How To Free Space From Onedrive

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by

Vector Linux
in

I often encounter the difficulty of managing the storage capacity on OneDrive. As a frequent user of this cloud storage platform, I frequently run out of space and must make room. In this article, I will share my personal experience and give step-by-step instructions on how to free up space on OneDrive.

Understanding OneDrive Storage

Before diving into the process of freeing up space, it’s important to understand how OneDrive allocates storage. By default, users are provided with 5GB of free storage. However, if you have an Office 365 subscription, you may have additional storage space depending on your plan.

OneDrive not only stores files and folders but also keeps a version history of every file you upload. This feature can be handy but also contributes to using up your storage space.

Identifying and Managing Space Usage

The first step in freeing up space is to identify which files and folders are taking up the most storage. OneDrive provides a built-in feature that allows you to easily view your storage usage.

  1. Open your web browser and navigate to the OneDrive website (www.onedrive.com).
  2. Sign in to your OneDrive account using your Microsoft credentials.
  3. In the left sidebar, click on “Storage” to view your storage usage.
  4. You will see a breakdown of your storage usage by files, folders, and file types. This information will help you identify which items are taking up the most space.

Once you have identified the files or folders that are consuming a significant amount of storage, you can start managing them to free up space.

Managing Files and Folders

There are several ways to manage files and folders on OneDrive:

1. Delete Unnecessary Files

If you have files that you no longer need or files that are taking up a large amount of space, it’s a good idea to delete them.

  1. Navigate to the file or folder you want to delete.
  2. Right-click on the file or folder and select “Delete” from the context menu.
  3. A confirmation prompt will appear. Click “OK” to permanently delete the selected item.

2. Move Files to Your Computer

If you have files that you rarely access or don’t need to have readily available in the cloud, you can move them to your computer to free up space on OneDrive.

  1. Navigate to the file or folder you want to move.
  2. Right-click on the file or folder and select “Download” from the context menu.
  3. The file or folder will be downloaded to your computer, freeing up space on OneDrive.

3. Use Files On-Demand

OneDrive’s Files On-Demand feature allows you to access files and folders stored in OneDrive without syncing them to your computer. This way, you can selectively download files when you need them, saving space on your computer and OneDrive.

Conclusion

Managing storage space on OneDrive is essential for efficient use of the cloud storage service. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily identify and manage files and folders to free up space on your OneDrive account. Keeping your storage organized and optimized will ensure you have room for new files and prevent running into storage limitations.