How to Delete Google Drive Storage Online and Offline

Google Drive, a widely used cloud storage service, allows people to store and access their files from anywhere. But if you’re running low on storage or just want to get rid of some old files, it’s helpful to know how to clear your Google Drive storage. In this article, we’ll walk you through the process of deleting your Google Drive storage both online and offline.

Clearing Google Drive Storage Online

To wipe your Google Drive storage online, follow these simple steps:

1. Head to the Google Drive website and log in using your Google account
2. Choose the files or folders you’d like to remove.
3. Once you’ve picked the items, hit the trash icon on the toolbar.
4. In the confirmation window, click “Move to trash.

These files or folders will now move to your trash folder, where they’ll stay for 30 days. You can find your trash folder by clicking the “Trash” link in the left sidebar.

To delete the files or folders permanently:

1. 1. 1. Open the trash folder and select the items you want to eliminate.
   1. Click the trash icon once more and choose “Delete forever” in the confirmation window.

The selected files or folders will now be permanently erased from your Google Drive storage.

Deleting Google Drive Storage Offline

There may be times when you want to delete files or folders from your Google Drive storage while you’re offline, particularly if you’ve synced your Drive to your local device. Here’s how you can delete Google Drive storage offline:

1. Locate your synced Google Drive folder: Open your file explorer, and navigate to the location where your Google Drive folder is saved. This is typically found in your “Documents” or “My Files” folder.
2. Find the files or folders you want to delete: Browse through the synced Google Drive folder to identify the files or folders you wish to remove.
3. Delete the selected items: Right-click (or Ctrl-click on a Mac) on the files or folders you want to delete, and choose “Delete” or “Move to Trash/ Recycle Bin” from the context menu. Alternatively, you can select the items and press the “Delete” key on your keyboard.

Empty the trash or recycle bin (optional):

If you want to permanently delete the files or folders, open your trash or recycle bin, locate the items, and either right-click and choose “Delete Permanently” or “Empty Trash/ Recycle Bin.” This step ensures that the deleted files won’t take up space on your local device.

Why Delete Google Drive?

There are various reasons you might want to remove files or folders from your Google Drive, or even clear your entire Google Drive storage. Some of these reasons include:

1. Running low on storage:  If your Google Drive is filling up, you may need to delete some files or folders to create room for new ones.
2. Outdated or unnecessary files:  As time passes, you might end up with obsolete or unimportant files on your Google Drive. Removing these helps keep your files organised and makes it easier to locate the ones you need.
3. Privacy concerns: If you’re worried about the privacy of certain files or want to ensure they remain private, consider deleting them from your Google Drive.
4. Shared files: If you’ve shared files or folders with others and no longer require them, removing them can reduce clutter on your Google Drive.

Alternatives to Deleting Google Drive

There are other solutions to address the concerns mentioned above, rather than deleting your Google Drive:

• Use Google Photos: 

If numerous photos or videos are occupying space on your Google Drive, consider using Google Photos to store them. This will free up space on your Drive and make it simpler to manage your photos and videos.

• Use Google Drive File Stream: 

For business purposes, you can utilise Google Drive File Stream to store and access your files. This tool allows you to access files on demand without using up space on your local hard drive.

Conclusion

Clearing your Google Drive storage is an easy process that can assist you in freeing up space and managing your files more effectively. Whether you’re deleting files online or offline, it’s crucial to remember that files in the trash folder have a 30-day retention period.

By following the steps outlined in this post, you can delete files on your Google Drive storage quickly and easily. Additionally, using tools like Google Photos or Google Drive File Stream can help you better manage your files and maximise your storage space.