Google Drive is full? Here’s how to clean it without deleting files
Have you ever received a notification “Google Drive is almost full” even though you don’t feel like you have a lot of files there? This is a fairly common problem experienced by Google Drive users, especially those who use a free account with a capacity of 15 GB.
The problem is, Google Drive’s storage space is not only used to store files from Drive only, but also for Gmail and Google Photos. As a result, without realizing the space quickly ran out.
Well, the good news, you can Clean Google Drive without having to delete important files. In this article, we will discuss practical steps, storage optimization tips, and permanent solutions to keep the drive relieved and efficient.
Why Google Drive Can Fill Fast
Before discussing how to clean it, it is important to first understand the main source of the cause of the storage quickly. According to the official Google documentation and reports from KompasTekno, the Google account storage space is shared by three main services:
| Google Services | type of data that uses space | Information |
|---|---|---|
| Google Drive | Documents, spreadsheets, presentations, PDF files, videos, and other files that are uploaded by the user | Large files such as videos and fast zip archives spend quotas |
| Gmail | Email and attachments | Large attachments and long-standing spam are often the main cause of full |
| Google Photos | photos and videos with original quality (Original Quality) | High resolution photos take up a lot of space |
Thus, even though you rarely open Google Drive, the capacity can still be full because the files in Gmail or Google Photos also pile up.
Steps to Clean Google Drive Without Deleting Important Files
Here are some ways you can do to free up the drive storage space without losing important files.
1. Move the file to another account or alternative cloud
If you have a large file that is rarely accessed, it’s better Move to another Google account or to Alternative cloud storage, such as Dropbox, OneDrive, or Mega.
You can do this by:
Go to Google Drive → right-click the file you want to move.
Elect “Share” → “Copy the link”.
Log in to another Google account, open the link, then Copy the file to the account drive.
Delete the file from the main drive after it has been successfully moved.
📌 Tips:
If you have a large capacity campus or office account (eg Google Workspace), use the account as the main storage.
2. File compression without compromising quality
Instead of deleting files, you can Compress file size first. For example:
Use Zip/RAR compression software for document files or large data.
Convert video to MP4 format or lower resolution.
For photos, use sites like TinyPNG or CompressJPEG to reduce size without any significant drop in quality.
Once compressed, re-upload the file to the drive and delete the old version.
3. Use Google One for Space Analysis and Management
Based on a report from the Android Authority, Google One Storage Manager is an official feature that can scan storage space usage and help clean up unimportant data.
The steps:
visit Google One → Storage → Manage storage.
View a list of large files, junk files, and items that can be deleted safely.
Clear caches, spam emails, and unnecessary duplicate files.
This feature is very helpful because it displays visual graphics and file size in detail, so you can know which parts take up the most space.
4. Clean Gmail from old emails and big attachments
Sometimes the full drive capacity is precisely because of email. You can delete Email with big attachments without losing important messages.
How:
Type in the Gmail search field:
To find emails with attachments more than 10 MB.
Delete what is not needed.
Don’t forget to clean it too Spam and Trash Folders.
📊 Based on user experience in Google Support forum, deleting about 100 large emails can save more than 500 MB of storage space.
5. Delete junk files and old versions in Google Drive
Google Drive often stores older versions of ever edited files. These versions stack up and take up space. To clean it:
Open Drive → Right Click File → Select Manage versions (Manage Versions).
Delete old versions that are no longer needed.
Also, make sure the folder Trash (trash) completely emptied. The files that are there still take up space until they are permanently deleted.
6. Move the photo to “Storage Saver” in Google Photos
If you use Google Photos, change the storage quality settings to “Storage saver” (previously called High Quality).
This mode will compress photos and videos efficiently without seeing a significant decrease in quality.
Steps:
Go to Google Photos → Settings → Backup.
Elect Storage saver.
Apply changes to all photos.
According to Google, a change to this mode can save up to 60% of the storage space for high-resolution photos.
7. Use the Selective Sync application on the computer
If you are using Google Drive on a PC or laptop, enable the feature Selective Sync so that only important folders are synced locally.
This helps avoid duplicating files that often take up dual storage space, both on the device and in the cloud.
Summary Table How to Clean Google Drive Without Delete Files
| Method | main goal | Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Move the file to another account | Empty the main room | no data loss |
| file compression | reduce file size | Files remain saved |
| Use Google One | Auto space analysis | fast and easy |
| Clean Gmail | Delete large attachments | Drive capacity increases |
| Delete the old version of the file | Reduce duplication | safe and selective |
| Change Google Photos Mode | Save space without deleting | Suitable for photo/video users |
| Selective synchronization | Avoid duplication on the device | Efficient for laptop/pc |
When to upgrade to Google One?
If after all the steps above the drive remains full, then Upgraded storage capacity is the most practical solution.
Google One offers several paid plans ranging from 100 GB to 2 TB, at a fairly affordable price in Indonesia.
Based on data from Google Indonesia, the 100 GB package is only around IDR 26,900 per month. In addition to additional capacity, users also get bonus features such as:
Automatic backup for Android.
Access to Google Customer Support 24 Hours.
Share storage with family members.
Additional tips to keep the drive relieved
Avoid saving duplicate files or recurring backups.
Use the “Google Docs” feature instead of large word or PDF files.
Do regular checks at least once a month with Google One.
Use a third-party (safe) browser extension to detect hidden large files.
Sync the drive with the app offline only if it is really needed.
FAQ (General Question)
1. Can deleting files in the “Shared with Me” folder increase space?
No. files in the Shared with me Do not use your storage space, unless you make a copy.
2. Do files in Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides take up space?
Yes, but very small. However, if you insert an image or external file in it, the size can increase.
3. How to find out the biggest files in Google Drive?
Open drive.google.com/drive/quota → The system will display a list of files based on the largest size.
4. Does deleting a file in the Trash directly increase the space?
Not necessarily. Make sure you empty the Trash folder so that the file is permanently deleted.
5. Can Google Drive be cleaned automatically?
not completely. However, you can use Google One Storage Manager to detect and delete large files or spam quickly.
Conclusion
Google Drive is full doesn’t mean you have to delete important files. With the right strategy — such as moving files, compressing data, using Google One, and managing photo storage — you can Save space without losing valuable data.
In addition, regular monthly checks and selective storage usage will make the experience of using Google Drive much more efficient and free notification “Storage Almost Full”.
