Google Photos Storage Full? Free Up Space Without Paying in 5 Easy Ways

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You probably already understood what today’s post is about by looking at the title. So, without wasting any more time, let’s get straight to the main topic.

Google Photos Storage Full? Free Up Space Without Paying in 5 Ways

Let’s start today’s guide.

As photos and videos keep piling up in Google Photos, many people do not notice when their storage becomes full. There is another important thing to remember: Google’s free 15 GB storage is not only for Google Photos. Gmail and Google Drive also use the same storage.

So, when the storage runs out, you may face problems backing up new photos and videos.

However, you do not always need to spend money to buy extra storage. By organizing and removing unnecessary files, you can free up a good amount of space.

Here are 5 easy ways to free up Google Photos storage:

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1. Delete Screenshots and Blurry Photos

Not every photo stored on your phone is important. Old screenshots, blurry photos, duplicate photos, and images you no longer need can take up unnecessary storage.

Go to the Manage Storage option in Google Photos and look for unnecessary photos.

Delete screenshots from several years ago, duplicate photos, and other unwanted files. This can quickly free up some storage space.

 

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2. Delete Large Videos First

One of the biggest reasons storage fills up quickly is large video files. Videos recorded in 4K resolution can take up a lot of storage, even if they are only a few minutes long.

So, instead of spending time deleting small photos first, look for large files.

Open Google Photos, tap your profile picture, and go to Manage Storage. Then open the Large photos and videos section to find files that are taking up a lot of space.

Delete large videos or photos that you no longer need.

 

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3. Delete Photos and Empty the Trash

Many people think that deleting a photo or video immediately frees up storage. However, deleted files are first moved to the Trash and may remain there for a certain period.

So, if you want to free up storage quickly, go to Google Photos > Library > Trash and permanently delete unnecessary files.

Before permanently deleting anything, make sure that no important photo or video has accidentally been moved to the Trash.

 

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4. Clean Up Gmail and Google Drive Too

Cleaning only Google Photos may not completely solve your storage problem.

This is because the same 15 GB of free storage is shared between Google Photos, Gmail, and Google Drive.

So, delete old and unnecessary emails in Gmail, especially emails with large attachments.

Also, check Google Drive and remove large files that you no longer need.

Remember to empty the Trash in both Google Drive and Gmail as well.

This can help you recover storage that is being used by files outside Google Photos.

 

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5. Turn Off Auto-Backup for Unnecessary Folders

Sometimes users do not even realize that photos and videos from folders such as WhatsApp, Downloads, Screenshots, or other apps are automatically being backed up to Google Photos.

If you do not need to save photos or videos from certain folders in the cloud, you can turn off their backup.

Go to:

Google Photos > Settings > Backup > Manage device folders

Then turn off backup for folders that you do not need to back up.

This can reduce the pressure on your current storage and also prevent unnecessary photos and videos from being uploaded automatically in the future.

 

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Keep Your Google Photos Storage Clean Regularly

Freeing up Google Photos storage once does not mean you will never face the same problem again.

New photos, videos, screenshots, and media from different apps continue to build up every day.

So, it is a good idea to check the Manage Storage section at least once a month and remove files you no longer need.

Pay special attention to:

• Large videos
• Old screenshots
• Blurry or duplicate photos
• Unnecessary emails
• Large Google Drive files
• Unnecessary app media

This way, you can make better use of Google’s free 15 GB storage before paying for additional storage.