How to Efficiently Free Up Space in OneDrive on Any Device
Running out of space in OneDrive can happen fast, but you can Free Up Space with just a few simple steps. Many users see storage fill up because of synced files on devices, large photos, or shared folders. Here are the most effective ways to get your storage back:
Delete old files and empty the recycle bin.
Use the 'Free Up Space' option to keep files online-only.
Manage large files and adjust sync settings.
You can do these tasks on the web, PC, Mac, or mobile. Every step is quick, and you do not need to be a tech expert. For comparison, OneDrive gives you 5 GB free, while Google Drive offers 15 GB.
Key Takeaways
Remove files you do not need anymore and always clear the recycle bin to really make more space.
Use the 'Free Up Space' tool to keep files online-only and save room on your device.
Look for big files and manage them by deleting, moving, or shrinking them to make space fast.
Change sync settings like Files On-Demand and selective sync to pick which files stay on your device.
Back up important files often and do regular checks to stop storage problems and sync mistakes.
Free Up Space in OneDrive
Delete Files
You can Free Up Space in your OneDrive by deleting files you no longer need. The steps are simple, and you can do them on any device.
On the Web:
Go to the OneDrive website and sign in.
Click the circle checkbox next to each file or folder you want to delete.
To select all files, click the circle at the top or press CTRL + A.
Click the Delete button at the top or right-click and choose Delete.
If you want to delete a whole folder, select it and delete.
On Windows PC:
Open File Explorer.
Go to your OneDrive folder.
Select the files or folders you want to remove.
Press the Delete key.
On Mac:
Open Finder.
Find your OneDrive folder.
Select the files or folders.
Right-click and pick Move to Trash or drag them to the Trash.
On Mobile (Android/iOS):
Tap and hold the file you want to delete.
To delete more files, tap their circles.
Tap the Delete option and confirm.
Tip: On mobile, you can delete up to 20 files at once. For more, use the web version.
When you delete files, they move to the OneDrive recycle bin. They still take up space until you empty the bin.
Empty Recycle Bin
After deleting files, you need to empty the recycle bin to Free Up Space for real. If you skip this step, your storage will not change much.
On the Web:
Go to
https://portal.office.com
and sign in.
Click the OneDrive tile.
Click Recycle bin on the left.
Check if you need any files before deleting.
To empty everything, click Empty recycle bin and confirm.
To delete only some files, select them, click Delete, and confirm.
On Mobile (Android/iOS):
Open the OneDrive app and tap the Me icon at the bottom right.
Tap your account, then tap Recycle Bin.
Tap and hold a file to select it. Tap more files if needed (up to 200).
Tap Delete and confirm.
On Android, you can tap Delete All to empty the whole bin.
Note: Files in the recycle bin still use your storage. Always empty the bin after deleting files to Free Up Space.
Use 'Free Up Space' Option
Sometimes, you want to keep files in OneDrive but not on your device. The 'Free Up Space' option helps you do this.
When you right-click a file or folder in your OneDrive folder on your PC or Mac, you can select 'Free up space.' This removes the local copy from your device but keeps a placeholder with a blue cloud icon. The file stays in the cloud and does not use space on your computer. You still see the file in File Explorer or Finder, and you can open it anytime. When you open an online-only file, it downloads again to your device.
This feature is part of OneDrive Files On-Demand. It lets you save disk space by keeping files online-only until you need them. You can use this option for big files or folders you do not use often.
Pro Tip: Windows Storage Sense can do this for you automatically. It makes files online-only if you have not used them for a while.
Using the 'Free Up Space' option is a smart way to keep your files safe in the cloud and make room on your device. You do not lose any files, and you can always get them back when you need them.
Manage Large and Unused Files
Find Large Files
Big files can fill up your OneDrive fast. You can find these files with search tools on your device. On Windows, open File Explorer and go to your OneDrive folder. In the search bar, type size:>500MB to see big files. On the web, sign in to your Microsoft account and open OneDrive. Click "My Files" and sort by size to see the biggest files. This helps you know which files to delete or move.
Tip: You can use OneDrive’s "Manage Storage" to see your largest files.
Remove or Move Files
After you find large or unused files, you have some ways to Free Up Space:
Pick the files or folders you do not need and delete them. Make sure to empty your recycle bin after.
Download important files to your computer or an external drive. Then delete them from OneDrive.
Use tools like 7-Zip to make big files smaller before uploading again. This saves storage.
Try cloud transfer services like MultCloud to move files from OneDrive to another cloud account.
Turn on Files On-Demand in OneDrive settings. This keeps files online-only and removes them from your device to save space.
If you delete files from OneDrive, they are gone from all synced devices. After you empty the recycle bin, you cannot get those files back.
Back Up Important Data
Before deleting anything, always back up your important files. Download them to your computer or copy them to an external hard drive. You can also use cloud-to-cloud transfer tools for extra safety. Do not only trust OneDrive’s recycle bin or version history. These features have limits. For the best protection, use a third-party backup tool. These tools keep your files safe even if you delete them from OneDrive.
Regular backups help you avoid losing important data forever.
Adjust Sync and Storage Settings
Files On-Demand
Files On-Demand helps you see all your OneDrive files without filling up your computer. You can turn this on in your OneDrive settings. When you use Files On-Demand, you see every file in your OneDrive folder, but only the files you open will download to your device. This saves a lot of space. You can right-click any file or folder and pick "Free up space" to make it online-only. If you need a file offline, right-click and choose "Always keep on this device." On Mac, Files On-Demand works with Finder and Spotlight, but only files you download will show up in full searches.
You can:
View all your files without using local storage.
