One of the most common challenges that users face is the “Storage is full” in Gmail. A warning that prevents receiving new emails and generates the need, for some users, to pay for a subscription to Google One.
Google offers 15 GB of free storage shared between Gmail, Google Drive y Google Photos, But over time it is very easy for this space to fill up and solutions must be sought that do not involve spending money. Below we bring you one of them, which involves using some codes to organize your inbox and other tips to optimize your storage.
One of the most underrated tools of Gmail is its advanced search bar, which allows you to apply a series of codes to filter and delete emails quickly. These commands are key to identifying old or large messages that take up unnecessary space:
- Size:3m: This code allows you to locate all emails that weigh more than 3 MB. It’s ideal for quickly identifying messages with large attachments, such as photos and videos, that consume a large portion of your account space. To use it, just type “size:3m” in the Gmail search bar and press Enter. If you need to free up more space, you can increase the number to size:15m o size:20m to see only the heaviest emails.
- Older_Than:1Y: the second useful code is “older_than:1y”which shows all emails that are older than one year old. You can modify the number to widen or narrow the search range, for example, “older_than:2y” o “older_than:6m” to find messages older than two years or six months, respectively. This filter is especially valuable for identifying and deleting old messages that are no longer relevant, such as past notifications or promotional emails.
- From:(name of a contact): the third useful code is “from:(name of a contact)”which allows you to filter all emails from a specific sender. If you have a backlog of messages from a company or service that you no longer need, such as “from.
In addition to using these search codes, there are other strategies that can help you free up space on your computer. Gmail quickly and easily:
- Delete emails with large attachments: A manual way to find and delete large emails is to use the filter panel. Click the filters icon in the search bar (represented by three horizontal lines), select the option “It has an attached file” and then enter a minimum size, such as 5 MBin the size box. Gmail will show you all messages with attachments that meet this criteria. Review and delete those that are no longer useful.
- Check and delete old emails in bulk: To see all your emails sorted from oldest to newest, open the filter panel and, without typing anything, click the blue search button. Next, navigate to the last page of your inbox and start deleting old emails, such as notifications or advertisements, that you no longer need.
- Cancel subscriptions and delete promotional emails: Promotional emails and subscriptions can fill your inbox quickly. Use the search bar and type “Cancel subscription” to find messages that include the option to unsubscribe. Take advantage of this search to unsubscribe from lists that no longer interest you and delete messages en masse.
It is important to remember that deleted emails are stored in the folder “Bin” during 30 days before being automatically deleted. To immediately free up space, go to the trash and click “Delete permanently”. This step will ensure that deleted messages do not continue to take up space.
