Facing
Gmail storage
limitations? Worry not this guide unveils clever strategies for deleting old emails and attachments, liberating precious storage space and restoring inbox serenity.
Here are the steps on how to delete old emails and attachments in
Gmail
to reclaim storage space:
1. Identify old emails:
- Use search operators: In the search bar, type older_than:1y to find emails older than a year. Adjust the time frame as needed.
- Sort by size: Click the down arrow next to the search bar and select "Size" to find emails with large attachments.
- Utilize labels: If you have specific labels for old emails (e.g., "Archive"), target those.
2. Delete unnecessary emails:
- Select emails: Check the boxes next to the emails you want to delete.
- Click the trash icon: Click the trash can icon at the top of your inbox to remove them.
3. Empty trash:
- Navigate to Trash: Click on the "Trash" label in the left sidebar.
- Empty Trash: Click the "Empty Trash Now" link to permanently delete emails.
4. Delete large attachments:
- Find emails with attachments: Use search operators like has:attachment or filename:pdf to locate emails with specific attachments.
- Open email: Click on the email to view the attachment.
- Download or save (optional): If needed, download the attachment to your computer before deleting.
- Remove attachment: Click the "Remove" link next to the attachment to detach it from the email.
5.
Manage large files in
Drive:
- Check Drive storage: Visit https://drive.google.com/ to view your Drive storage usage.
- Identify large files: Sort files by size to find large ones.
- Delete or move files: Delete unnecessary files or move them to a different storage option.
Important things to keep in mind:
- Set up filters to automatically delete or archive old emails based on criteria like sender, age, or keywords.
- Use "Delete after reading" feature, enable this feature for unimportant emails to automatically remove them after viewing.
- Explore tools like Clean Email for more advanced cleaning and automation options.
- Schedule regular email cleanups to prevent storage issues in the future.
