How to Find Large Files in Gmail: A Comprehensive Guide
As Google’s premier email service, Gmail stores an astonishing amount of data from its millions of users. Along with messages, users also save attachments, documents, and other types of files, which can quickly clutter their inboxes and occupy valuable space on their storage devices. Large files are particularly problematic as they can slow down download speeds and affect email performance. It’s crucial for Gmail users to clean up and organize their emails, freeing up storage space and improving communication efficiency. This article will introduce you to a step-by-step method for finding and managing large files in Gmail, exploring various ways to streamline your email maintenance.
Method 1: Advanced Search Filter
Gmail’s advanced search feature is an excellent place to start searching for large files. Click on the magnifying glass icon to access the advanced search filter. Here are some options to refine your search and find large files:
- Attachment size: Specify a range, such as 1MB to 20MB, using the format
attachmentsize:
followed by a combination of keywords, like size, gt (greater than), lt (less than), or range with the actual file size parameters. - Attachment name: Use regular expressions (regex) to pinpoint specific file names. For example, input
filename:**
followed by the desired name. -
Date filters: Utilize the
datetime
operator and format to query files uploaded during a specific range. The format is(datetime:A/P)
A (any time) or(datetime:B/E)
B-E (any date between). - Combining filters:
advanced search:attachment size greater than 10MB
to get files over 10MB in sizeadvanced search:filename:*xlsx
(e.g., file names ending in.xlsx)
By combining filter options, you can effectively search and identify large files in your Gmail account.
Method 2: File Size Sorting Option
If you have a rough idea about the file size ranges, try using Gmail’s automatic sorting feature:
- Create a filter using the
New
button next to the search icon () - In the recipient field, select
Current user
- In the message body, search for
attachmentlarger:
- Expand the
advanced search
dropdowns and select Attachments> Attachment size- The filter automatically categorizes attachment sizes by groups: (0 bytes – 1M], [1M – 3M], and so on.
Alternative Method 2: Using add-ons or Third-Party Tool
If Gmail’s native features limit your capabilities, consider installing add-ons or using third-party tools. Some add-ons for Gmail include File Search Pro, Attachment Details, and Google Sheets.
File Explorer Add-ons
- GSuite Search ( chrome extension )
-
Attachment Explorer ( Firefox add-on )
- File Explorer Google Sheets Script: a script with a tutorial provided by CoderDave on YouTube
Each add-on offers unique features but may not provide the optimal solution, so it is essential to weigh their strengths and limitations while choosing.
Method 3: Systematic Search within Labels and Categories
Effective organization within labels and categories using Gmail labels. This way, you can assign specific folders or categories for newly uploaded large files.
- Manually or using filters, redirect large attachments to their respective assigned labels and categories.
- Conduct a search by clicking on those labels and applying filters for recent uploads, sizes, and filetypes.
Maintaining Large Attachments and Efficient Storage
Regardless of which method you use, it is crucial to ensure proper storage and filing of large files in your Gmail account.