Make files online-only to save space.
Download files when you need them.
Keep important files offline for quick access.
Tip: Files On-Demand does not delete your files. It just removes them from your device and keeps them safe in the cloud.
Selective Sync
Selective Sync lets you pick which folders you want on your computer. This is great if you have large folders you do not use often. Here is how you set it up on Windows:
Open the OneDrive app and sign in.
Click the OneDrive icon in your system tray.
Go to Help & Settings > Settings.
Click the Account tab, then "Choose folders."
Uncheck the folders you do not want to sync.
Click OK.
If you unsync a big folder, it stops taking up space on your computer. You can always go back and sync it again later. On Mac, you find similar options in OneDrive settings.
Note: Sometimes, OneDrive may still show files as using space because of cache issues. If this happens, try resetting OneDrive or clearing its cache.
Storage Sense and Disk Cleanup
Storage Sense on Windows can Free Up Space for you automatically. When you turn it on, it checks for files you have not used in a while and makes them online-only. You can set how often Storage Sense runs and how long a file must be unused before it moves to the cloud. This tool only works on your main drive and skips files you mark as "Always keep on this device." On Mac, you can use Optimize Storage to remove old files and keep your disk clean.
Storage Sense and Optimize Storage help you keep your device fast and your OneDrive storage under control. You do not have to remember to clean up—your computer does it for you!
Troubleshoot Space Issues
Check Storage Quota
You might wonder why your OneDrive says it’s full. Sometimes, you just need to check your storage quota and see what’s using up space. Here’s how you can do it:
Log in to your OneDrive account.
Click the gear icon and open OneDrive settings.
In the left panel, pick "More settings."
Scroll down and find the "Storage metrics" link.
On the storage metrics page, you’ll see a list of your folders, files, their sizes, and how much space you have left.
If you use OneDrive at school or work, your admin can check everyone’s storage from the Microsoft 365 admin center. They can see reports with total storage, active accounts, and even export the data for a closer look.
Tip: The storage metrics page helps you spot which folders or files take up the most space. You can delete or move them to free up room.
Fix Sync Problems
Sync problems can fill up your device fast. You might hit the 300,000 file sync limit, or maybe Files On-Demand is off, so everything downloads to your computer. Sometimes, you see errors because of conflicts or accidental deletions.
Try these steps to fix sync issues:
Reset OneDrive by running
%localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe /resetin the Run box.Use selective sync to pick only the folders you need.
Reinstall OneDrive if problems keep coming back.
Check the Microsoft 365 Service Health Dashboard to see if there’s a bigger issue.
If you keep seeing sync errors, make sure your settings match what you want. Sometimes, a quick reset solves the problem.
Contact Support
If you still have storage problems after trying these steps, you can get help from Microsoft support:
Try the official troubleshooting guides for sync and storage issues.
If nothing works after a few days, go to the Microsoft support website. Choose OneDrive, then Storage and sync, and connect with a support agent.
You can also clear the OneDrive cache using the reset command.
Sometimes, support cases take a while to resolve. If you don’t hear back, try following up or starting a new request. Don’t give up—help is available!
Advanced Tips
Move Files to Other Services
Sometimes, you may want to move files from OneDrive to another cloud service. You might need more free space, better privacy, or longer file recovery. It is smart to know the good and bad sides before you switch. Here is a simple table to help you compare:
Think about your storage, privacy, and how you work with others before moving files. If you use Microsoft 365 apps a lot, you might miss some things.
Use Third-Party Tools
You can use third-party tools to help manage your files. Apps like CloudMounter let you connect many cloud accounts as network drives. This means you can move files between services without downloading them first. CloudMounter also adds strong encryption to keep your files safe. MultCloud is another tool that helps you move files from OneDrive to Google Drive or Dropbox. These tools save time and make big moves much easier.
Tip: Always check if the tool works with your cloud service and has good security.
Regular Maintenance
Keeping your OneDrive neat helps you avoid running out of space. Try these steps for regular maintenance:
Use clear and simple file names.
Sync only the folders you need.
Set sharing permissions for each folder.
Turn on notifications for changes.
Use features like version history and co-editing.
Many users, like Ernest N. Wilcox Jr., say you should check and empty your OneDrive Recycle Bin every month. This habit keeps your storage from filling up.
You can set a reminder to do this on the first day of each month.
Regular checks help you find old or unused files you can delete.
By following these tips, you keep your OneDrive neat and ready for anything!
You have many ways to keep your OneDrive storage in check.
Always empty your recycle bin to clear space for good.
Use Files On-Demand and selective sync to save room on your device.
Move or back up big files if you need more space.
Regular cleanups help you avoid sync errors and keep your files easy to reach. When storage runs low, come back to this guide for a quick fix!
FAQ
How do I see which files take up the most space in OneDrive?
You can sort your files by size on the OneDrive website. Click "My Files," then choose "Sort" and pick "Size." This shows your largest files at the top. You can delete or move them to free up space.
Can I free up space without deleting my files?
Yes! Use the "Free up space" option. Right-click a file or folder in your OneDrive folder and select "Free up space." This keeps your files online-only. You still see them, but they do not use space on your device.
What happens if I delete files from OneDrive on my phone?
When you delete files from the OneDrive app, they move to the recycle bin. They still use storage until you empty the bin. If you want to recover a file, you can restore it from the recycle bin before you empty it.
Why is my OneDrive still full after deleting files?
Files stay in the recycle bin after you delete them. They keep using your storage. To free up space, go to the recycle bin and empty it.
Tip: Always check the recycle bin after deleting files to make sure you clear space.