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 12 Oct 2025
6 min read
It can be perplexing when you receive a delivery status notification (DSN) from Gmail indicating an over quota error for a recipient's address, only for subsequent emails to that same address to go through successfully. This scenario might seem counterintuitive, especially given Gmail's generous 15 GB storage limit.
However, several factors can contribute to a temporary over quota state for a Gmail account, leading to a quick recovery and resumed mail reception. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for ensuring smooth email delivery.
Understanding Gmail storage and quotas
Gmail users receive 15 GB of free storage, but this isn't exclusively for emails. This quota is shared across Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos. This shared allocation is a primary reason why a user's mailbox might appear full, even if they haven't received a high volume of emails.
When a Gmail account exceeds its allocated storage, incoming messages will bounce back to the sender with an error message like '552 5.2.2 The email account that you tried to reach is over quota' or 'Gmail is out of space'. For more detailed information on common SMTP errors, refer to the Gmail SMTP errors and codes help page. These messages are temporary, indicating that the issue might be resolved soon.
Mail servers sending messages to an over quota recipient typically attempt to resend the message for a certain period, usually 48 to 72 hours. This retry mechanism allows time for the recipient to free up space, enabling the pending emails to be delivered once the quota issue is resolved.
Common reasons for temporary over-quota status
The most common reason for a temporary over quota state is an active user clearing out their Google account storage. Users can quickly free up space by deleting large files from Google Drive, removing old photos or videos from Google Photos, or deleting large email attachments and emptying their Gmail Trash and Spam folders. This immediate action allows them to receive mail again quickly.
Another scenario involves automated clean-up processes or a sudden, temporary influx of large files that temporarily pushed the account over quota. Once these temporary files are removed or an automated system clears old data, the quota is no longer exceeded. This can happen without direct user intervention, leading to the mailbox recovering on its own.
Many users, upon receiving an over quota notification, opt to purchase additional storage through Google One. This instantly expands their storage limit, resolving the issue and allowing mail to flow into their inbox again. This action is often taken quickly to avoid missing important communications.
How to check and manage your Google storage
Check storage: Visit Google One Storage to see a breakdown of your usage across Gmail, Drive, and Photos.
Clear large files: Use the free up space tool in Google One to easily identify and delete large items.
Empty trash and spam: Ensure you empty your Gmail trash and spam folders regularly, as these also consume storage.
Impact on senders and deliverability
For email senders, an over quota bounce from Gmail (often a 552 5.2.2 error) is typically categorized as a soft bounce. This means it's a temporary delivery issue, not a permanent one like an invalid address. Most email service providers (ESPs) are configured to retry sending these messages multiple times over a period, hoping the recipient's mailbox becomes available.
The impact on deliverability is generally low for isolated over quota bounces, as the email will likely be delivered on a subsequent retry. However, if a recipient consistently reports over quota errors, it can signal an unengaged or inactive user. Continually sending to such addresses can negatively affect your sender reputation over time, potentially leading to increased spam folder placements or rejection of emails by Gmail.
Some internet service providers (ISPs) and mail servers might eventually treat repeated soft bounces as hard bounces if the issue persists for an extended period. This can lead to the recipient address being suppressed or even added to internal blocklists (or blacklists), affecting your email deliverability negatively.
Temporary over-quota scenario
Bounce type: Initially a soft bounce, indicating a temporary issue.
Server action: Sending servers will retry delivery over a period (e.g., 48-72 hours).
Impact on deliverability: Low, as the email often goes through on a subsequent attempt.
Persistent over-quota impact
Sender reputation: Repeated bounces can signal an inactive address, harming your sender reputation.
Bounce escalation: Soft bounces may escalate to hard bounces if left unaddressed.
Blocklisting risk: Prolonged issues could lead to internal blocklisting (or blacklisting).
Strategies for email marketers and users
For email marketers, it's essential to implement robust bounce management strategies. While soft bounces due to over quota are common, you should monitor their frequency for specific addresses. If an address consistently bounces with this error, it may indicate that the user is no longer actively managing their mailbox or is disengaged.
Consider implementing a re-engagement strategy for contacts who frequently show over quota issues. After a certain number of successive over quota bounces, it's generally best practice to temporarily suppress or remove that address from your active mailing list. This helps maintain a healthy sender reputation and improves overall email deliverability rates. For further insights, explore strategies for handling overquota inboxes.
For individual users, proactive management of their Google storage is key to avoiding over quota issues. Regularly checking your storage usage and clearing out unnecessary files, especially large ones from Google Drive or Google Photos, can prevent future disruptions to your email service.
Problem: Over quota reason
Solution: How it's resolved
Shared storage exceeded for Gmail, Drive, and Photos.
User manually deletes large files or empties trash.
Sudden influx of large emails or files.
Automated system clears old data, or user takes action.
Temporary spike in storage usage due to apps.
User purchases additional storage via Google One.
Views from the trenches
Here are some perspectives and insights from the email community regarding temporary over quota issues with Gmail addresses:
Best practices
Regularly monitor bounce reports, especially for 5.x.x errors, to identify persistent over quota issues.
Segment your email lists to identify and potentially re-engage or suppress inactive recipients.
Educate your subscribers on managing their email storage to ensure continuous mail reception.
Common pitfalls
Ignoring repeated soft bounces can negatively impact your sender reputation over time.
Failing to remove consistently over quota addresses can lead to them being treated as hard bounces.
Underestimating the impact of shared Google storage on a user's Gmail mailbox capacity.
Expert tips
Consider a phased approach for re-engaging users who previously bounced due to quota issues.
Implement a clean-up process for addresses that remain over quota after several retries.
Advise users to check their Google Drive and Photos storage if they experience Gmail over quota errors.
Marketer view
Marketer from Email Geeks says that over quota situations can occur and space is shared across Google services.
2020-09-02 - Email Geeks
Marketer view
Marketer from Email Geeks says Android device photos stored in Google Drive consume space, and removing them can free up Gmail quota.
2020-09-02 - Email Geeks
Keeping your emails flowing
The phenomenon of a Gmail address reporting over quota and then resuming mail reception is not uncommon. It largely stems from the shared storage model of Google services and the dynamic actions users can take to free up space or acquire more. For senders, understanding this temporary state and adjusting your email strategy accordingly will help maintain a positive sender reputation and maximize deliverability.
Why does a Gmail address report being over quota and then start receiving mail again? - Troubleshooting - Email deliverability - Knowledge base - Suped
Gmail indicating an over quota error for a recipient's address, only for subsequent emails to that same address to go through successfully. This scenario might seem counterintuitive, especially given Gmail's generous 15 GB storage limit.
Gmail, 
Google Drive, and 
Google Photos. This shared allocation is a primary reason why a user's mailbox might appear full, even if they haven't received a high volume of emails.
Google Drive, removing old photos or videos from 
Google One. This instantly expands their storage limit, resolving the issue and allowing mail to flow into their inbox again. This action is often taken quickly to avoid missing important communications.
Google storage is key to avoiding over quota issues. Regularly checking your storage usage and clearing out unnecessary files, especially large ones from Google Drive or Google Photos, can prevent future disruptions to your email service.
