How Google Docs Images Affect Your Google Drive Storage

When using Google Docs, you may wonder if images inserted into your documents take up space on Google Drive. This article clarifies the impact of images in Google Docs and how it relates to your storage quota.

Overview of Google Drive and Google Docs Storage

Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides are part of the Google Suite, designed to maximize your storage space. Previously, images inserted into Google Docs documents did not affect your Google Drive storage quota. However, recent changes have altered this scenario.

Current Storage Quota for Google Docs

As of June 2021, images inserted into Google Docs documents now count towards your storage quota if they are larger than 2 MB or if they are uploaded directly to Google Drive. This means that the overall size of your document, including the embedded images, will contribute to the total storage used in your Google Drive.

Storage Limits for Different File Types

Here are the storage limits for different file types in Google Drive:

Documents: Up to 1.02 million characters or up to 50 MB when converted to Docs format. Spreadsheets: Up to 2 million cells for spreadsheets that are created in or converted to Google Sheets. Presentation: Up to 100 MB for presentations converted to Google Slides. All other files: Up to 5 TB.

Impact of Image Sizes and Upload Methods

The influence of images on your storage quota depends on their size and upload method:

Large Images (Over 2 MB): If the image is larger than 2 MB, it will count towards your storage quota regardless of whether it is inserted into a Google Doc or uploaded directly to Google Drive. Direct Uploads to Google Drive: Direct uploads of images to Google Drive will also be counted in your storage quota. Smaller Images: Images that are smaller than 2 MB will not affect your storage quota when inserted into a Google Doc.

Alternatives for Storing Images

For images and videos, it is recommended to use Google Photos. Google Photos offers high-quality storage and can manage a large number of images and videos efficiently. This method is particularly useful for storing personal photos and videos, as it allows you to free up space in Google Drive for other important documents.

Conclusion

In summary, images in Google Docs documents can now affect your Google Drive storage quota if they are larger than 2 MB or uploaded directly to Google Drive. However, smaller images and those stored in Google Photos do not impact your storage quota. This knowledge will help you manage your storage more effectively and avoid unexpected charges.