Why does a Gmail address report being over quota and then start receiving mail again?
Matthew Whittaker
Co-founder & CTO, Suped
Published 1 May 2025
Updated 14 Aug 2025
10 min read
Summary
It can seem counterintuitive, but a Gmail address reporting as over quota and then resuming mail reception is indeed a plausible scenario. The key lies in understanding how Gmail (and Google Workspace) manages storage across its various services. Unlike a simple email inbox, Gmail's 15GB of free storage is shared across Google Drive, Google Photos, and other Google services, meaning that email is just one component contributing to the total storage usage.
When a Gmail account reaches its storage limit, incoming emails are temporarily blocked, resulting in bounce messages indicating 'over quota' or 'mailbox full'. However, users can quickly free up space by deleting large files from Google Drive, purging old photos from Google Photos, or emptying their Gmail trash and spam folders. Alternatively, they might opt to purchase additional storage from Google One, instantly resolving the quota issue and allowing mail delivery to resume. Senders often observe this temporary state because many mail servers are configured to retry sending for a period, typically up to 48-72 hours, allowing time for the recipient to clear space or expand their storage.
Key findings
Shared storage: Gmail's 15GB storage quota is shared across Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos. This means non-email files can quickly fill up the available space.
Temporary bounce: When over quota, incoming emails receive a soft bounce, typically an SMTP 4.2.2 error. Sending mail servers will usually retry delivery for a defined period.
User action: Users can manually delete large files from Drive or Photos, empty trash, or purchase more storage to resolve the issue quickly.
Automatic resumption: Once space is freed or expanded, subsequent delivery attempts from the sender's mail server will succeed, making it appear as if the address started receiving mail again after a brief interruption.
Deliverability impact: Consistent bounces due to over-quota mailboxes, even if temporary, can negatively affect sender reputation if not managed properly. This can lead to delivery delays or even future rejections.
Key considerations
Bounce handling: Implement robust bounce management. While temporary, repeated over-quota bounces for an address over a short period might indicate an inactive or poorly managed account that could eventually become a hard bounce.
User education: If you manage Google Workspace accounts, educate users about shared storage and how to manage it effectively to prevent delivery interruptions.
Retry logic: Understand your email service provider's (ESP) retry policy for soft bounces. Most will retry for at least 24-72 hours, which is typically sufficient for users to clear space or upgrade.
Monitoring: Keep an eye on your bounce rates for Gmail recipients to detect any abnormal spikes that might indicate widespread recipient storage issues or other deliverability problems.
What email marketers say
Email marketers frequently encounter scenarios where Gmail addresses report being over quota before mail delivery resumes. This phenomenon often leads to confusion, as the perception is that once a mailbox is full, it remains full unless manual intervention is significant. However, marketers and senders report that this temporary status is more common than one might initially believe. The shared storage model of Google services plays a crucial role in these fluctuations, as does the user's ability to quickly manage their storage or upgrade their plan.
Understanding this behavior is important for marketers because it directly impacts email deliverability and list hygiene. Properly handling soft bounces from over-quota messages ensures that you avoid unnecessarily penalizing legitimate, engaged subscribers who might simply be experiencing a temporary storage crunch. It also informs how you segment your lists and manage re-engagement campaigns.
Key opinions
It happens: Many marketers confirm they have seen Gmail addresses go over quota briefly and then become deliverable again, indicating it's not an unusual occurrence.
Shared Google space: The shared 15GB across Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos is a primary reason for temporary over-quota issues, as large files unrelated to email can consume space rapidly.
User action and payment: Users often clear space by deleting old files (like photos from Android devices) or by purchasing additional Google One storage, which immediately resolves the quota problem.
Impact on marketing: Marketers should treat 'over quota' as a soft bounce and retry sending, as the issue is often temporary. This helps maintain list quality without prematurely removing active subscribers.
Key considerations
Segment bounces: Differentiate between soft bounces (like over quota) and hard bounces in your email reports. Soft bounces warrant retries, while hard bounces require immediate removal.
List hygiene practices: While over-quota messages are temporary, consistent bounces from an address over a longer period (e.g., several weeks) might indicate a truly abandoned or inactive account that should be suppressed.
Sender reputation: Excessive soft bounces, even if temporary, can reflect poorly on your sender reputation. Keep your bounce rates low by identifying and managing problematic addresses efficiently.
Content and file size: Consider if your email content itself, or attachments within your emails (if any), are contributing to recipient mailbox fullness, especially for transactional emails with large files.
Marketer view
Email marketer from Email Geeks confirms that it happens often. It is not an unusual scenario to see a Gmail address report as over quota temporarily and then resume receiving mail. This is a common pattern observed in email campaigns and should be handled with appropriate retry logic.
02 Sep 2020 - Email Geeks
Marketer view
Marketer from Filerev suggests that if you're receiving errors like 'Gmail is out of space' or 'Gmail quota exceeded,' the primary solution is to free up space in your Google account. This often involves deleting files from Google Drive or photos from Google Photos, as all Google services share the same storage quota.
