Google Drive says Storage is Full, but it’s not. Here’s How to Fix it.

If Google Drive says your storage is full but you believe it is not, here are several steps you can take to resolve the issue.

1. Check Storage Usage:
   • Go to Google Drive Storage to see a detailed breakdown of your storage usage across Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos.
2. Empty Trash:
   • Files in the Trash still count towards your storage limit until they are permanently deleted.
   • Go to the Trash folder in Google Drive and empty it.
3. Check for Hidden Files:
   • Occasionally, hidden files or folders can occupy storage. Go to Google Drive and click on “Storage” on the left-hand menu to see all files sorted by size. Delete any unnecessary large files.
4. Check Google Photos:
   • High-resolution photos and videos stored in Google Photos can quickly consume your storage. Go to Google Photos and check for any large files.
   • Consider converting photos and videos to “High Quality” (which offers free unlimited storage) instead of “Original Quality.”
5. Check Gmail:
   • Emails and attachments in Gmail also use Google Drive storage. Delete unnecessary emails, especially those with large attachments.
   • Use the search bar in Gmail to find large emails by typing size:10MB or another size limit to locate large emails quickly.
6. Shared Drives:
   • If you have access to any Shared Drives, check if they are consuming your storage quota.
7. Update Storage Information:
   • Sometimes, the storage information may not update immediately. Wait for a while and then check again.
8. Clear Google Drive Cache (for mobile users):
   • If you are using the Google Drive app on a mobile device, try clearing the app’s cache. This can be done through the device’s settings under the app management section.
9. Log Out and Log Back In:
   • Sometimes, logging out of your Google account and then logging back in can refresh the storage details.
10. Contact Google Support:
    • If none of the above steps work, contact Google Support for assistance as there might be an issue with your account.

By following these steps, you should be able to identify and resolve the issue with Google Drive storage.