Google Drive and Google Photos use the same account allowance, but they are separate libraries. Check the storage breakdown before choosing a cleanup tool. FreeUp works on files stored in Drive, not your Photos library.
The word 'Google' on a storage warning does not tell you where to start. A video might be a file in Drive, part of your Photos library, or saved in both places. Begin with where you open the item, then check the account's storage breakdown.
Find the library you are actually using
Do you open the item from a Drive folder, or browse it in the Photos timeline? This simple check helps you choose the right next step. Do not assume a phone backup is stored as an ordinary file in My Drive.
Open your storage overview alongside the library. Note which service has the larger share, then focus your review there. You can leave the smaller categories for another day.
When Google Photos is the main part
Google Photos has its own backup-quality controls. Storage saver reduces quality to save space. Changing future backup quality is separate from converting existing items through Recover storage. Some items cannot be made smaller this way.
Before converting a collection, decide which photos or videos deserve an original-quality archive. A holiday clip you watch on a phone and a photograph you plan to print large have different needs. Review Google's explanation of the quality changes before you choose.
Source: Google Help
When Google Drive is the main part
Use Drive's large-file list to find the files worth reviewing. Decide which are working originals and which are everyday copies. You might keep your original recording in a separate archive and use a smaller copy for watching or sharing.
FreeUp makes supported Drive photos, videos, PDFs, and audio smaller in place. It does not change items in Google Photos or remove email attachments. If Drive is almost empty, FreeUp may have nothing to shrink even though the account's overall allowance is nearly used up.
If you saved the same memory in both places
Treat each copy as a separate decision. Open both and check whether they really contain the same content. Consider which link you have shared, where you like to browse, and whether one copy is your archive.
Choose a home for new uploads so you do not repeat the same cleanup next month. For example, keep a personal photo library in the place you browse it, and project documents in Drive. There is no single right arrangement, but an intentional one is easier to maintain.
A smaller file can help with space. A clear place to put it helps keep the problem from returning.