Free up Google Drive storage

Drive files live in your Google account. This phone also keeps a document cache and any files you marked Available offline. Clearing cache does not delete Drive files in the cloud. Removing a file from Drive or emptying Trash does.

See how much space Drive is using

iPhone

Open the iPhone Settings app.
Tap General > iPhone Storage.
Tap Drive (listed as Google Drive on some versions).

Android

Open your phone Settings > Apps.
Tap Drive.
Tap Storage or Storage and cache.

Account quota is separate: in Drive, tap the menu > Storage. That total is shared with Gmail and Google Photos.

Remove files from Available offline

Open Google Drive.
Tap the menu (three lines) > Offline.
Next to a file you do not need on this phone, tap More (three dots).
Turn off Available offline.

The file stays in Drive. Only the local copy is released. To keep a file offline again later, turn Available offline back on from the file menu.

Clear the Drive document cache

Android

Open Drive and tap the menu > Settings.
Tap Clear cache (some versions group this under Document cache).
Confirm.

iPhone

Open the iPhone Settings app and scroll to Drive if you see it.
Turn on Reset cache on next start or Clear Temp Data on next start if those switches exist.
Open Drive.

Cache is previews and recently opened files. It is not your Drive Trash. Files marked Available offline can remain until you turn that off.

Delete downloaded copies outside Drive

If you used Download or Open with on a file, check Files, Downloads, or On My iPhone.
Delete those copies there if you no longer need them on the device.

A download is a user file on the phone. Clearing Drive cache does not remove it.

Camera upload and Photos

Phone camera backup is handled by Google Photos, not the Drive camera folder on current apps. Use the Google Photos guide if camera shots are filling the device. Do not delete the only local copy of a photo that is not backed up.

Drive Trash is not cache

Menu > Trash holds files you deleted from Drive. Emptying Trash permanently deletes them from the account (after any remaining retention). That frees Google Account storage, not just this phone.

Clear Drive cache on Android

Open your phone Settings > Apps > Drive.
Tap Storage or Storage and cache.
Tap Clear cache.

Do not tap Clear storage / Clear data unless you mean to sign out of Drive on this phone. Cloud files stay. Offline copies and unsynced uploads on this device do not.

Reinstall the app if storage is still high

If you already cleaned media and Google Drive still looks huge, a fresh install can clear leftover cache and temp files that are hard to reach by hand.

Drive files in your Google account stay. Turn off Available offline only after you know you can open those files online. Finish any uploads that are still pending on this phone before you delete the app.
Delete the app from your phone.
Restart your phone.
Install Google Drive again from the App Store or Google Play.
Sign in and restore from backup if the app offers it.

This often frees a lot of space. You may need to download some media again after restore.

What to do next

After Google Drive is lighter, check your photo library for duplicates and similar shots. That is what Dedupo is for.

More app guides: Free up app storage.