Google Drive isn’t a doubt one of the best cloud storage providers available as it sits on Google’s highly-reliable servers also provides up to 15GB of free storage to all the users. If you’ve been using Gmail for your mails, you’re already using Drive to store your email attachments.
The 15GB complimentary storage given by the Drive is sufficient for most users who just use it to save their few important files. But if you use it for more than that and lots of your documents happen to be in your Google Drive account, you’ll probably find yourself running out of space in your account soon.
There are a few ways though, that when applied, help you create your free storage limit last a bit longer for you. These Google Drive tips and tricks optimize the already-stored content in your account, so your content absorbs less space and you’ve got more space available to store other documents.
Delete (Large) Attachments From The Gmail
Many users think that Gmail has its very own storage quota and that it does not have anything to do with Google Drive. However, that is not the situation. All the emails and attachments you receive in your Gmail are actually counted towards your Drive quota.
For that reason, it’s vital that you eliminate the attachments and emails that you no longer find useful in your inbox. Following is a fast and easy method to locate those storage-hogging attachments.
Access Gmail on your browser and then click the down-arrow icon from the search box. It’ll open the advanced search menu.
In the newly opened hunt menu, checkmark the box which says Has attachment. It is going to make certain just the emails with attachments are searched. In the Size box, then pick more than X MB where X is your attachment size. You will try anywhere between 5 to 10 MB. Then hit search.
You’ll now see all the mails that have attachments larger than that which you stated above. Checkmark the mails that you would like to get rid of and click the Publish option at the very top.
Make certain that you delete the emails from the Junk as well and you’ll have freed up your Google Drive storage area.
Convert Microsoft Office Docs To Google Docs Format
Unless you have been living under a rock, you will know Google has its own online office suite called Google Docs. Like the traditional MS Office package, Google Docs lets you create Word-like files, Excel-like Documents, and PowerPoint-like presentations.
What’s more, all the files created with Google Docs do not count towards your Drive storage. So in the event that you have your MS Office or any other office documents sitting around on your storage, then it is time you get them converted into this format to save on your storage area.
Here we will Have a Look at how to convert an MS Excel spreadsheet to a Google Sheet:
Open Google Drive in a browser, find the file you want to convert, then right-click on the file, and then choose Open with followed by Google Sheets.
When the file opens, then Click the File menu at the top and select Save Google Sheets.
It’ll quickly convert and start the Google Docs version of your spreadsheet.
Most of the items of your initial document will be undamaged. But, there might be a few features which aren’t carried over during conversion. Keep the original file together with you and unless you have confirmed and ensured the converted variant has all of it.
Upload Photos & Videos In High-Quality On Google Photos
Google Photos lets you upload, organize, and keep your photographs on the cloud. As long as your video and photo quality is put to high-quality instead of original quality, your uploaded documents will not count on your Drive quota.
Head over to the Google Photos site and click on the hamburger icon followed by Settings.
On the following screen, empower the High excellent alternative. Click on the Recover storage button to convert your existing videos and photos to high quality.
Keep Unsupported Items In Google Docs
Google Drive only provides free unlimited storage to get a handful of file types. If yours doesn’t have been among the supported document types, it is possible to combine it with a supported file type to acquire free unlimited storage.
For instance, if you have an image that you don’t want to alter, you may make a Google Docs document and put the image in there. Since Google Docs files get free storage, your image inside the document will also receive the same privilege.
Delete Apps Data From Your Google Account
If you have connected any programs to your Google Drive account, they might be using some of your Drive storage. These apps data is usually hidden but there is a way you can delete this information from your account.
While on the Google Drive site, click the gear icon at the very top and choose Settings.
Click on Manage Apps from the left sidebar on the next screen to view your apps. Click on the Options alternative for any program you think is utilizing your storage and choose Delete hidden app data.
Empty The Google Drive Trash
If you do not know, even the documents that you’ve deleted from your Google Drive account are counted on your storage. After you delete a document, it’s usually moved to the Junk and will not get permanently deleted.
To really recover the space that the files you deleted had inhabited, you need to empty the Junk as under.
Access your Google Drive account and click on Trash in the left sidebar.
Click on the Junk name on very top and you’ll discover an alternative saying Empty trash. Click it.
Your G Push Trash is going to be emptied.
Conclusion
Knowing a few of these optimization tips will prevent you from buying the paid storage plans, as the free one is going to persist for a lifetime for you with a few smart implementations.
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