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Chromebook⏱ 5 min

How to Free Up Storage Space on Chromebook

Find and delete large files, old downloads, and temporary data.

Last verified: February 21, 2026

Chromebook operates primarily on limited local storage — most models ship with 32–128 GB eMMC, and the OS reserves a portion — so cloud-first habits matter more here than on any other platform. Google Drive is the intended primary storage layer, and toggling offline access on only for actively needed files in the Drive settings keeps local usage minimal without sacrificing access. The Files app's Clean section automatically identifies the largest download folder items and offline media that are safe to remove, making regular quick cleanups straightforward.

Quick Steps

Follow in order for the fastest result.

  1. 1Open Settings > Device > Storage. Follow suggestions to remove offline content, large files, and duplicate downloads.
  2. 2Delete downloaded videos, podcasts, and offline maps you no longer actively use.
  3. 3Move photos and videos to cloud storage (Google Photos, iCloud, OneDrive) and remove local copies once confirmed.

Still Not Working?

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is taking up so much storage on my Chromebook?
Go to Settings > Device > Storage to see a breakdown. Downloaded files and Chrome browser cache are typically the main space users on Chromebook.
Why is my Chromebook saying storage is full when I have space?
Storage shown as available may exclude space reserved for the OS, system files, and pending updates. On iPhone, iOS reserves space for OTA updates. On Android and Windows, certain system operations require a free-space buffer. If available space is below 10%, the device treats itself as full for safety.
Will moving photos to the cloud free up storage on Chromebook?
Yes, but only if you also delete the local copies after confirming the cloud backup is complete. Google Photos and iCloud have an option to Remove Downloaded Copies or Optimise Storage that does this automatically after verifying the cloud backup is safe.
How much free storage should I keep on Chromebook?
Keep at least 10–15% of total storage free for optimal performance. Below 10%, most operating systems slow down significantly as they struggle to write temp files, install updates, and manage virtual memory. On a 64 GB device, aim to keep at least 6–8 GB free at all times.

Same task, different device

Windows 11Windows 10macOSiPhone (iOS)iPad (iPadOS)Samsung GalaxyGoogle Pixel

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