Understand how Google storage works, what takes up space, and how to manage it effectively.
If you're over your storage quota for 2 years, we might delete your content across Gmail, Drive, and Photos. Learn more about Google storage policies.
Your Google storage is shared across Gmail, Google Photos, and Google Drive. However, other items like WhatsApp backups or Drive for Desktop syncing can also take up space.
Learn what takes up storage in Gmail, Photos & Drive
Learn what items in Gmail use storage spaceMessages and attachments, like items in your Spam and Trash folders, take up space. Learn what happens when you run out of space in GmailWhen your account reaches its storage limit:
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Learn what items in Google Photos use storage space
Learn what items in Google Photos don’t use storage spacePhotos and videos backed up in Storage saver quality or Express quality before June 1, 2021 don't use space. Learn what happens when you run out of space in Google Photos
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Learn what items in Google Drive use storage space
Important: New files you create in Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drawings and Forms use up your Google storage space. Files that already exist don't count toward storage unless they're modified on or after June 1, 2021. Learn what items in Google Drive don’t use storage space
Learn what happens when you run out of space in Google DriveWhen your account reaches its storage limit:
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Learn about storage differences for Google Drive for Desktop
Items in Google Drive for desktop take up a different amount of space than the same items in drive.google.com.
- Items in your Trash take up space in Google Drive, but aren't synced to your computer. Learn how to empty your trash.
- Shared items take up space on your computer, but not Google Drive.
- Items that are in multiple folders sync to all folders on your computer and take up more space.
- If you only sync some folders to your computer, the storage on your computer is less than what is shown on drive.google.com.
- Your computer might show a different file size due to Mac or PC requirements than in drive.google.com.
Learn about other items that use storage space
Files other than Gmail, Drive, and Photos can still use up your Google storage space. For example, backups of your WhatsApp messages and media.
To turn off backups of your WhatsApp messages:
- On your device, open WhatsApp.
- Go to Settings Chats Chat backup Google Drive settings.
- Tap Never.
You can also delete your WhatsApp backups through the Google Drive app.
Important: Once deleted, you can't recover WhatsApp backups from Drive.
- On your device, open the Google Drive app.
- Make sure you have signed in to the correct google account.
- At the top left, tap Menu Backups.
- Find your WhatsApp backup file.
- Tap Menu Delete backup.
Optimize Your Google Storage or Get More Space
Check out how much storage you have
You’re not signed into a Google Account. To find out how much storage you have and how to manage it, log into your Google Account and reload this article.
Learn how to clear space
You’re not signed into a Google Account. To find out how much storage you have and how to manage it, log into your Google Account and reload this article.
Learn how to buy more storage
You’re not signed into a Google Account. To find out how much storage you have and how to manage it, log into your Google Account and reload this article.
Google One is a subscription that gives you more storage across Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos for your account, .
When you subscribe to Google One, your total storage increases depending on the plan you choose.
Get more storage with Google One
Learn how storage policies vary by plan
Learn about Google Workspace storage
Google Workspace storage is shared between Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos. Learn how storage use is calculated.
The amount of storage for each user depends on your Google Workspace edition. Most Google Workspace editions have pooled storage. Pooled storage is indicated in the following tables as total storage or a storage amount times the number of End User licenses.
Pooled storage is granted in stages:
- At the time of purchase, you get part of your storage.
- As you make timely payments for your subscription, your storage increases up to your total storage limit. It can take up to 72 hours after a payment for your storage to increase.
Google Workspace Edition or Subscription | Storage Limits |
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G Suite Basic No longer available for new customers |
30 GB per End User |
G Suite Business G Suite Business - Archived Users No longer available for new customers |
Unlimited storage 1 TB per Archived User |
Google Workspace Business Starter | 30 GB times the number of End Users, including Archived Users |
Google Workspace Business Standard | 2 TB times the number of End Users, including Archived Users |
Google Workspace Business Plus | 5 TB times the number of End Users, including Archived Users |
Google Workspace Enterprise Starter | 1 TB times the number of End Users |
Google Workspace Enterprise Standard Google Workspace Enterprise Plus |
5 TB times the number of End Users, including Archived Users For customers with 5 or more End Users, more storage may be available at Google's discretion upon reasonable request. Learn how to request storage. |
Google Workspace for Education
Google Workspace Edition or Subscription | Storage Limits |
---|---|
Google Workspace for Education Fundamentals Google Workspace for Education Standard |
100 TB total for all End Users |
Google Workspace for Education Teaching and Learning Upgrade | Additional 100 GB times the number of End User licenses |
Google Workspace for Education Plus | Additional 20 GB times the number of End User licenses |
For more information about storage for Google Workspace for Education storage, go to Understand storage availability and usage.
Google Workspace Essentials
Google Workspace Essentials editions do not include Gmail.
Google Workspace Edition or Subscription | Storage Limits |
---|---|
Google Workspace Essentials Starter |
15 GB per End User |
Google Workspace Essentials No longer available for new customers |
100 GB times the number of End User, up to a maximum of 2 TB |
Google Workspace Enterprise Essentials | 1 TB times the number of End Users |
Google Workspace Enterprise Essentials Plus | 5 TB times the number of End Users |
Google Workspace Frontline
Google Workspace Edition or Subscription | Storage Limits |
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Google Workspace Frontline Starter Google Workspace Frontline Standard |
5 GB per End User* |
*This storage limit applies to all End Users using a Google Workspace Frontline edition, even if the Customer purchased another Google Workspace offering with different storage limits.
Google Workspace for Nonprofits
Google Workspace Edition or Subscription | Storage Limits |
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Google Workspace for Nonprofits |
100 TB for all End Users |
Google One storage is shared among Drive, Gmail, Photos and family accounts, where applicable. The amount of storage for each user depends on your Google Workspace edition.
Google One Plan |
Payment |
Availability |
---|---|---|
30 GB |
Monthly or yearly |
India and Indonesia |
100 GB |
Monthly or yearly |
Everyone |
200 GB |
Monthly or yearly |
Everyone |
2 TB |
Monthly or yearly |
Everyone |
5 TB |
Monthly or yearly |
Upgrade for existing members |
10 TB |
Monthly |
Upgrade for existing members |
20 TB |
Monthly |
Upgrade for existing members |
30 TB |
Monthly |
Upgrade for existing members |
Google One members can share their plan features with up to 5 family members.
Everyone gets 15 GB of cloud storage at no charge with their Google Account. The rest of the paid Google One storage is shared between family members. Learn how to start or stop sharing with your family.
You can also use the storage manager to clean up and troubleshoot your Google storage.