Clean up and fix issues with your Google storage

You can clear storage space in your account through Google One.

If you're ever locked out of your Google Account, recovery options can help you to get back in. Learn more about account recovery for Google One members.

Use the storage manager

Manage storage through Google One

1. On your computer, go to Google One.
2. Under 'Clean up space', click View.
3. Under the category that you want to manage, click Review and clean up.
4. Select the files that you want to remove. You can also click the file to view.
   • Gmail: To filter by size, at the top right, click the filter icon .
   • Drive: To sort files by file attributes, at the top right, use the sorting options:
     • Last modified
     • File name
     • Size
   • Photos: To save files locally before you remove them from your Google Account, click Download.
5. After you select your files, at the top right, click Delete. For Photos, click Move to bin.
6. To confirm, read the consent wording.
7. To continue, tick the box.
8. To delete selected files, click Permanently delete. For Photos, click Move to bin.

Free up storage space

Issues with your storage space

Family members use too much shared storage

By default, family members can use any amount of the available storage. If a member uses too much storage, ask them to clear some of their storage.

If you don't want to share your storage with your family, learn how to stop sharing Google One.

Storage space doesn't increase after upgrade

It may take up to 24 hours for your new storage to become available after you purchase a new storage plan.

If your storage is still incorrect after 24 hours, sign in to your Google Account to check if your payment went through.

If your payment went through, it's been 24 hours since you upgraded and your storage is still incorrect, try the troubleshooting steps below.

If a charge has been applied to your payment card, but you can't find a payment reflected on your Google Account, check whether you're signed in to multiple Google Accounts. If so, Google One may have been purchased on a different account. You can cancel the purchase on that account and repurchase Google One on the desired account. Learn how to cancel purchases on Google One.

Troubleshoot incorrect storage 24 hours after purchase

Tip: If you use an iPhone or iPad, try closing the Google One app, and then reopen it. To learn how to close an app on an iPhone or iPad, contact Apple Support.

Log in to your Google Account in private 

If you use Google Chrome, try logging in to your account using an incognito window. This can force the synchronisation of your account with Google servers.

Important: Most browsers have embedded features to navigate in private or incognito. If you're not using Chrome and you require specific instructions for your browser, refer to the browser provider's website.

Restart your phone

Important: Settings can vary by phone. For more info, contact your device manufacturer.

1. On most phones, press your phone's Power button for about 30 seconds or until your phone restarts. 
2. You may need to tap Restart  Restart.

Update the app (Android only)

Check if an update for the Camera app is available:

1. Open the Google Play Store app .
2. At the top right, tap the Profile icon.
3. Tap Manage apps and devices.
4. Under 'Updates available', install any updates available for Pixel Camera.

Check if an Android system update is available:

1. Open your phone’s Settings app.
2. Tap System.
3. Tap Software updates.
4. Tap System update.
5. Tap Check for update.

 

Available storage doesn't go up as much as expected

Tip: If you change your storage limit, it can take up to 24 hours for the changes to apply to your account.

A Google One membership replaces your current storage plan. The storage from your Google One membership becomes your new storage limit, and isn't added on top of your existing storage.

If you got storage as part of a promotion, you keep the extra storage.

Learn more about how Google One works with existing storage.

Available storage doesn't increase after you delete files

Some files don't count against your storage space. Different products and files are stored differently and have varying file sizes.

Learn more about what files take up space.

You can’t send or receive emails after the upgrade

If you change your storage limit, it can take up to 24 hours for the changes to apply to your account. During these 24 hours, messages that you send or receive through Gmail can be affected. Try these troubleshooting steps:

1. Sign out of your Google Account, then sign back in.
2. Send a test email to yourself.
3. If that doesn't work:
   • Open an incognito window and log in to your Gmail account. Then, try to send an email.
   • Use a different browser like Microsoft Edge or Firefox to open your Google Account. Try to send an email.

If you still can’t send messages, wait 24 hours and try again.

Learn what happens if you run out of space

All your files stay safe but you can't store anything new. For example:

• Gmail: You can't send or receive messages. Messages sent to you are returned to the sender.
• Google Drive:
  • You can't sync or upload new files.
  • Syncs stop between your computer's Google Drive folder and My Drive.
  • You can't create new files in:
    • Google Docs
    • Sheets
    • Slides
    • Drawings
    • Forms
    • Jamboard
  • Until you reduce the amount of storage that you are using, no one can edit or copy your files.
• Google Photos: You can't back up any photos or videos.

Tip: To avoid these restrictions, you can clean up Google storage space. You can also buy more Google storage.

Clean up storage space

Learn how to manage space on Google Drive.

Manage subscriptions that were not purchased on the App Store

If you use the Google One website or another device to sign up for a plan instead of the App Store:

• You can't change your Google One plan on your iPhone or iPad.

Tip: If you purchased via the Google One website, you can manage your plan on the web at Google One.

1. At the top right, select Settings Change membership plan.
2. Choose your new storage limit. You can choose a monthly or yearly subscription.

If you have Google One on an Android device, you can change your membership plan in Settings.

If you want to manage your membership with the app on iPhone or iPad, you must buy a plan with an Apple subscription.

Step 1: Cancel your Google One plan

On your computer:

1. Go to Google One.
2. At the top right, select Settings Cancel membership.
3. Select Cancel.

Step 2: Buy a Google One plan with an Apple subscription

On your iPhone or iPad:

1. Download the Google One app from the App Store.
2. Open the Google One app .
3. On the left, tap Menu Membership plans.
4. Select a Google One plan.
5. After you've picked your plan, confirm your new subscription in the App Store.

Tip: You can also manage your payment method or manage your subscriptions with Google Play.

Problems with Workspace accounts

If you use a Workspace account, your Workspace admin controls your quota. You can manage files individually in Gmail, Photos and Drive. Learn how to manage files in your Google Drive storage.

Manage WhatsApp backups

On Android, WhatsApp backups now count towards your Google Account storage.

To review and delete your WhatsApp backup:

1. Open the Google One app .
2. At the bottom, tap Storage Free up account storage.
3. Under 'Clean up other items', tap WhatsApp.
4. Under the backup that you'd like to delete, tap Delete backup.

You can also delete your WhatsApp backup from your browser:

1. Go to one.google.com/backup/management/whatsapp.
2. Next to the backup that you'd like to delete, click Delete backup.

Tip: If you delete your backup, it doesn't turn off future backups. Learn how to manage your backup settings.

Learn how to manage your Google One storage with a step-by-step guide.

Related resources

• How existing storage works with Google One
• Buy more Google storage

• Set up recovery options for your Google Account and get sign-in help