How to free up space in Gmail: delete all the emails that fill up storage and pollute

The accumulation of emails in Gmail can be overwhelming, especially when you use the service for years without proper management. The real problem is that Gmail offers its users only 15 GB of free storagewhich is shared between Google Drive, Google Photos and Gmail and as the mailbox fills up, the application’s performance declines. However, Gmail offers several options for deleting emails.

First, it is important to know that the account allows you to filter emails by date, sender, subjectand other specific criteria, making it easy to sort and delete spam in bulk. For example, you can search for older emails from a certain date, or those from a specific sender, using commands like “before:2022/01/01” in the search bar. This will allow you to view and select only the relevant emails to delete, without worrying about accidentally deleting messages.

How to organize your Gmail inbox

Gmail offers the option to select all emails that appear on a search results page and then expand the selection to all emails that match the search criteria. This is especially useful if you have thousands of emails accumulated from a specific sender or category that are no longer relevant. After selecting the emails, you can delete them with a single click, moving them to the trashwhere they will remain for 30 days before being permanently deleted.

Another option to keep your inbox organized is Use labels and folders. Gmail allows you to create custom bookmarks helping you Classify and archive important emails. The purpose is to find emails easily in the future and Reduce the clutter in your main inboxAdditionally, you can automate the labeling process by setting up filters that automatically assign labels to incoming emails based on certain criteria.

To free up space in Gmail

For those who prefer a complete cleanse, Gmail allows you to empty your inbox or any specific folder with just a few clicks. This is a drastic, but effective option if you are willing to start over and get rid of all the emails in your account. However, It is important to make sure you have backed up any important emails before proceeding, as this action is irreversible once the emails are permanently deleted from the trash.

Another useful tool for managing space is Google OneGoogle’s cloud storage service. With Google One, you can review the space occupied by emails, attachments, and other data in your account. This allows you to quickly identify what’s taking up the most space and take action. measures to free up storage. If your account is close to its storage limit, deleting emails with large attachments or emptying the trash can free up a significant amount of space.

Why emails pollute the environment

Although it sounds like a Chinese tale, Emails left unused are harmful to our planet due to the energy consumption associated with storing, sending, and processing them in data centers. Each email, especially those with attachments or images, requires electricity to be sent, stored on serversand accessed from devices.

These servers, which operate 24/7, emit carbon dioxide (CO2) as a result of energy consumption, thus contributing to the global carbon footprint. Although individually the impact is small, The sum of millions of emails per day generates a significant amount of emissions.