleting old photos in Google Photos
• Or upgrading your storage plan via Google One

By staying on top of your storage habits, you’ll avoid full inboxes, missing emails, and the hassle of cleaning up under pressure.