this is how you handle it conveniently

Uh oh, Google’s storage is almost full. You will receive a message that you may soon no longer receive emails because you have used the full 15 GB. Panic! Until you realize that you have countless photos on Google Photos. Time to find out everything, with the following useful tips.

Select large photo files

In Google Photos you get a better overview of what is taking up so much space. One of the best tools to check this is the option for ‘Large photos and videos’. The largest files are listed here. Google Photos will automatically sort it and show the largest files first.

You may think that you will mainly find videos here, but nothing could be further from the truth: screenshots and quick photos can also contain a large file size. We recommend that you slowly scroll through the list and delete something each time.

Afraid that you will be working too rigorously? Then scroll all the way to the bottom, to the ‘smaller’ files. Slowly work your way up from there. This also makes it a little easier mentally to say goodbye to that blurry beach snapshot from nine years ago. Before you know it, you’ve wasted a few hundred MBs.

Browse the topics

Google Photos can easily recognize what you put in the photo and then categorize it. Just search for ‘dog’ in the search function and all your dog photos will appear. There is also the option for Documents via the Search tab. Here is a folder per theme or subject. For example, we have Book Covers, Menus and Posters.

You know you’ve photographed a lot of clothes and could probably use some photos? Then search for ‘clothing’ or ‘dresses’, for example. This way you can quickly get a list of associated photos and choose what to throw away.

Work on your screenshots

Just take a screenshot of one or the other and then don’t think about deleting it later. The QR code for dropping off a package, confirming a Tikkie or accidentally while you almost dropped your phone in the toilet. Each one is useful, but then they unintentionally take up more and more space.

Fortunately, there are several ways to sort out your screenshots. One of the ways is to use the search function. If you enter ‘screenshots’ there, you will automatically receive two suggestions with folders of screenshots. Google does not always have a clear idea of what exactly is a screenshot and what is not, so this may also include regular photos. To be on the safe side, we do not recommend immediately deleting all your screenshots.

delete screenshots in google photos

Search for people

It may be inconvenient, but Google Photos can recognize people in photos and place them in a folder. This way you have all the photos with that one person in one place. Do you perhaps still have photos of your ex, or of a friend that you will never see again? Then it can be useful to look them up in the ‘face book’ of Photos.

The bonus is that when you scroll through your photos you are no longer shocked because there is someone in there who you no longer need to see.

Be honest with yourself

Photos tell stories and can bring you a lot if you forget things. Nevertheless, it is good to think about what you really value. That one beautiful sunset is beautiful, but is that because of the colors or because that holiday was so special? And do you really want to keep the photos of the sneakers you got rid of five years ago?

Some people are more into nostalgia than others, and either way it’s okay to hold on to something or not. However, be aware that you don’t have to keep every photo of a holiday or event, especially if they don’t capture your experience.

Do you have a useful tip on how to clean up Google Photos? Share your tricks in the comments below!