22 Dec 2022 - Filerev
What the experts say
Email deliverability experts agree that a Gmail address reporting over quota and then resuming mail reception is a known and understandable behavior. This is largely due to Gmail's integrated storage system and the standard retry mechanisms employed by sending mail servers. Experts emphasize that such 'soft' bounces are distinct from 'hard' bounces and require careful handling to preserve sender reputation and ensure email continuity.
They highlight the importance of proper bounce management and list hygiene, especially when dealing with temporary delivery failures. Ignoring these temporary blocks can lead to increased bounce rates, which may negatively impact sender reputation over time. Experts also advise monitoring Google Postmaster Tools for insights into Gmail delivery, as it can provide broader trends in bounce rates.
Key opinions
Normal behavior: Experts confirm that Gmail accounts temporarily exceeding their quota and then recovering is a routine occurrence, not an anomaly.
Storage management: The ability of users to quickly delete large files from Google Drive or Google Photos, or upgrade their storage plan, means the over-quota state is often short-lived.
Soft bounce differentiation: It is crucial to categorize 'over quota' as a soft bounce, prompting retries rather than immediate suppression, to avoid losing active subscribers.
Retry window: Sending mail servers typically retry delivery for a period (e.g., 24-72 hours), allowing time for the recipient to clear space or purchase more storage.
Key considerations
Automated bounce processing: Ensure your ESP or sending system is configured to properly manage soft bounces, distinguishing them from permanent failures and implementing appropriate retry logic.
Monitoring bounce rates: Continuously monitor your bounce rates, especially for Gmail, to identify if over-quota bounces become a persistent issue for certain addresses or a wider trend, which could signal a list quality problem.
List hygiene automation: While retries are good, establish rules for when repeated soft bounces (e.g., after a week of consistent over-quota messages) should lead to temporary suppression or removal to protect sender reputation.
Understanding SMTP codes: Familiarize yourself with SMTP bounce codes, particularly 4xx series (temporary failures) versus 5xx series (permanent failures), to accurately diagnose delivery issues. Proton's SMTP error documentation provides good insight.
Expert view
Deliverability expert from Spamresource.com indicates that a temporary 'over quota' status is a common soft bounce reason. They explain that recipients might clear space or upgrade their storage plans, allowing subsequent delivery attempts to succeed. Senders should configure their systems to retry these messages for a reasonable period.
15 Apr 2023 - Spamresource.com
Expert view
Email expert from Email Geeks confirms that it is possible for a Gmail address to be over quota briefly and then resume receiving mail. They clarify that the 15GB storage limit is shared across Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos, explaining why activities outside of email can cause the mailbox to fill up.
02 Sep 2020 - Email Geeks
What the documentation says
Official documentation from Google and other email providers clearly outlines the shared storage model for services like Gmail and the behavior of mail servers when encountering an over-quota recipient. These documents confirm that storage limits apply across multiple Google services, not just email, and that temporary delivery failures are part of the standard email protocol. They also specify the actions senders and recipients should take.
Understanding these documented policies is crucial for compliance and optimizing email deliverability. Mailbox providers, including Gmail, implement specific policies to prevent spam and ensure service stability, which includes managing storage quotas. Senders are expected to adhere to Gmail's sending policies and guidelines, which implicitly cover how 'over quota' situations are handled.
Key findings
Integrated storage: Gmail's storage quota is integrated with Google Drive and Google Photos, meaning any data stored across these services counts towards the total 15GB free limit.
Quota enforcement: Exceeding the storage quota leads to a prohibition on sending or receiving messages, as stated in Google's policies.
SMTP 4xx errors: 'Over quota' messages typically result in a 4xx series SMTP error, like 4.2.2, which signifies a temporary failure and prompts the sending server to retry delivery.
Retry behavior: Standard email protocols dictate that sending mail servers will attempt to resend messages that encounter temporary delivery failures for a specified period.
Key considerations
User responsibility: Users are responsible for managing their storage to ensure continuous email reception. Gmail provides tools for users to check and clear their space.
Automated deletion policies: Some services, including Google, may delete content from an account if storage quotas are consistently exceeded or if the account remains inactive, although this is usually for prolonged periods.
Sender compliance: Senders should be aware of recipient mailbox policies to optimize their sending practices and avoid repeated, futile delivery attempts.
Quota monitoring: For Google Workspace admins, it's possible to monitor storage usage for domains, providing proactive insights into potential quota issues for users.
Technical article
Gmail's policy documentation indicates that exceeding storage quotas may prohibit the sending or receiving of messages. It clarifies that storage is shared across various Google services, emphasizing the integrated nature of the storage limit and its direct impact on email functionality.
15 Feb 2024 - Gmail - Free Storage and Email from Google
Technical article
Google Cloud documentation on Looker Studio's automatic report delivery states that if you exceed one of the quotas, further emails from your account won't be sent. This illustrates that Google applies quota limits broadly across its services, affecting various communication functionalities.
