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.
- Note that any emails and attachments you receive will continue to count against your total storage usage.
- 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.
- Syncs stop between your computer's Google Drive for desktop folder and My Drive.
- You can still share your files with other collaborators. Those collaborators can still also make copies of any of your affected files.
- Photos: You cannot sync or upload additional photos or videos.
- Takeout: You can continue to use Google Takeout to export your Google account data.
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.