A Guide to Google Drive Storage and Tips to Increase It

Publication Date: 2022.01.05

Have you ever wondered what the maximum size for Google Drive is? Below you will find useful tips on how you can check your Google Drive size limit, how to clear space on your Google Drive, and how to increase your Drive storage.

What Is Google Drive?

Google Drive is a cloud-based storage solution that lets you store files, such as Google Docs, Sheets, and photos, and share them with others. Real-time collaboration with your colleagues allows simultaneous editing of files, with changes automatically updated in the cloud.

Google Drive can store a large amount of data and allows business users to easily find the information they need at work. Although the Google Drive space limit is generous, and can hold many files, users need to be aware that it is shared across Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos.

What Is the Difference Between the Google Drive Free Storage Limit and Google Drive for Business?

Google Drive Free Storage Is Limited to 15 GB

Google Drive Free Storage is limited to 15 GB. If you want to increase the storage space, you must make an additional purchase. The price of Drive storage varies by storage size.

Google Drive for Business Starts From 30 GB

When you purchase a Google Workspace account for your business, storage is dependent on the edition you choose. Google Drive has a storage size limit that is shared across all users under the same domain. For example, if 10 users subscribe to Business Plus, the company will have a total of 50 TB (10 x 5 TB) of Google Drive storage, instead of each user having 5 TB of storage separately. For businesses that have differing drive usage capacities depending on the user, storage space is not wasted and can be used more effectively.

How to Check Your Google Drive Storage Limit?

When using Google Drive, you can check the current usage status of the drive. Here is how you can do it:

View Your Google Drive Storage Limit

When you access your Google Drive, you can see the storage limit used in the bottom left corner of your screen. To see all the files you currently have stored on the drive, click on ‘Storage’.

Check Used Storage on Your Google Drive

Google provides users with a ‘Drive Storage’ page. Here you can check the storage space used for your Google Drive, Gmail, and photos.

How to Clear Space on Your Google Drive?

Have you ever wondered how you can free up space, save new data, and increase your Google Drive storage? Organizing your files more efficiently will help you make better use of your storage space limit.

(1) Delete Unnecessary Data and Files

Delete unnecessary data in Google Drive, Google Photos, and Gmail to free up space in your drive. You can effectively increase your storage limit by deleting large amounts of data that you no longer need. Remember to permanently delete the data in your trash folder as it also takes up Google Drive space.

(2) Change the Storage Settings of Google Photos

Photo and video files stored in Google Photos can be large and may use more cloud space than necessary. You can save them in more appropriate sizes to help increase the storage space of your drive. In settings, change the quality of your photos and videos from ‘Original Quality’ to ‘High Quality’. By changing the upload size to high quality, you can reduce the file size while maintaining good image quality.

How to Increase Your Google Drive Storage Limit?

If your drive space is insufficient, even after deleting files, you can increase the storage as follows:

(1) Upgrade Your Google Drive Plan

If you are using Google Drive Free Storage from a free Google account, consider upgrading to a paid account. If you are already using a paid account, you can upgrade to a higher edition to increase your storage space.

(2) Increase the Number of User Accounts

Storage expansion is not available for Business Standard and Business Plus users, but you can increase the number of user accounts to increase your Google Drive storage. For example, a Business Standard user has 2 TB of storage, and when you add a second user account another 2 TB becomes available, as storage can be shared.

Purchase Google Workspace for Business

Google Workspace offers more Google Drive storage options, plus a variety of cloud-based office tools.

If you would like to know more about the comparison of Google Workspace features, please refer to ‘Features and Editions Comparison of Google Workspace’.

Upgrade From the Free Version to the Paid Version

Google Workspace includes business email and an Admin Console to manage users and devices, helping companies avoid security risks. Google also offers support services. However, when you purchase from TS Cloud, Google Premier Partner in Hong Kong, we provide support from pre-deployment through to going live. Our phone support is quick and reliable, making your job easier.

Upgrade to a Better Edition

Cloud Search (search and retrieval of information) and Google Vault (information governance and eDiscovery tool) are available for Business Standard and superior editions. These tools make Google Workspace more secure and convenient to use.

Get More Drive Storage with Google Workspace

Google’s Cloud storage is shared between Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos. If you use a free account your Google Drive storage limit is only 15 GB – you may have to regularly delete unnecessary data or adjust your Google Photos storage settings to use your drive’s storage more efficiently. This can be an inconvenience in your busy schedule. Upgrading to one of the paid versions will give you a greater Google drive size limit. Switch to the Google Workspace edition that best suits your needs.