Why Deleting Files On Google Drive Might Not Free Up Storage Space And How To Resolve It

Google Drive provides 15 GB of free shared storage for U.S. consumers, which is allocated across Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos. When users attempt to free up space by deleting files, they often find that their storage quota does not decrease immediately. This issue arises from specific operational behaviors within the Google ecosystem, primarily related to how deletions are processed and where the storage is consumed.

Common Reasons Storage Does Not Decrease After Deletion

There are three primary reasons why deleting files on Google Drive may not result in immediate storage recovery. Understanding these factors is essential for effectively managing storage capacity.

Files Moved to Trash Remain in Storage

When a file is deleted from Google Drive, it is not immediately removed from the storage allocation. Instead, the file is moved to the "Trash" folder. Files residing in the Trash continue to count against the user's storage quota. This is a security measure designed to prevent accidental data loss, allowing users to recover files for up to 30 days. To permanently free up space, users must manually empty the Trash folder.

Deletion Processing Delays

The deletion process itself may not be instantaneous. According to the documentation, the completion of a deletion request can take anywhere from 24 to 48 hours. This delay is not dependent on the size of the files deleted but rather on the total volume of files being processed. Users may see the storage update immediately in some cases, but in instances involving a large number of files, a waiting period is required before the quota reflects the change.

Shared Files and Collaboration

For files that have been shared with other users, deleting them from a personal Drive view may not immediately free up space. If the file is still accessible to collaborators, it remains in the shared ecosystem. The storage impact might not be resolved until the file is removed by all owners or the sharing permissions are altered, though specific mechanics on how this affects the individual quota are detailed in the source material.

Storage Consumption by Gmail and Google Photos

The 15 GB storage limit is shared across three services. If a user deletes files from Google Drive but has significant data stored in Gmail (emails and attachments) or Google Photos (original quality photos and videos), the available space for Drive will not increase effectively. The storage pool is shared, meaning high usage in one service restricts the available space for the others.

Steps to Permanently Free Up Space

To ensure that deleted files contribute to storage recovery, specific actions must be taken beyond simple deletion.

Empty the Google Drive Trash

To permanently remove files and reclaim storage, users must access the Trash folder and select the "Empty trash" or "Delete forever" option. This action removes the files from the Google ecosystem entirely, triggering the storage update.

Manage Shared Files

Users should review files they have shared with others. If a user deletes a shared file, they may need to ensure that the file is removed from the shared drive entirely or that ownership is transferred to another collaborator if they wish to retain access without using their own storage.

Delete Unnecessary Data in Gmail and Google Photos

Since storage is shared, users should also review and delete large emails or attachments in Gmail and unnecessary photos or videos in Google Photos. Permanently deleting items from the Trash folders of these services is also necessary to recover space.

Verification and Support

If storage space does not update after 48 hours and the Trash has been emptied, users are advised to contact Google Drive Support for assistance. Additionally, users can utilize third-party tools like MultCloud to back up files to other cloud services before deletion, ensuring data safety while freeing up space in the primary Google Drive account.

Conclusion

The issue of Google Drive storage not updating after file deletion is typically caused by files remaining in the Trash folder, processing delays, or high usage of the shared storage pool by Gmail and Google Photos. To permanently free up space, users must empty the Trash folder, wait up to 48 hours for processing, and manage data across all apps utilizing the shared 15 GB storage limit.

Sources

1. MultCloud: Deleting files on Google Drive does not free up space
2. PCWorld: Google Drive files deleted but storage still full
3. Google Support: Clear space in Google Drive
4. How-To Geek: Tips to free up space in Google Drive