Learn how to get 15GB of Gmail storage utterly free of charge

It is protected to say that Gmail is among the world’s hottest e mail companies, and no marvel — it is comparatively simple to make use of, and Google provides 15GB of storage with each new Google account, no strings connected. Nicely, type of. That storage is shared with Google Drive and Google Photos, so it could possibly simply dwindle to nothing in case you’re syncing information out of your cellphone or laptop. And on a protracted sufficient timeline, emails alone can refill that area.

When you’re approaching the 15GB restrict however do not wish to spend cash on a Google One subscription, or an eternity discovering and pruning ineffective messages, there is a switch trick you should use to reclaim all of the area Gmail is at present hogging. There’s numerous steps to undergo, and plenty of ready, however it might finally be definitely worth the effort.

Earlier than you start

Precautions and conditions

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Earlier than doing the rest, I strongly suggest saving a neighborhood backup of your inbox to your Mac or Home windows PC. Whereas issues are prone to go simply superb, nobody needs to take an opportunity with reminiscences, work emails, or important paperwork. You’ll be able to delete this backup afterward in case you really feel assured issues are functioning completely. There are causes to maintain it indefinitely, although, as I am going to clarify on the finish of this information.

To obtain your present Gmail messages, log into Google Takeout in an internet browser, and uncheck the whole lot besides Mail and Contacts earlier than clicking Subsequent step. You may take into account leaving Drive and Google Images checked as effectively, since some Gmail attachments may very well be saved there, however which will additionally dramatically improve the dimensions of the backup. In any occasion, anticipate to attend a couple of hours earlier than your backup is able to obtain.

It doesn’t matter what, you will have to create a secondary Gmail account. That is comparatively easy, however be sure you use an handle that is simple to enter whereas nonetheless being distinctive. You may additionally wish to save your login data someplace, as a result of you might have to get again in finally — you are creating an archival account that may release the unique.

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Learn how to get 15GB of Gmail storage free of charge

Pay shut consideration to every step

Now that you have created a secondary Gmail account and (optionally) backed up your main account’s inbox, it is time to get on with the present. A few of these steps might sound cryptic in case you’re not accustomed to e mail methods, however do not panic.

Observe this course of to get going:

1. On a pc, log into your main Gmail account and click on on the gear icon within the top-right nook.
2. Within the menu that pops up, click on See all settings.
3. Choose the Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab.
4. Toggle Allow POP for all mail.
5. Within the When messages are accessed with POP drop-down menu, select delete Gmail’s copy.
6. Click on the Save Modifications button.
7. Log into your secondary Gmail account and click on the gear icon within the top-right.
8. Click on See all settings, then the Accounts and Import tab.
9. Subsequent to Verify mail from different accounts, click on Add a mail account.
10. Enter the data in your main Gmail account and click on Subsequent.
11. Select Import emails from my different account (POP3) and hit Subsequent.
12. Enter your main Gmail account’s password. It’s possible you’ll have to create and use a Google app password as a substitute — in case you do, give it an apparent label akin to “Electronic mail Switch,” then return to this step.
13. Within the Port drop-down menu, choose 995.
14. Be certain that All the time use a safe connection (SSL) when retrieving mail, Label incoming messages, and Archive incoming messages (Skip the Inbox) are checked.
15. Click on Add Account.

At this level, you will have to attend some time. Fairly some time, in actual fact — relying on the variety of messages you are transfering, you could possibly be ready anyplace from a number of hours to a couple days.

As soon as the switch is finished, use these steps to close off the automated switch course of:

1. Log into your secondary Gmail account.
2. Click on the gear icon, then See all settings.
3. Click on on the Accounts and Import tab.
4. Beneath Verify mail from different accounts, click on the delete possibility in your main Gmail account. Don’t fret, you are not erasing something.
5. Click on OK to verify.
6. When you generated an app password, go to myaccount.google.com/apppasswords and delete it. Leaving it energetic longer than obligatory may pose a safety threat.

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A number of last notes

Some suggestions earlier than you progress on

Google’s sync course of will not copy over any emails in your Draft or Spam folders. That is in all probability an excellent factor, however you might wish to examine these folders for something important. If there is not, be at liberty to empty the folders manually. The Spam folder will likely be cleaned mechanically regardless.

To forestall your secondary Gmail account from being deleted, you will should log into it not less than as soon as each two years. That is an excellent purpose to create a Google Takeout backup — it is a tall order to ask somebody to recollect this type of data 10 years down the street, by no means thoughts 20 or 30.

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