What Happens When My Storage is Full in U-M Google?

Environment

U-M Google, Drive, Mail, Photos, Drive for desktop

Issue

Google has alerted me that I’ve reached my storage limit, and my storage is full. What does this mean, and what should I do?

Resolution

There are two scenarios where you may be alerted by Google that you've reached your storage limit: in your individual account (or Shared Account) and in a shared drive you manage. It is important to note that the over-limit experiences for each are separate (i.e., if you are over limit in your individual account, you can still use shared drives normally. Also, if you are over limit in a shared drive, you can still use your individual account (and other shared drives) normally).

Individual account (or Shared Account)

When you reach the storage limit on your individual U-M Google account (or Shared Account), your access to services such as Drive, Gmail, and Photos will be affected in the following ways:

• Gmail: Your email will not be affected, and you can still send and receive email.
• Drive:
  • You cannot sync or upload new files.
  • You cannot create new Google file types such as Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drawings, Forms, Jamboards, etc.
  • Until you reduce the amount of storage you use, neither you nor anyone else (i.e., collaborators shared on the file) will be able to edit the affected files you own.
    • Additionally, collaborators cannot add to or edit files in affected folder structures where the parent/root level folder is owned by someone whose storage is full. (For example, Person A owns files in a folder owned by Person B. If Person B’s storage is full, Person A cannot edit their owned files in Person B’s folder.)
      • This includes Google Forms.
  • Syncs stop between your computer's Google Drive for desktop folder and My Drive.
• Photos: You cannot sync or upload additional photos or videos.

Shared drive

When you reach the storage limit on a Google shared drive of which you are a Manager, some functionalities in that specific drive will be affected in the following ways:

• All members and collaborators cannot move, create, upload, or copy content (including Google file types) into the shared drive when the storage is full or if the item they are trying to move/create/upload/copy will cause the storage to exceed the limit.
• All members and collaborators will still have access to view, comment, and edit (depending on their permission level) existing files and folders within the shared drive.

Additional Information

U-M Google Storage Project site

Need additional information or assistance? Contact the ITS Service Center.