Gmail: How to Gain Lots More Storage Space — For Free!
As you may know, Gmail gives its users a healthy amount of storage for their email and attachments. But if you use Gmail a lot, you may notice yourself running out of room. Or maybe you’ve coughed up extra money each year for more space.
I have a way to give you much, much more storage space in your Gmail account without paying a penny.
The secret: Actually delete email. Some very specific email, actually.
Gmail encourages you to “archive” rather than delete your email. That’s great if you want to keep things forever, but if you’re certain you really won’t need all those Twitter or Facebook or Evite notifications any more (and really, you probably don’t), here’s a very simple, 10-second way to clear those pesky emails out forever, giving you more space in your Gmail account.
1. Copy the text below, paste it into the search box on Gmail (you can add your own items if you like as well), and click the Search Mail button:
subject:”sent you a message on Facebook” OR subject:”is now following you on Twitter” OR subject:”Direct message from” OR subject:”Google Alert -” OR subject:”also commented on her status” OR subject:”also commented on his status” OR subject:”Your craigslist posting” OR subject:”added you as a friend” OR subject:”has accepted your LinkedIn invitation” OR subject:”My Alerts for the week” OR subject:”confirmed you as a friend” OR subject:”Evite invitation from” OR subject:”commented on your status” OR subject:”also commented on” OR from:”Evite” OR from:”Kiva” OR subject:”has RSVPd for” OR subject:”has invited you to the group” OR from:”SparkPeople” OR subject:”has tagged you on”
2. Click the text link that says All (after Select:) All the emails on the screen will get selected.
3. At the top of your emails, the text “Select all conversations that match this search” will appear. Click it.
4. Gmail will now say: “All conversations in this search are selected.”
5. Double-check the selected emails to make sure you’re okay with them all being deleted, then click the DELETE button on the screen (not on your computer keyboard).
If you decide you want them back, they’re in your Trash. I’d recommend you leave them there, since Gmail doesn’t count your Trash (or Spam) folder in your space.
I saved HUGE amounts of space doing this! I hope it works for you as well.
Tod
Twitter @todmaffin | Facebook: Tod Maffin
Comments (9)
July 17th, 2009
I always delete these emails, and have never run out of space in Gmail – not even close! Mind you, I'm a stickler for tidy email.
July 17th, 2009
Just so you know:
(messages that have been in Trash more than 30 days will be automatically deleted)
July 31st, 2009
Tod,
Your blog converts your quotes into curly quotes, and so your search doesn't work for me.
August 1st, 2009
Thanks… I'll check it out.
August 2nd, 2009
Did not bring up any converstaions for me.
google is saying I have used 89% of space and cannot send or receive any more mail.
Is this simply a ruse to get us to start buying storage??
If so shame on google.
I hear Hotmail has 500GB storage.
Also annoying….google does not seem to register tha fact that I have been deleting archived messages. The counter is stuck at 7.19 GB….semms fishy to me. Is Google desperate?
August 3rd, 2009
This isn't some kind of clever technique to sell me on Expression Engine is
Thanks… I'll check into it. It may be a problem with the crappy
it?
template I'm using.
August 12th, 2009
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August 12th, 2009
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September 15th, 2009
Copy the above, paste it into Notepad, and no more curly quotes. Still doesn't work for me, though.
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