Alex Ruben
Unlock Unlimited Google Drive Storage: A Step-by-Step Guide
Are you tired of running out of space on your Google Drive? With only 15 GB of free storage, it can be challenging to manage your files, especially when considering the space consumed by Google Photos and email attachments. Fortunately, there’s a clever method to increase your Google Drive storage without having to pay for a premium plan. This guide will walk you through a straightforward process to create multiple Google accounts and manage them seamlessly from a single account, allowing you to unlock up to 150 GB of free storage.
Before we begin, make sure you have the following prepared: a primary Google account, a few additional Google accounts (you can create them easily), and a basic understanding of how to navigate Google Drive. No special tools or software installations are required, just your web browser and an internet connection.
Step 1: Create Additional Google Accounts
The first step to increasing your Google Drive storage is to create additional Google accounts. Each Google account comes with 15 GB of free storage. Depending on how much additional storage you need, you can create multiple accounts as follows:
- For 60 GB of total storage, create 4 accounts.
- For 120 GB, create 8 accounts.
Keep in mind that you should keep track of these accounts as you will need to access them later.
Step 2: Log into Your Primary Google Account
After creating your additional accounts, log into your primary Google account — the one where you want to consolidate your storage. This will be your main hub for accessing and managing the storage from your other accounts.
Step 3: Create Folders in Each Additional Account
Switch to one of your newly created Google accounts. Once logged in, follow these steps:
- Click on New and select Folder.
- Name this folder something like “Drive 1 – 14.9 GB” to reflect the storage available in this account.
- Click Create to finalize the folder creation.
This naming convention will help you keep track of the storage capacity of each account.
Step 4: Share the Folder with Your Primary Account
Now that your folder is created, you need to share it with your primary account:
- Right-click on the folder and select Share.
- In the sharing window, enter the email address of your primary Google account.
- Ensure that the permission is set to Editor so that you have full control over the folder.
- Click Send to share the folder.
Step 5: Repeat the Process for Additional Accounts
Repeat steps 3 and 4 for each additional Google account you created. For each account, create a new folder, name it accordingly (e.g., “Drive 2 – 14.9 GB”), and share it with your primary account. This will allow you to access all shared folders from one place.
Step 6: Access Shared Folders in Your Primary Account
Go back to your primary Google account. In the left-hand menu, click on Shared with me. You should see all the folders shared from your additional accounts. This centralized access makes it easy to manage your files without the hassle of switching accounts.
Step 7: Utilize Your Increased Storage
To test your new storage setup, try uploading a file into one of the shared folders. The file will be stored using the storage from the respective Google account, yet you will be able to access it directly from your primary account without any issues.
Extra Tips & Common Issues
Here are some additional tips to ensure a smooth experience:
- Make sure to keep track of your login credentials for each additional Google account.
- If you encounter any issues sharing folders, double-check the permissions settings.
- Remember that the shared folders do not count against the 15 GB storage limit of your primary account, allowing you to effectively manage more files.
Conclusion
By following these steps, you can easily expand your Google Drive storage and manage multiple accounts from a single interface. This method is a one-time setup, and once completed, you can enjoy the additional storage without any hassle. If you found this guide helpful, consider exploring other productivity hacks for Google Drive or related services.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Google accounts can I create?
You can create as many Google accounts as needed, but be mindful of Google’s policies regarding account creation to avoid any potential issues.
Will sharing folders with my primary account impact my storage limits?
No, the storage used in shared folders does not count against the 15 GB limit of your primary account, enabling you to maximize your storage capacity.
Can I delete the additional accounts after sharing the folders?
It’s advisable to keep the additional accounts active to maintain access to the shared folders. Deleting them may result in losing access to the files stored in those folders.