Glossary · Cloud storage quota
What is a cloud storage quota, and what counts against it?
Short answer
A cloud storage quota is the total online space your account may use across a provider's services. Google gives 15 GB free, shared by Gmail, Google Drive and Google Photos; Apple gives 5 GB of iCloud. When the quota fills, new photos stop backing up, and with Google, new email can stop arriving too.
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What counts against the quota?
| Provider | Free quota | Shared by |
|---|---|---|
| Google account | 15 GB | Gmail, Google Drive, Google Photos |
| Apple iCloud | 5 GB | Photos, device backups, iCloud Drive, Mail |
Since June 2021, photos backed up to Google Photos in Storage saver or Original quality both count against the 15 GB. Items in Google Photos' trash also count until they are permanently removed, and so do email attachments and Drive files in any shared folder you own.
What happens when the quota is full?
- Backups stop. New photos stay on the phone only, unprotected if it is lost.
- Gmail may bounce mail. Google warns that you may not be able to send or receive email.
- Drive edits pause. You cannot create or upload new files.
- Google may delete content. If an account stays over quota for two years, Google's policy allows removal of stored content after warnings.
Phone storage and cloud storage are separate. A full phone can sit next to an almost empty account, and the reverse. Warnings from Google or Apple about a full account refer to the cloud; a 'storage full' notice from Android itself is about the phone.
How do I free cloud space without paying?
- Open one.google.com/storage to see which service uses the most, and how close the account is to its limit.
- In Google Photos, open storage management to review large items, blurry shots and screenshots.
- Delete near-identical bursts and forwarded images, then empty the Google Photos trash.
- In Gmail, search 'has:attachment larger:10M' and delete what you no longer need.
Photos are usually the biggest block, and much of it is repetition: bursts, re-saved edits and the same chat picture backed up several times. The Google One storage full guide goes further, and Google One explains the paid tiers.
Does cleaning the phone help the cloud?
When backup is on, yes: removing a photo through the gallery or Google Photos also removes the backed-up copy, freeing quota. GalleryJury, an Android cleaner coming soon to Google Play, works on photos stored on the phone, picking a best shot from each burst and clearing junk screenshots and forwards; with sync on, those deletions free cloud space too, after the trash is emptied.
Frequently asked questions
Do photos shared with me count against my quota?
No. Items in a shared album that belong to someone else count against their quota, not yours, unless you save copies to your own library. Files others share with you in Drive work the same way.
Is buying more storage the only fix?
No. Many accounts fill up with duplicates, bursts and old attachments. Clearing those first often frees enough space to stay on the free tier for months.
Does my phone's own storage affect the cloud quota?
Not directly. Each has its own limit, and filling one leaves the other unchanged.
Sources
- Google One Help: How your Google storage works (checked 31 October 2026)
- Google Photos Help: Manage your storage (checked 31 October 2026)
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GalleryJury is coming soon to Android
It keeps the best shot from every burst and clears the clutter around it. 50 free photos to try, then $5 for 5,000 photos or $15 for 20,000. Pay once, nothing renews. No subscription.