Google storage works by providing a shared pool of space that is allocated to various Google services. This means the storage space you have isn't just for one thing, but rather it is used across multiple platforms.
Understanding Google Storage Basics
Every Google account automatically comes with a free base amount of 15 GB of storage. This free storage space is shared across:
- Gmail: Your emails and attachments.
- Google Drive: Your files, documents, spreadsheets, presentations, etc.
- Google Photos: Your photos and videos.
How Storage Is Used
Here's a more detailed look at how your storage is used:
- Gmail: All emails, including those in your inbox, sent items, and spam folder, along with any attachments, count towards your storage quota.
- Google Drive: Every file you upload to Google Drive, including documents, spreadsheets, presentations, PDFs, and more, utilizes your storage.
- Google Photos: The original quality of photos and videos take up storage space. However, you might have the option to choose to save space by having Google compress your photos and videos.
- Note: Images and videos uploaded before June 1, 2021, in the "High Quality" setting, do not count towards your storage quota unless they have been edited and subsequently saved.
Expanding Your Storage
When you reach the limit of your 15 GB of storage, you have a few options:
- Purchase a Google One Membership: You can subscribe to a Google One membership to increase your storage. The amount of storage you can buy varies depending on the plan you choose.
- Special Promotions: Sometimes Google, or another company (like when you buy a new phone), provides additional storage through promotional offers.
- Related Purchases: Similar to the promotions, certain purchases may come with included storage.
Managing Your Storage
To manage and free up space, you can do the following:
- Delete Unnecessary Files: Remove large files from Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos. Empty the trash in each service.
- Compress Files: If space is limited, compressing photos and videos (where available) is an option.
Google One Membership
Purchasing a Google One membership allows you to:
- Increase your storage to a higher capacity (options vary).
- Share storage with family members.
- Access additional benefits like Google Store discounts.
- Enjoy other exclusive features like access to Google Experts.
Summary
In essence, Google storage is a unified storage space shared across various Google services, and each account begins with 15 GB for use between Gmail, Google Drive and Google Photos. Users can increase this by purchasing Google One storage plans or via various promotions. Understanding this system helps manage your data effectively.
